2018 Reports

The Solid Waste Management Challenge of a Rapidly Developing Economy City: The Case of Rio de Janiero

Bourtsalas, Athanasios

Rio de Janeiro’s municipal solid waste management faces challenges due to high waste generation, limited access in low-income areas, and reliance on the informal recycling sector, which exposes workers to health risks. Recent shifts from the Gramacho landfill to the Seropedica sanitary landfill, along with biogas recovery and composting initiatives, aim to improve sustainability. Brazil’s 2010 PNRS law provides a policy framework, but gaps remain in implementation and hierarchy adoption. Collaborative programs involving government, civil society, and private actors are supporting integrated solutions, yet significant efforts are still needed to achieve long-term, equitable, and environmentally sound waste management.