Environmental Regression

IstoÉ Dinheiro. Photo: Pedro Ladeira / Folhapress

On the eve of World Environment Day, the government is facing a series of defeats in an agenda that could have made Brazil a global leader in the green economy. With weakened ministries, restricted indigenous rights, and a loss of control over water resources management, the country runs the risk of maintaining its image as a climate villain in the eyes of the world.

In Brazil, the National Policy on Solid Waste has brought advancements to the structuring of the circular economy and sector engagement in the agenda.

Proof that when the Executive and Legislative branches want, they can reach a consensus is the National Policy on Solid Waste (PNRS). Instituted in August 2010, it brought a series of innovations to the management and handling of what was previously considered waste in the country. According to Guilherme Brammer, Head of Circular Economy at Ambipar, the legislation allowed for considerable progress.

“We were able to make advances in reverse logistics and engage companies in robust sector agreements,” he said. One of the most significant examples is aluminum cans. Data from Recicla Latas, obtained with the support of the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas), indicates that last year recyclers processed 390.2 thousand tons of can scrap, equivalent to the 31.85 billion units sold by can manufacturers in 2022. A 100% utilization rate.

However, the problems in Brazil are still quite significant. According to data from the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), only 4% of recycled materials are processed in the country. One of the major obstacles for Brammer, from Ambipar, is the tax treatment given to recycled materials, which is the same as virgin materials. Another obstacle is the lack of infrastructure. “Only a few Brazilian cities have selective waste collection, which makes the full implementation of the PNRS quite complex,” he stated.

Some regions and companies have addressed this absence of public authority by investing in cooperatives of waste pickers and recyclers. “They represent 90% of waste collection in the country.” And even with progress in organizing the circular economy, there are two more factors that challenge waste management. The first is the industry. “As long as executives are evaluated and rewarded based on the results of a linear economy, it will be very difficult to scale up recycling,” said Brammer. The other factor is the consumer.

“We need to incorporate the environmental agenda into the curriculum of children. Only through education will we achieve the necessary transformation.”

• Click here to read this article in full at IstoÉ Dinheiro Magazine.