Luciano Legaspe, who is 56 years old, learned from his parents that trash was worth more than people seemed to think. In the 1960s, when the term “recycling” was not popular yet, the curious boy was already reusing things.

The challenge of living in harmony with nature led Luciano to study Geography at the University of São Paulo (USP). He then went on to study abroad and put into practice what he learned about susta inability. In 1998, he built a house where trash does not exist. Located in the town of Cotia, in São Paulo state, the house started being called the Recycling School, and it is visited nowadays by children, young adults, and adults.

Carol S., 13 years old.

When Carol S., a 13-year-old student from Avenues School in São Paulo, visited the house, she interviewed Luciano for JOCA. “To have the opportunity to meet this inspiring man was amazing. The house is really impressive. I left with many ideas about how my life could be more sustainable, “ she commented. Check out the interview below.

Carol S.: When did you start becoming interested in environmental issues?

I was born in a family with very low income. In my family, using trash was not uncommon,
it was not something disparaging. My parents, who worked hard, said that it was possible to reuse things that people threw away. My mom kept newspapers and bottles to exchange in the street market for bananas.

At that time, in the 1960s, the word “recycling” did not even exist. To do what I did, I suffered from what is known today as bullying (making fun of someone because they do things others are not used to), but I never cared vermuch. What others did not understand was, for example, that if I was throwing away used oil and I needed to buy soap, why wouldn’t I use oil to make soap and keep the money to travel?

I like to show people that it is easy to live like this. I use trash as raw material. To filter a small amount of water, for example, I use a small coffee filter.

Carol S.: At home, it is the same: a tshirt is lost, but a floor rag is found.

How cool! It is the same here!

Carol S.: Was changing your lifestyle hard? I imagine not, because you were raised like this from when you were young…

It would be harder to not be like this. When I lived in an apartment in São Paulo, I thought of myself as sick. I would keep organic material in buckets to compost [transform food remains into fertiliser, which naturally speeds up plant growth] in someone else’s home. I could not let myself put it in a bag and simply throw it away. As soon as I was able to, I bought this house and was able to create all this. I feel happy as a human being because now I do not generate any trash. Even the toilet paper in the house turns into fuel and is used to light the wood stove.

Carol S.: Can you describe your home to JOCA readers?

My house is very simple – the construction is like that of any other house. But a lot of things here were trash and became art.

For example: I picked up wood that would be thrown away, made holes in it and put stones on it. It became a door that is beautiful and unusual. The water I use year-round is rainwater – when it rains, I store it. This is how it works: the rainwater flows through the gutter, passes through a chain (which acts like a water conductor) and drops into a bucket full of rocks, which filter the water. Lastly, it goes through a pipe to the cistern [where the water is stored].

I have a solar-powered stove where I cook my own food and that of my dogs. I use leftovers to make gas and fertilizer for my plants. I also have more than 30 different types of fruit trees. I planted species that yield throughout  the year so I always have a variety of fruits and vegetables in different seasons. This way, my family, the animals that live here, and I have food.

Carol S.: Do you have any tips for anyone who wants to have a more sustainable life?

Nowadays, people find many opportunities to do this. In cities, there is waste collection to separate paper, glass, and metal.

You can make soap from used oil and collect organic material for composting… With the knowledge we have today, we can invest a little of our time in becoming nature’s partner. Everyone wins.

QUESTIONS

1. According to the text, which is NOT the correct option?

a. You can stop polluting and save money using oil to make soap.
b. You can store water when there is heavy rain.
c. Organic material can turn into fertilizer which helps plant growth.
d. Used toilet paper can be recycled to become new toilet paper.

2. What have you done to reduce trash generation at home?

*Answer: D

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