Pindamonhangaba, Industrial municipality in São Paulo state, Brazil
Pindamonhangaba is a municipality in São Paulo state that sits in the Paraíba Valley at roughly 540 meters above sea level. The city spreads between wooded hills and open plains, with residential neighborhoods scattered across wide areas.
Portuguese settlers arrived in the region in 1643 and began working the land. Formal land grants were distributed from 1649 onward to colonists who established small farms and trading posts.
The name comes from Old Tupi and describes the place where fishing hooks were made or where the river bends. This indigenous term reflects how early inhabitants understood the landscape and its resources.
The city runs eight voluntary drop-off points where residents can leave construction materials and electronic waste at no charge. These collection sites are located across different neighborhoods and make responsible disposal easier.
The city hosts the largest aluminum can recycling center in Latin America, where huge volumes of packaging are melted down. The plant processes cans daily from several countries and supplies new raw materials to factories across the region.
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