Evolution of Municipal Solid Waste Indicators in Brazil (2018–2023)

Collection Coverage, Final Disposal, and Recovery from a Public Health and SDG Perspective

Abstract

Objective – To analyze the evolution of municipal solid waste (MSW) indicators in Brazil between 2018 and 2023, discussing their impacts on public health and their relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Methodology – A descriptive and exploratory research based on data obtained from the National Sanitation Information System (SNIS) and the National Information System on Sanitation (SINISA). Five indicators were evaluated: coverage of household waste collection, per capita waste generation, coverage of selective collection, inadequate final disposal, and recovery of recyclables, through descriptive, temporal, and interpretative analyses.

Originality/Relevance – The study helps fill gaps in the understanding of recent developments in municipal solid waste management in Brazil, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, by directly relating waste indicators to the SDGs and public health.

Results – The results show that household waste collection and per capita generation remained stable, around 1 kg per inhabitant/day, during the analyzed period. Selective collection, which had declined during the pandemic years, recovered in 2023. Inadequate waste disposal still represents about 25% of the total, despite signs of reduction in recent years. Recycling recovery increased significantly in 2023 but remains at a very low level, close to 1%. In addition, significant regional disparities persist across the country.

Theoretical/Methodological contributions – The study demonstrates how sanitation indicators can be applied in an integrated way to the analysis of public policies and SDGs, reinforcing the importance of systematic monitoring.

Social and Environmental Contributions – The findings highlight health risks associated with inadequate waste disposal, emphasize the urgency of equitable selective collection policies, and reinforce the need for strategies that strengthen the circular economy, contributing to more sustainable cities.