Coomcat

What Coomcat does

Coomcat (Cooperativa de Catadores e Recicladores de Santa Cruz do Sul) is a worker cooperative founded in 2010 and based in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The cooperative is composed of 48 self-managed waste pickers (catadores e catadoras autogeridos) — though headcount references cite 52 cooperados in a 2019 article and 54 families in 2021 — and is contracted by the municipality of Santa Cruz do Sul to execute the official Programa Municipal de Coleta Seletiva Solidária, providing door-to-door recyclable collection across 15 neighborhoods. Coomcat also manages the Usina Municipal de Resíduos (Municipal Waste Plant), where members sort recyclables and dispatch rejected materials to the Minas do Leão sanitary landfill.

The cooperative's service portfolio is fundamentally labor-based and built on manual sorting operations rather than proprietary technology. Core offerings include Coleta Seletiva Solidária for residential, commercial, and condominium clients; municipal waste plant management; EDUCAMOS environmental education programs; and CERTIFICAMOS, an environmental consulting line that issues Certificado de Destinação Final (CDF) certificates to companies. Supplementary initiatives include periodic Drive Thru collection events at Praça Getúlio Vargas and the Projeto Separe partnership with Sicredi Vale do Rio Pardo for electronic waste and cooking oil collection.

Coomcat monetizes through three primary streams: (1) a municipal government service contract paying R$ 102.4 thousand per month (2019 figure), (2) sale of collected recyclables to licensed downstream companies, and (3) fees from environmental consulting and CDF certification services to private enterprises. In 2018, the cooperative collected 929 tonnes of recyclable material, with cited environmental impact metrics including preservation of 10,000 trees, 137,000 liters of petroleum, and approximately 500,000 kg of ore. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, anchored by the municipal contract and supplemented by direct outreach to condominiums, SMBs, and commercial establishments across Santa Cruz do Sul.

Name

Coomcat

Legal name

Cooperativa de Catadores e Recicladores de Santa Cruz do Sul

Website

https://coomcat.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Coomcat is a 48-member worker cooperative in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil, contracted by the municipality to execute selective waste collection across 15 neighborhoods, manage the municipal waste plant, and provide environmental consulting and CDF certification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management and Recycling Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Curbside MSW Collection (Cart-Based) (EUAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recyclables Transfer & Consolidation (Single/Source-Separated) (BPALABAD), Single-Stream MRFs (Residential Curbside) (EUAIADAA), Single-Stream MRF Operations (Residential Curbside Sorting) (BPALADAA), Multi-Family / HOA MSW Collection (Apartments, Condos) (EUAIAAAJ)

Keywords

• Selective waste collection
• Recycling cooperative services
• Municipal waste management
• Environmental consulting services
• Recyclable materials sorting

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz do Sul

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Municipal Government Contract: Coomcat is contracted by the municipality of Santa Cruz do Sul to execute the Programa Municipal de Coleta Seletiva Solidária. The municipality pays R$ 102.4 thousand monthly (as of 2019).
2. Sale of Recyclable Materials: All recyclable materials collected are sold to licensed companies, returning materials to the productive cycle of recycling and generating income for the catadores.
3. Environmental Consulting and Certification: Coomcat provides environmental consulting services, technical visits, training on correct waste segregation, and issues Certificado de Destinação Final (CDF) certificates to companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Coomcat is a worker cooperative of self-managed waste pickers (catadores) that executes Santa Cruz do Sul's municipal selective collection program across 15 neighborhoods, manages the Municipal Waste Plant where recyclables are sorted and residues sent to sanitary landfill, and sells collected recyclables to licensed buyers. The cooperative also provides environmental consulting, technical visits, training on waste segregation, and issues Final Destination Certificates (CDF) to private enterprises and institutions.

Product overview

Coomcat operates as a cooperative of waste collectors and recyclers offering a unified portfolio of selective collection and environmental services. The core offerings consist of Coleta Seletiva Solidária (residential, commercial, and condominium collection), combined with Usina Municipal de Resíduos management. These are supported by EDUCAMOS (environmental education) and CERTIFICAMOS (environmental consulting and certification) services. Occasional Drive Thru collection events and Projeto Separe (electronic waste program) extend community engagement. The organization functions as a service-based cooperative rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coleta Seletiva Solidária (Selective Collection Service) Door-to-door selective collection of recyclable materials from residential areas, businesses, condominiums, and public institutions in 15 neighborhoods of Santa Cruz do Sul, with customized schedules per client. Executed under the official municipal selective collection program.
• Coleta Seletiva Solidária para Empresas (Selective Collection for Enterprises) Customized selective collection service for private enterprises and commercial establishments, with personalized collection days and shifts per client, designed to promote sustainability, social inclusion, and circular economy.
• Gestão da Usina Municipal de Resíduos (Municipal Waste Plant Management) Operation of the Municipal Waste Plant facility, including sorting (triagem) of recyclable materials by cooperative members and proper disposal of rejected materials to the Minas do Leão sanitary landfill, promoting social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
• CERTIFICAMOS - Consultoria Ambiental e CDF (Environmental Consulting and Final Destination Certificate) Specialized environmental consulting service for companies and institutions, including technical visits, training on correct waste segregation, educational lectures, and issuance of the Certificado de Destinação Final (CDF) documenting proper disposal of generated waste.
• Drive Thru - Coleta Seletiva Solidária (Drive-Thru Selective Collection Events) Periodic large-scale collection events held at Praça Getúlio Vargas in Santa Cruz do Sul where community members deliver recyclable materials (paper, cardboard, plastic, PET, glass, cooking oil, electronic waste, styrofoam, metals) directly from their vehicles.
• Projeto Separe (Separe Project - Electronic Waste and Cooking Oil Collection) Dedicated collection program for electronic waste and saturated cooking oil in partnership with Fundo Social Sicredi Vale do Rio Pardo, using specialized containers to improve recycling rates and promote environmental education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 929 tonnes of recyclable waste collected in 2018
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Prefeitura de Santa Cruz do SulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality contracts Coomcat to execute the Programa Municipal de Coleta Seletiva Solidária. The municipality pays approximately R$ 102.4 thousand monthly. The cooperative manages the Usina Municipal de Resíduos and collects recyclables from 15 neighborhoods.
• Instituto Lixo Zero BrasilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Zero Waste Week events and Dia Lixo Zero activities. The institute organizes the Semana Lixo Zero Santa Cruz do Sul.
• Movimento Nacional dos Catadores (MNCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoomcat is part of MNCR, the National Movement of Waste Pickers. The movement advocates for dignity, social inclusion, and fair payment for waste pickers.
• Associação Nacional de Catadores e Catadoras de Materiais Recicláveis (ANCAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoomcat is associated with ANCAT, which advocates for waste pickers at national level and publishes annual yearbooks on waste picker protagonism.
• Secretaria Municipal de Meio Ambiente, Saneamento e Sustentabilidade (SEMMAS/SEMASS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipal environment secretariat works with Coomcat on environmental policies and the selective collection program.
• Fundação Luterana de Diaconia (FLD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting environmental and social initiatives, listed as supporter of Drive Thru events.
• ONG Protetores de Santa Cruz do SulmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Drive Thru Coleta Seletiva Solidária events for waste collection activities.
• Plataforma Reciclar pelo BrasilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational platform supporting selective collection initiatives, listed as supporter of Coomcat events.
• Fupasc - Fundação para Proteção Ambiental de Santa Cruz do SulmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental protection foundation supporting Coomcat's Drive Thru collection events.
• Fórum de Ação pela Coleta Seletiva Solidária (FACS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForum supporting selective collection actions, listed as supporter of Coomcat events.
• Grupo do Bem Santa Cruz do SulminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in 3rd Drive Thru event for waste collection.
• Diocese Santa CruzminorOthersListed as partner organization on Coomcat's website.
• AvesolminorOthersListed as partner organization on Coomcat's website.
• MercurminorOthersListed as partner organization on Coomcat's website.
• RecicleminorOthersListed as supporter of Drive Thru events.
• CDL Santa Cruz do SulminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCâmara de Dirigentes Lojistas, partner hosting Drive Thru events at Praça Getúlio Vargas.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Estre Ambiental: Large Brazilian solid waste and recycling operator with landfill and hauling operations; relevant peer as a scaled alternative selective collection and recycling service provider for Brazilian municipalities.
• Ecourbis: Brazilian environmental services firm offering urban cleaning, selective collection, and solid waste management to municipalities; competes for the same municipal selective collection contracts Coomcat holds in Santa Cruz do Sul.
• Ciclus Ambiental: Brazilian waste management company operating in selective collection and MRF services in several Brazilian municipalities; directly comparable to Coomcat as a provider of municipal solid waste selective collection and sorting services.
• Vivere Soluções Ambientais: Brazilian regional operator providing selective waste collection and reverse logistics services; operates in similar municipal-segment niche directly competitive with Coomcat's service portfolio.

Others

• ICLEI América do Sul: Network supporting municipal sustainability and solid waste policy in Brazil and Latin America; adjacent peer as a driver of demand for cooperative-style selective collection providers like Coomcat.
• MNCR - Movimento Nacional dos Catadores de Recicláveis: National waste pickers movement of which Coomcat is an affiliate; not a direct competitor but the apex solidarity-economy organization shaping policy, contracts, and peer replication for cooperatives like Coomcat.

Broad incumbents

• Logística Ambiental de São Paulo (Loga): Major São Paulo-based municipal waste hauler providing selective collection across multiple districts; comparable in service mix (curbside recyclables, MRF operations) and contracted municipal customer type.
• Veolia Brasil (formerly Proactiva): Multinational environmental services giant with significant Brazilian footprint in urban cleaning, selective collection, and recycling; comparable to Coomcat's municipal selective collection offering but at far larger scale.

Emerging players

• Recicleiros (Associação Reciclando Vidas): São Paulo-based waste picker cooperative supporting social inclusion through selective collection; directly comparable solidarity-economy and cooperative structure to Coomcat.
• Coopermiti (Cooperativa de Catadores de Itatiba): Brazilian worker cooperative of waste pickers in São Paulo state; comparable in cooperative ownership structure, manual sorting model, and selective collection to municipal clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_Qby3t_3QF5bFJ36ol_NyA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSSdeSCS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coomcat
• Instagraminstagram.com/cooperativa_coomcat_/?hl=pt-br

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coomcat