Brazil encourages regional actors to attract private waste disposal players

Brazil’s federal investment partnerships program and state-run banks Caixa Econômica Federal and BNDES launched a joint public notice to encourage states and municipalities to structure urban solid waste management concessions. 

"The call is aimed at states, inter-municipal consortiums and regional arrangements with a population of 150,000 or more in the north, and 200,000 people in other regions. Regional arrangements with over 40 municipalities may present more than one proposal," BNDES said in a press release.

The call is a response to the regional development ministry’s service regionalization efforts, also encouraging private participation. Local governments may registry their interest between December 12 and December 28.

The measure is aimed at speeding up the elimination of dumps and landfills, which should be finished by 2024, according to a national waste plan. Half of Brazil’s waste still goes to dumps or landfills.

Brazil passed several laws in the past that determined the closure of landfills, but the rules were never complied with because of a lack of supervision and the absence of alternative waste disposal options.