Tetra Pak expands recycling programme to Sao Paulo city

Tetra Pak has extended its Recicla Cidade programme to the city of Sao Paulo, where only 2% of potentially recyclable material is currently recycled despite universal waste-collection coverage. The project will set up 15 permanent drop-off points and nine exchange points to boost separation of recyclables, including used beverage cartons, at source.

Why this mattersCarton recycling depends on household separation rather than collection coverage, so Tetra Pak is investing directly in sorting infrastructure to secure feedstock for its recycling chain.

• Sao Paulo recycles only 2% of potentially recyclable material despite 78% road coverage for waste collection in 2025
• Tetra Pak's Recicla Cidade programme will add 15 ecopontos (permanent drop-off points) and nine ecotroca (exchange) points in Sao Paulo city
• If Sao Paulo reaches the average recycling rate of other cities in the programme, Tetra Pak estimates recovery of an additional 4,000 tonnes per year of long-life cartons
• Long-life cartons are composed of 75% paper, 20% plastic and 5% aluminium
• Sorted paper is used to make products such as egg boxes and recycled fibre; the plastic-aluminium mix is used to make sheets and roofing tiles
• Recycling infrastructure is concentrated in southern and southeastern Brazil, requiring some materials to be transported to Sao Paulo for processing

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