ACRN Journal of Entrepreneurship Perspectives Vol. 1, Issue 2, p. 84-88, Nov. 2012

ISSN 2224-9729

84

CASE REPORT: EAFIT SOCIAL 2012

Entrepreneurship: “Collection Center for Integrated Solid Waste Management (MIRS” In the Municipality of San Andrés de Cuerquia

The third phase of the program AMBBI (Antioquia Medellín Biskaia Bilbao) of the Government of Antioquia begins with the implementation of the Hidroituango1 project in Antioquia, having EAFIT University- EAFIT Social ES as its operator. As a result of this program the Leadership School was created, a school that implements trainings in diverse areas for the residents of San Andrés de Cuerquia.

Thanks to these training journals came up the initiative of creating a collection center for solid waste management in the municipality, in hands of the Association of Women of San Andres de Cuerquia Antioquia (ASOMANOL) integrated for 4 entrepreneurs women; The initiative answers the need of decontaminate and keep clean the municipality. These women want to have a nice place, and to take advantage of the solid waste, so they can contribute to the restoration and preservation of the environment. They also want to create new jobs and with it improve the quality of life of its residents.

The productive unit is named “RESOSAN” (Solid Waste San Andres de Cuerquia) and

its goal is to collect, classify, pack and commercialize the solid waste generated in the municipality with the purpose of offering cleaned and selected plastics and glasses, processed and pressed cardboard, as well as classified scrap, copper and aluminium.

1 Hidroituango Project: Design and build a hydroelectric power station in the municipalities of Briceño, Ituango and Toledo (Antioquia). It will start commercializing energy nationally and internationally by 2018; contributing to the harmonic management of the environment and a commitment with social and economic development of communities that surround it, impacting positively the region, Antioquia and Colombia.

ACRN Journal of Entrepreneurship Perspectives Vol. 1, Issue 2, p. 84-88, Nov. 2012

ISSN 2224-9729

85

RESOSAN through EAFIT Social, was part of creative workshops that not only help to define its name and slogan, but also gave the opportunity to train women in how to separate, classify and pack solid waste. They learned about pest control, business plan, financial analysis, and market research.

EAFIT Social has been a part of the strengthening process, and its function was to support ASOMANOL in all of the trainings, provide tools, purchase and delivery a motorcar with resources from the AMBBI project that has made easier the transport of the solid waste in some phases of the production process.

The idea of creating this Collection Center is interesting and offers advantages to the municipality and to the local people involved in the project, Several advantages to make possible this initiative were detected after developing a market research in the municipality, and having as a reference a couple of solid waste management companies in Medellin city. In first place it´s an innovative business idea that let women to be part of productive activities that are generally made it for men. It is also an opportunity to change their daily activities as they become entrepreneurs who look forward to make a better future for themselves and their families. RESOSAN contributes to the growth of the municipality in terms of the inclusion of new economic activities. Additionally it’s a clean business, environment friendly, profitable and sustainable, with opportunities assured. In the other hand, it represents an opportunity to create jobs and profitability as there is no other enterprise dedicated to the solid waste management in San Andrés de Cuerquia.

Case Report: EAFIT SOCIAL 2012

86

The model of social entrepreneurship of EAFIT Social considers the figure of Godmother companies as a strategy that contributes to the sustainability of newly established social enterprises. The godmother company is a legally constituted organization, with extensive experience in the market. They consider their commercial object, and respond to the municipality needs, that require an integrated solid waste management service, offering environmental sustainability solutions that promote growth and local development, and complying with legislative requirements.

The godmother company for this initiative was Enviambientales S.A, EVAS, an

enterprise dedicated to provide a cleaning public service in the Municipality of Envigado. EVAS delivered two objectives; they work to minimize contamination and to reduce the damages and risks to the environment and the human health. In this sense the godmother company and the social enterprise share the same objective.

During the process EAFIT Social generates joint- journals , field trips for the

entrepreneurs in the godmother company with processes training and an Public Agreement Act as a prove of the partnership, allowing to “institutionalize” the support of people involved in the process.

ACRN Journal of Entrepreneurship Perspectives Vol. 1, Issue 2, p. 84-88, Nov. 2012

ISSN 2224-9729

87

The production process starts with the separation of the waste in the source2 (homes, granaries, restaurants, supermarkets and commercial business), and its storage in sacks given by RESOSAN to be picked up by members of the initiative. After the collecting process, wastes are taken to the collection center, where separation and selection processes are done. They continue with the washing process (just for glass and plastic) and packing with machinery provided by AMBBI program; once the packing is finished, wastes are stored and they are ready to be dispatched.

2 Source: Denomination of the collection places of the solid waste.

Case Report: EAFIT SOCIAL 2012

88

The solid waste will be sale in Medellin, having as potential clients companies that reuse waste for transformation and creation of new products. Currently 4 women are in charge of RESOSAN and they continue their labour with EVAS´s support, giving the opportunity to consult and to share some experiences with the purpose of strengthen its initiative and to stay in the market, standing out as a productive leader unit in the community.

Mario E. Vargas Sáenz, PhD.

Director EAFIT Social

Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia.

All figures source: author