Research presents innovative paths for solid waste management in Brazil

Brazilian cities have had success in promoting innovation in solid waste management, promoting the circular economy and tackling climate change. According to a study published in December 2023 in Habitat International, this success is attributed to four practices: 1) a political and technical structure to facilitate innovation processes; 2) collaboration with state and federal governments; 3) the implementation of educational projects on environmental sustainability and public participation; and 4) the creation of public policies for waste management, focused on local potential.

The results are significant, considering that there are many challenges to innovating in urban solid waste management, including institutional and regulatory barriers, especially in developing countries, where low technical capacity, a lack of environmental awareness and limited government participation are common obstacles.

However, few studies have demonstrated the pathways and key elements needed to rectify this situation. To identify the factors that drive innovation in urban solid waste management, FGV EAESP researchers Michel Xocaira Paes and Jose A. Puppim de Oliveira, in partnership with Sandro Donnini Mancini at Sao Paulo State University and Joan Rieradevall at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, carried out a study in four Brazilian municipalities.

The municipalities of Harmonia (Rio Grande do Sul), Ibertioga (Minas Gerais), Sao Paulo and Carauari (Amazonas) were selected because of their good practices in municipal solid waste management and because they represent different profiles in terms of socioeconomic indicators, the number of inhabitants and geographical distribution across Brazil. The researchers looked for municipalities in which solid waste management practices are practiced that the existing literature in the area points to as being capable of generating positive results in terms of the effects of climate change and the circular economy. Once these four locations had been selected, the researchers conducted technical visits and had interviews with political and civil actors there. The information obtained was checked against data from the national statistics agency (IBGE) and the National Basic Sanitation Information System (SNIS).

Effective practices

The survey found that despite institutional, technological, economic and cultural challenges, the municipalities in question achieved significant reductions in per capita greenhouse gas emissions and waste management costs (operational and investment), taking them to below the national average. Four elements were identified as fundamental to innovation in solid waste management: local technical and political capacity; cooperation between state and federal governments; environmental education programs and social participation; and local partnerships to create and execute waste management initiatives and policies.

Based on this analysis, the authors propose the creation of a national carbon credit fund for urban solid waste management, coordinated by the federal government and involving states and municipalities in the management and allocation of resources. This initiative could overcome challenges such as financing and coordination between different levels of government, while contributing to the circular economy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In short, this study shows that innovation in urban solid waste management does not require large investments or sophisticated technologies. Actions such as prevention, composting, recycling and the use of methane generated by landfill sites to generate power can bring about significant economic and environmental benefits, in line with a vision of sustainable development, climate change mitigation and the transition to a circular economy.

To read the full study, click here.