Socioeconomic, Energetic and Carbon Impacts of a Large-Scale Model of Municipal Solid Waste Treatment in the Largest Brazilian Metropolitan Region

Abstract

The National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) by the Law 12,305 of Aug. 2nd in 2010, is the Brazilian initiative to manage the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the national territory. The Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP) is the largest Brazilian economic macro-region which generates 10% of all MSW in the country which is practically 100% treated in landfills, as suggested by the PNRS. However, its landfills are close to the exhaustion and build new ones collide with the lack of land availability in the region surrounded by water reservoirs. Areas far from the waste generation do not seem to be an economical alternative, due to high freight fee and requirements for environmental licensing.