Direct execution
Investments made by the public authorities themselves, which carry out operational management with their own teams and equipment.
Waste
The urban waste sector
The public authorities are responsible for developing an integrated urban waste management plan, to be implemented with short-, medium- and long-term actions.
Management and local context
The role of public authorities
The public authorities are also responsible for environmental licensing and for implementing the different stages planned in the integrated waste management plan.
The sustainability solutions implemented by Aiesse Ambiental adopt technologies that are appropriate to the local reality of each project.
What the plan considers
- available financial resources;
- existing technologies;
- available areas for operational units (garages, treatment and final disposal units);
- the level of education and awareness of the population.
Indirect execution
Public services are outsourced, through a bidding process, by contracting private sector companies, which work with their own team and equipment in exchange for a monthly fee for the services performed. Long-term contracts, under a PPP (public-private partnership) arrangement, make investments possible for providing the services and implementing technologies, in exchange for remuneration, through a fee or tariff, paid to the private concessionaire.
Among other responsibilities, the population should:
- not litter streets and public areas;
- correctly separate waste at home;
- store waste in separate bags;
- pay for the services rendered on time.
Legislation
Essential legal aspects
New public policies have recently been established in Brazil, especially Resolution No. 187 of the ANA (opens in a new tab; official document in Portuguese) (National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency), which approved Reference Standard No. 07/2024 (NR 07/2024) (opens in a new tab; official document in Portuguese), which defines the general conditions for the provision of urban cleaning services, management and treatment of urban waste, and establishes the guidelines that allow the implementation of all the principles foreseen in Federal Law No. 12,305/2010 (opens in a new tab; official document in Portuguese).
A definitive boost for the recycling sector was given with the enactment of Law No. 15,394/26 (opens in a new tab; official document in Portuguese), which amends federal tax legislation and eliminates double taxation, exempting the sale of recyclable materials from certain taxes (PIS/Pasep and Cofins) and authorizing the use of tax credits in the purchase of recyclable materials, provided that the company is taxed under the real profit regime.
Legal aspects (official documents in Portuguese): Resolution No. 187 (ANA) (opens in a new tab) Reference Standard No. 07/2024 (NR 07/2024) (opens in a new tab) Federal Law No. 12,305/2010 (opens in a new tab) Law No. 15,394/26 (opens in a new tab)
Brazil
Current reality of the sector
Brazil
below 5%
household waste recycling rates in Brazil and other developing countries
SLU – DF
40%
average “contamination” rate of recyclables (with rejects and organic fraction) where door-to-door selective collection exists — source: SLU – DF
The average “contamination” rate of 40% (source: SLU – DF), observed in Brazilian cities where door-to-door “selective collection” services exist, demonstrates the very low level of public awareness regarding the correct separation of waste in their homes.
Despite all the potential social, environmental and economic benefits, in Brazil the segment of industrial treatment units that allow for the valorization of urban waste, maximizing material recovery, generating renewable energy and reducing GHG emissions, is still in its early stages.
Technology
Technological routes
The flowchart below represents the main technological routes that comply with existing environmental legislation and technical standards and are viable for implementation in countries like Brazil, where the collection of unsorted waste still predominates; that is, selective collection of different fractions of household waste does not yet exist, or where it does exist, it is still in its early stages.
Flowchart · Technological alternatives
- MSW Unsorted household waste, door-to-door collection
- scale
Mechanical Treatment bag opener, rotary screens, conveyors for manual sorting- Recyclable Waste
- Cooperatives, sale to industries
- Organic Waste
Biological Treatment Aerobic Composting- or Bioenergy sanitary landfill
- Electricity generation
- or Biofuel (Biomethane)
- Rejects
- Bioenergy sanitary landfill (the same landfill as in the organics branch)
- Electricity generation
- or Biofuel (Biomethane)
- or Energy from Waste (EfW)
- or RDF - Cement plants
- Bioenergy sanitary landfill (the same landfill as in the organics branch)
- Recyclable Waste
Original flowchart, in Portuguese. ↗
We avoid, as much as possible, sending unsorted waste to landfills without first subjecting it to Mechanical Treatment (MT), enabling:
- the recovery of materials on an industrial scale;
- the generation of renewable energy;
- the reduction of GHG emissions;
- a longer lifespan for current landfills;
- less deforestation, by avoiding the need for future landfill areas;
- the social inclusion of cooperatives.
In operation
From reception to valorization
Potential
Each fraction, a possibility
We believe in the potential of transforming recyclable waste into a source of secondary raw materials as input for new industries, in the recovery of the organic fraction for agricultural or energy purposes, and in the energy recovery of rejects as a way to guarantee a secure and stable energy supply for residential, commercial and/or public building consumption, or even for the electrification of fleets and urban transport.
Recyclables
A source of secondary raw material as input for new industries.
Organic fraction
Recovery for agricultural or energy purposes.
Rejects
Energy recovery as a way to guarantee a secure and stable energy supply for residential, commercial and/or public building consumption, or even for the electrification of fleets and urban transport.
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Benefits
Learn about the range of social, environmental and economic benefits achieved through the sustainable urban waste management projects developed and implemented by Aiesse Ambiental.
