Almost 30 partners from Government, civil society and the private sector worked together to build awareness and define priorities related to improving the quality of the urban environment through community-based solid-waste management and recycling. The ReciproCity Programme has adopted three criteria that characterise a successful practice:

1. partnership among local governments, NGOs, social and economic actors, 2) impact assessment, 3) sustainability.

Other criteria such as leadership, community development and social inclusion are priorities adopted by this experience. With political support from the municipality and financial support from the private sector, Santo Andre has developed a three pronged approach to recycling: (1) traditional household separation of organic and non-organic waste; (2) special collections from schools and public buildings; and (3) business recycling of construction and industrial wastes.

• A real involvement of local government units, 10 secretaries, and inter-municipal cooperation between 7 cities in the region and other regions of the São Paulo State and of the country.

• Citizens' rescue, opening opportunities with income generation, and occupational therapy to recuperate chemical dependents and street children/adolescents at risk.

• Requalification of 10 areas in the urban spaces by a new environmental quality;

• Solid Waste Management and Public Cleaning efficiency;

• Preservation of the environment

• Future increases to the Municipal Educational Fund with recycled materials commercialization

• Promotion of environmental education with cultural, sportive, recreational and educational activities to community participation and people's involvement and awareness-building, almost 60,000, in 90 public schools, with 10 community groups and public parks;

• Creativity and economic recovery in waste use and reuse.