A public school in Guaíra uses a biodigester for school meals and teaches sustainability.
Equipment installed with support from Itaipu Binacional generates cooking gas from organic waste and also produces fertilizer for the school garden.
247 - At the Maria Leônia Municipal School in Guaíra (PR), school meals are now prepared with gas generated from organic waste. The biodigester installed at the school transforms food scraps into biogas, providing savings for the school and promoting a practical environmental education experience for the students. The equipment was acquired by the municipality with resources from the Itaipu Mais que Energia program, from Itaipu Binacional, in partnership with Caixa Econômica Federal.
“Besides saving on gas bills, the biodigester is a tool for educational practices,” explains Marlene Dallacosta, coordinator of Solid Waste Management and Regulation and environmental educator for the municipality. “Students learn how it works, understand that the gas used to prepare school meals comes from this process, and realize the importance of sustainability.” According to Marlene, the solid waste generated in the biodigester also has a use: “It is used as fertilizer in the school garden.”
The initiative has sparked interest from other schools in the region. The equipment installed at the Maria Leônia School was made possible through the Itaipu Mais que Energia Call for Proposals 1, with an investment of R$ 16.900,00. The project covers the entire state of Paraná and 35 municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul, encouraging sustainable solutions in different sectors.
How does a biodigester work?
The biodigester accelerates the decomposition of organic waste in an oxygen-free environment, generating biogas and a nutrient-rich material that can be used as fertilizer. In addition to replacing cooking gas, biogas can be refined to become biomethane, used as vehicle fuel, or even converted into electricity.
Another benefit of the process is the reduction of methane emissions, one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. Proper waste disposal also minimizes the amount of waste sent to landfills or improperly disposed of in the environment.
Carlos Carboni, Director of Coordination at Itaipu, emphasizes that the company's support for projects like this generates positive economic and environmental impacts. “Climate change is already a reality. With the biodigester at the school, Itaipu is making an important contribution to helping children learn about the necessary changes in our lifestyles to reduce emissions and pollution,” he states.
With the success of the initiative in Guaíra, the expectation is that more schools will adopt the technology, consolidating the biodigester as a viable solution to reduce costs and increase environmental awareness among students.