Brazilians Want to Recycle, But Infrastructure Lags Behind
Only 4% of waste is recycled despite public support and legal requirements
Despite a widespread willingness among Brazilians to recycle, poor infrastructure and limited public investment are major roadblocks keeping the country’s recycling rate at a mere 4% of the 76 million tonnes of waste collected annually. This paradox between public support and system inefficiency is highlighted in data and expert analyses pointing to a lack of political commitment and an underdeveloped recycling industry.
Nestlé study found that 84% of Brazilians say they regularly separate recyclable from organic waste. However, this well-intentioned behavior often hits a dead end due to logistical barriers. Half of the respondents who don’t recycle cite a lack of adequate infrastructure and services for proper disposal as the main reason.
And even when materials are separated, the scope is often too limited. Most households focus on separating glass, metal, and plastic, but more complex recyclables like electronics and batteries continue to be discarded as regular trash. According to Priscilla Caselatto, consumer insights manager at Nestlé, convenience is key: “People are more likely to recycle what’s made easy for them—like aluminum cans collected in residential buildings.”
Large corporations, responsible for producing much of the packaging waste, have legal obligations to help recover it through reverse logistics. The “Sectoral Agreement Phase 1,” part of Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy, requires companies to recover a portion of the packaging they introduce to the market. In 2022, this represented 22% of total packaging mass, according to Erich Burger of Instituto Recicleiros, a non-profit that promotes recycling ecosystems.
Progress is also complicated by jurisdictional differences: states can impose stricter recycling rules than federal ones. And under the National Solid Waste Plan, the amount of material required to be recovered will rise gradually until 2040.
Yet, beyond legislation and awareness campaigns, systemic challenges persist. Municipal collection programs are underdeveloped, and Brazil’s recycling industry remains fragmented. Although around 2,000 waste-picker cooperatives exist, encompassing roughly 60,000 workers, it is estimated that over 1 million Brazilians are involved in informal recycling activities.
These workers earn between R$600 and R$1,500 per month on average, with income fluctuating alongside material prices. For example, Maria Tereza Montenegro, president of São Paulo’s Cooper Viva Bem, noted that cardboard prices today are nearly the same as in 2005—despite a significant drop in purchasing power. .“There’s a surplus of supply and not enough demand. Plus, recycled materials are being imported,” she explained.
To stimulate domestic recycling, the federal government increased import taxes on paper, glass, and plastic last July. The impact of these changes is expected to be measurable only by early 2024, as stocks deplete and local markets respond.
Another initiative gaining ground is the Recycling Credit Certificate (Certificado de Crédito de Reciclagem), launched by the federal government to allow companies to meet their recovery goals by purchasing credits from cooperatives. While the system has potential, Abrema’s Pedro Maranhão says it still requires refinement.
Adding to the complexity is the ongoing presence of about 3,000 open-air garbage dumps—sites where both organic and recyclable waste are discarded without any form of treatment. These dumps contribute significantly to environmental degradation and public health risks, with damage affecting communities within a 60-kilometer radius.
Instituto Recicleiros is one organization trying to turn the tide. It works with municipalities to implement selective collection programs, investing R$5 million over five years in each participating city. The funds don’t enter public accounts; instead, they go directly into building and equipping local recycling centers. So far, the initiative is active in 14 small and mid-sized cities, with a target of 60 by 2028.
But as Maranhão points out, true transformation will require the formalization and expansion of Brazil’s recycling industry. “We need an organized economic sector with legal protections and proper wages,” he said. Without that, the country’s ambition to recycle more will remain largely unrealized.
