Carlos Eduardo Silva

Brazilian social entrepreneur who created the first favela-based recycling cooperative reducing Rio’s waste by 40%.

Carlos Eduardo Silva (b. 1978) emerged as a sustainability leader in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, founding the CooperaFavelas recycling cooperative in 2002. His model transformed waste pickers into formalized workers, providing living wages and healthcare benefits. By 2010, the cooperative processed 12 tons of recyclables daily, diverting 40% of Rocinha favela’s waste from landfills.

Silva’s 2005 ‘Green Credits’ program incentivized residents to separate waste using a token system redeemable for groceries. This model was adopted by 15+ Brazilian cities and inspired similar programs in São Paulo’s periphery. His 2012 documentary ‘Reciclando Vidas’ won a Latin American Environmental Film Festival award.

In 2015, Silva partnered with Nike to create shoes from recycled favela plastic, generating $2.5 million in revenue for cooperatives. His 2018 book ‘Ecojustice in the City’ details how marginalized communities can drive urban sustainability.

Today, CooperaFavelas employs 300+ workers and operates in 8 states. Silva’s work influenced Brazil’s 2021 National Waste Management Plan, which now mandates 30% recycled content in public construction projects.