Title: Economic analysis of a municipal selective collection system: a Brazilian case study

Authors: Raíssa Lins; Samara Gonçalves Fernandes da Costa; Cláudia Coutinho Nóbrega

Addresses: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, s/n – Conj. Pres. Castelo Branco III, PB, CEP: 58051-900, Brazil ' Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, s/n – Conj. Pres. Castelo Branco III, PB, CEP: 58051-900, Brazil ' Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, s/n – Conj. Pres. Castelo Branco III, PB, CEP: 58051-900, Brazil

Abstract: This paper aims to perform an economic analysis of the life cycle of the selective collection program for household solid waste in João Pessoa/Paraíba - Brazil, from 2015 to 2018. In the methodology section, we verified direct and indirect benefits and costs deriving from the program. Then, we used the benefit/cost analysis (BCA) tool. The results determined that the program, even with the small amount collected, has favourable results, with the benefits being higher than the costs. Most expenses related to transport and labour corresponds to 93.17% of the analysed costs. For the benefits, the sale of recyclables is responsible for most of these (87%). The benefit/cost ratio during the study period is 2.05, that is, the benefits are 105% higher than the costs, allowing us to affirm that, during the study period, the program was considered viable and has saved for the public coffers US$ 117,754.93 in conventional household sorting through the practice of selective collection. However, policies that seek to reduce their costs and increase the collection of recyclables to be served by the program become essential for the improvement in the remuneration and quality of life of the associates and monetary gains for João Pessoa, thus implying gains for the environment, infrastructure, economy and population of the city.

Keywords: household waste; recyclable waste; recycling; developing countries; life cycle cost; LCC.

DOI: 10.1504/LAJMSD.2023.135732

Latin American Journal of Management for Sustainable Development, 2023 Vol.6 No.2, pp.170 - 187

Received: 30 Jan 2023
Accepted: 02 May 2023
Published online: 03 Jan 2024 *

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