In 1991, Curitiba began exchanging recyclables for bus tokens and food. 35 years later, the city recycles 70% of its waste while creating jobs and supporting families

In Curitiba, Brazil, residents can exchange recyclable waste for fresh food. Other cities have found different uses for what people throw away. Belo Horizonte has brought waste pickers into formal recycling systems. Bogotá captures landfill methane to produce energy. These programs reveal a practical shift in urban waste management: garbage can create value before it becomes a burden.