Copsa Mica was a town built around two factories, both spewing filth out of their smokestacks. One made the black carbon used in tyres. The other was a metal works. Together they had poisoned everything around them.

Plants would not grow. Laundry could not be left out to dry because it would get dirty again. Two out of every three children had some form of mental retardation. Health experts said half the town suffered from bronchitis or asthma. Life expectancy was just 43 years of age.

The factory that produced black carbon was shut down. It could not be made safe. But the Sometra metal factory, which employed almost half the people in Copsa Mica, had to be saved. In 1993 experts from UNIDO carried out a comprehensive survey of the Sometra factory and its production processes. They came up with a series of recommendations on how clean up the production process while still maintaining a competitive edge.

Special filters and disposal systems were installed to keep dust and toxins out of the air. A water treatment plant was built to keep the factory from polluting nearby lakes and streams.

The cleanup worked, preventing pollution and saving more than 4,000 jobs. The factory also became more efficient, making its products more attractive on the international market.

The cost of cleaning up Copsa Mica was relatively little - about US$250,000. Beyond what was spent to improve the production process at the Sometra factory, residents did the rest on their own, taking it upon themselves to sweep dirt out of their homes. For workers, it meant showering at their jobs so they didnn't take the filth out of the factories.

Within four years, life for the five thousand inhabitants was transformed.