Abstract
This paper describes how the local authorities and population of a small city in Peru addressed the environmental problems they faced from a large copper mine, the fishmeal industry and a lack of basic investment in infrastructure. It shows how an innovative and committed local council was able to work with the industrial concerns and the inhabitants in developing a long-range plan to reduce industrial pollution and to improve housing conditions and the living environment through support for community organization and self-help in both new and established low-income settlements. Strong local democracy proved to be a key factor in this success.