Municipal Solid Waste Management from the Experience of São Leopoldo/Brazil and Zurich/Switzerland

Pamela L. Ghesla, Luciana P. Gomes, Marcelo O. Caetano, Luis A. S. Miranda and Léa B. Dai-Prá
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Pamela L. Ghesla: Civil Engineering Post-Graduation Program, UNISINOS University, Unisinos Avenue, 950, São Leopoldo RS 93022-750, Brazil
Luciana P. Gomes: Civil Engineering Post-Graduation Program, UNISINOS University, Unisinos Avenue, 950, São Leopoldo RS 93022-750, Brazil
Marcelo O. Caetano: Civil Engineering Post-Graduation Program, UNISINOS University, Unisinos Avenue, 950, São Leopoldo RS 93022-750, Brazil
Luis A. S. Miranda: Civil Engineering Post-Graduation Program, UNISINOS University, Unisinos Avenue, 950, São Leopoldo RS 93022-750, Brazil
Léa B. Dai-Prá: Civil Engineering Post-Graduation Program, UNISINOS University, Unisinos Avenue, 950, São Leopoldo RS 93022-750, Brazil

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: The challenge of developing country governments in municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is complex, often ineffective, and does not meet the required technical sustainability, which involves environmental, social, and financial aspects. The purpose of this research is to analyze two distinct waste management systems, in São Leopoldo (Brazil) and in Zurich (Switzerland), to develop a tool called “waste stream mapping” and also to compare the cities systems. The results show positively that the two municipalities have selective waste collection, however in São Leopoldo it was found that less volume was reinserted in the production chain, which considerably increases the volume of waste sent to sanitary landfill, which is the main method of disposal in Brazil. On the other hand, the Zurich management model is more expensive, especially compared to incineration, but its billing and power trading system ends up involving more of the population and paying for the operations, as Zurich generates more income than expenses. This study shows that each stage of waste management has its peculiarity and everything should be planned. The tool adapted from Value Stream Mapping has shown that it is useful to have a broad vision about the municipal solid waste management to be implemented.

Keywords: governments; municipal solid waste; management; stream mapping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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