Curtina: a small community that transforms waste and talent into opportunities

In the north of Uruguay, the small town of Curtina found a way to turn its challenges into opportunities. With the support of the UPM Foundation and local partners, the community converted an old polyclinic into a space where recycling, sewing, and collaboration come together to build a more sustainable future.

From a neighborhood initiative to a project with impact

It all began in 2017 with Curtina Verde Inclusiva, a local proposal that sought to reduce waste and generate employment. What was then an initiative driven by committed neighbors has now become the Curtina Recicla project, which integrates the work of recyclers and seamstresses in the same space.

Since 2022, the project has been supported by Fundación UPM, Fundación Verde, the Ministry of the Environment, and the local city council, which have accompanied it´s growth with equipment, training, and coordination with companies.

In 2025, the group moved permanently to the former local polyclinic, which was refurbished to house the recycling plant and textile workshop.

"Although it is a small town with a thousand inhabitants, the change is noticeable." "The reduction in open-pit mining there is impressive"
says Fabiana González, development technician at the Tacuarembó Municipal Government

Recycling to transform

The compactor donated by the Fundación UPM and the Fundación Verde allowed Curtina to move from manual recycling to a more efficient and formal process. Today, four people work sorting and compacting plastic, cardboard, glass, and aluminum, which are then sold to recycling companies, generating income for the group and keeping the community clean.

The work of these recyclers has become a stable source of employment and local pride. The community has also joined in: neighbors separate waste in their homes, the Local Council collaborates in collection, and the municipality sees concrete results in its environment.

The project has the potential to continue receiving plastics, cardboard, and metals from other locations for recycling and to continue growing as an enterprise and an example of sustainability.

Sewing Dreams: creativity and community

A few meters from the recycling warehouse, the old doctor's office was filled with color and movement. This is where the Cosiendo Sueños workshop operates, made up of a group of women who found in sewing a new way to undertake, share, and create.

Thanks to industrial machines donated by the Fundación UPM, the group produces backpacks, pencil cases, and accessories by reusing materials such as discarded uniforms, banners, nylon, and fabric scraps. They also make orders for companies and participate in fairs and exhibitions throughout the country.

"There are few of us, but we keep going" "This changed our lives. We learn, we work, and above all, we find a space to be together"
says Susana Tabares, one of the workshop leaders

Beyond the financial income, the workshop has become a place of encounter and belonging for the women. A space where they share what they have learned, support each other, and strengthen their independence.

A model that inspires other communities

Curtina Recicla and Cosiendo Sueños are now an example of how coordination between the community, businesses, and local governments can generate environmental, social, and economic impact. The project significantly reduced open-air waste, strengthened the circular economy, and gave rise to a collaborative network that transcends the boundaries of the locality.

Curtina's experience is also being replicated in other communities in the north of Uruguay and has already sparked interest among institutions and companies seeking sustainable models of local development.

"Without the alliance of companies, it would be impossible," "When projects are done with the people, the results are visible"
emphasizes Fabiana González

Fundación UPM support communities like Curtina in creating projects that combine social inclusion, the circular economy, and sustainable development. Each initiative we support reinforces our commitment to the growth of rural communities, promoting real and lasting opportunities wherever we are involved.

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