The Role of the ABREN and WtERT-Brasil Association in Advancing Sustainable Waste Management in Brazil

One of the biggest problems in Latin America, and particularly in Brazil, is the poor management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), the consequences of which being countless damage to the environment and public health. More than 50 years behind in terms of waste management compared to developed countries, Brazil still endorses outdated practices such as landfills as being environmentally appropriate. This is what the article 3, section VIII of the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) established by Law no. 12.305/2010, provides for when defining landfills as “environmentally appropriate” whereas in practice it would be an outdated, non-sustainable way of managing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).

Brazil produced 82.4 million tons of MSW in 2020, out of which 3.9% recycled and sent for composting, 60.2% to landfills and the remainder 30.2 million tons (or 39.8% of all waste) dumped by 2,868 municipalities in dumps or unsanitary landfills (ABRELPE, 2021), without even mentioning that dumping waste in a unsanitary landfill or dumpsites constitutes an environmental crime. This shows the structural flaws in public policies that have resulted in irreversible environmental damage for present and future generations in Brazil.