Last Friday, November 17, the docks and walkways of Tortel were the scene of the "Junk Cleaning" 2023, a project carried out in collaboration between the community, the municipality and the social company Balloon Latam. This joint effort, together with the participation of the Parque La Tapera Foundation, Karün and AZA Acero Sostenible, arises in response to the need to improve the local environment.
Effective coordination between the various participants allowed for the successful collection of a considerable amount of scrap from the docks and walkways. In less than four hours, a municipal hopper and a barge were completely filled.
The event had the active participation of people of all ages and sectors of the community, united in the task of collecting waste from the walkways and the roundabout sector.
Abel Becerra, mayor of Tortel, commented on the critical need for scrap collection in the commune: «Although we adequately manage solid waste, scrap was becoming a problem, especially in the upper sector and on the coastal edge. “Geography and logistics complicate waste management, and most of our solid waste is moved to Cochrane, which implies high transportation costs.”
The unique geography of Tortel, without conventional streets and with all activities carried out through docks and walkways, motivated the "Scrap Cleaning" initiative. Despite being recently recognized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as “Best Tourism Villages” 2023, the commune faces notable challenges due to its proximity to bodies of water and the extensive 7.5 km walkways that cross it, complicating the implementation of waste management systems.
Camila Cárdenas, territorial director of Balloon Latam in Aysén, explained that “Clearing Chatarra” was born as a joint proposal by Balloon Latam, Karün and Fundación La Tapera in response to the needs identified by the municipality and its community.
«This project seeks to inspire the understanding that waste conservation and management are global challenges, related to the daily decisions we make in our consumption patterns. “It encourages all the inhabitants of this territory to assume responsibilities,” said Cárdenas.
The “Junk Cleanup” stands out as an example of how community collaboration and environmental commitment can generate a positive and sustainable impact in our localities. At Balloon Latam, we celebrate the success of this initiative and reaffirm our commitment to projects that promote the well-being of communities and the care of the environment.
