Circular Economy and Solid Waste Management: Challenges and Opportunities in Brazil

Abstract

Brazil has a vast territory and regional diversity, which turn the promotion of circular economy (or its improvement) into a complex challenge. This paper aims to analyse these challenges and solid waste management opportunities as a driving force for the circular economy in Brazil. Therefore, two significant challenges are discussed in this paper: increasing industrial waste recovery and improving the selective collection of municipal solid waste. Industries are concentrated in the country’s South and Southeast regions, where 56% of the population live and where the best logistic infrastructure is also located. These features can help the circular economy related to industrial and municipal solid waste in those regions but bring challenges concerning the waste generated in the other part, such as the Brazilian Amazon. According to legislation, the productive sector is responsible for its products before and after use (waste prevention actions). One of the national laws establishes reverse logistic systems for several items, such as agrochemical packaging and electrical and electronic waste, but some sectors have better results than others in terms of circular economy. The cement industry in Brazil is highlighted as a case of relative success. On the other hand, the mining industry in Brazil has challenges related to the large amount of waste generated with high environmental and social risks, which caused several large accidents in the last years.