Fish and shellfish waste that used to be discarded, has been transformed into oil and flour for it to be used as animal feed. This recycling process has been carried out in Piúma, Espírito Santo.
Due to the high pollution rates, and the presence of animal waste and debris from the fishing industry along the riverline, residents expressed their concerns to the city’s authorities. Summoning politicians, fishermen and other important actors to find a solution to this ongoing problem.
For at least 50 years, the river was used as a place for waste disposal, as João Carlos Dias a local fisherman admits. According to his testimony, fishermen did not know where else could they discard all the waste nor what other use could they give it.
“I discarded it there on the street called Beco do Abaiçuca. I didn’t know where else to take it, but it was not a good thing to do. The smell from the waste could even be felt here on the city square,” said the fisherman.
Through a partnership with the city, a company selected by public contest, began collecting fish waste from 26 fishmongers. The material is collected daily and taken to a slaughterhouse. Where three times a week a company owned Alfredo Chaves located on the Mountain Region collects it.
Since November,approximately 30 tons of fish viscera have been collected. These fish remains are transformed into flour and oil which are then used for the production of animal feed.
The partnership does not generate additional costs for the municipality, considering the fact that the factory keeps all of the organic material. For residents and clients of the fish shops, such as psychologist Regina Castro, the change is evident:
“The situation has gotten a lot better. Even greater sanitation within the establishments can be perceived. I think that the awareness level has significantly grown. I hope this trend continues to spread.” the resident said.
Piúma’s secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries, Rosemárcio Calenzane, announced that a project to revitalize the pier which was once marked by pollution is now underway.
- “There is already a project underway which aims to revitalize the pier. Installing lights that allow the fisheries to work at night, while also making the area more suitable for tourism. By caring for our environment everyone wins. The processing company will also have access to more raw material, which will probably make the feed even cheaper, right?” said the secretary.
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Source: G1 – Espírito Santo