Guariba (SP), April 30, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva affirmed yesterday (29) that the Pesticide Container Reception and Disposal Center in Guariba, in the state of São Paulo, is a source of pride for all Brazil. The Unit is completing 10 years, during which time it was responsible for withdrawing 3,195 tons of containers from the environment.

According to the President, this effort needs to be demonstrated to the world, since Brazil is an example in terms of environmental preservation. He underscored that, alongside Germany, the country is a leader in the removal of empty containers from the environment. Brazil retrieves 50% of this material, whereas in the United States the index is only 25%.

The Guariba Center was the first one installed in Brazil. Currently, throughout the country, there are 230 units, coordinated by the National Empty Container Processing Institute. The prognosis is to reach 400 central units, which will generate 3 thousand direct jobs, by the end of 2004. The target is to remove 12 thousand tons of containers from the environment. In the first three months of this year, 3.8 thousand tons of containers were collected, the same amount as in all of 2002.

Translator: David Silberstein