Three Neoenergia’s distributors in Northeast - Coelba (BA), Celpe (PE) and Cosern (RN) - resumed Vale Luz Project, the group’s initiative benefitting customers with discounts at the energy bill in exchange for recyclable materials. Interrupted in March in view of coronavirus pandemic, the project is back, complying with the phased reopening of economic activities in these states and meeting safety and prevention to covid-19 protocols. Bahia, for instance, is offering the drive-thru model.
“For this resumption, we adopted strict measures for covid-19 prevention, in compliance with the rules issued by the competent public authorities. The project is even more important in this period, since it provides a support to income generation for the waste picker cooperative, the partner in this project. In addition, it benefits customers by providing a reduction in the amount of the energy bill, in addition to energy savings through the exchange of lamp bulbs and fostering sustainability actions”, says Ana Mascarenhas, Neoenergia’s Energy Efficiency manager.
The project has enabled the correct destination of over 4.5 thousand tons of waste and offered R$ 1 million in discounts in the energy bill for 19.7 thousand customers. In the first quarter 2020 alone, 226 tons of recyclable materials were collected, and R$ 56.6 thousands was granted in discounts. The initiative is part of the Energy Efficiency Program, regulated by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).
TYPES OF WASTE ACCEPTED
Materials such as cardboard, office paper, newspapers, PET bottles, plastic bags, cleaning products packaging, buckets, plastic tables, soft drink and other food products cans. Cooking oil, provided that filtered and inside a transparent PET bottle, can also be delivered. In addition, the project receives electronic waste, including TV set, cell phone, keyboard, among others. Information on all service stations and credit monitoring can be accessed in Vale Luz application, available for Android and iOS operating systems.
The project has three modalities, serving residential customers, condominiums and companies. Consumers can separate the materials and deliver them at the service stations and credit will be granted on the next bill. For condominiums and companies, the Vale Luz Truck is in charge of the collection. The provision of access and parking for the vehicle is a prerequisite for participating, in addition to not having a previous partnership with other waste picker cooperatives. The discount is applied to the condominium energy bill and, for companies, the amount of the discount benefits non-profit institutions selected by them.
PERNAMBUCO
Celpe resumed the modalities for waste collection in companies and residential condominiums. For adhering, the customer just has to contact Neoenergia by email: eficiencia@neoenergia.com, and request enrollment through the application form available in www.celpe.com.br. Upon validation, the project’s team will schedule a date for collecting the recyclable materials, which must be clean, dry and segregated by type. The project operates in Recife, Olinda and Cabo de Santo Agostinho.
BAHIA
In Bahia, Vale Luz operates in for cities: Salvador, Lauro de Freitas, Mata de São João and Camaçari. The places and opening hours for receiving recyclables are:
At Salvador Shopping and Salvador Norte Shopping permanent stations, by drive-thru, from Mondays to Saturdays, from 12:00 am to 8 pm.
At Praia do Forte Ecopoint, from Mondays to Fridays, from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (closed from 12:00 am to 1 pm) and Saturdays, from 7:30 to 11:30 am.
At the condominiums enrolled in the project;
At Pirajá subway station in Salvador, opened from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8 am to 7 pm; only in this location, it is possible to exchange aluminum cans for Merrecas, a fictitious currency created by the distributors, that can be reverted into discount in the energy bill or LED lamps.
RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
Cosern’s customers can also deliver their waste. In Natal and Parnamirim, consumers will find itinerant tents that will be installed in four supermarkets, operating from 9:00 am to 2 pm, on alternate days:
- On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the service will be provided at Carrefour, at BR-101, in Candelária district.
- On Wednesdays and Fridays, at Rede Mais, located in Santos Reis in Parnamirim.
- On Mondays, every two weeks, the service will be provided at Rede Mais supermarkets in Cidade da Esperança and Nova Descoberta. Payment of bills and exchange of lamps are also provided.
This initiative is part of Iberdrola group’s response to Coronavirus..
