Impacts of a large-scale model of Municipal Solid Waste: An Input-Output analysis for the largest Brazilian metropolitan region

This article presents socio-economic, energetic and CO(2 )emissions' impact by considering a large-scale integrated plant to treat Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo (MRSP); the most important Brazilian macro-region. As an alternative to landfills, this plant offers a source of renewable energy and a good assessment of benefits the circular economy provides. Based on the most recent interregional economic transactions data, the proposed Input-Output model has shown reductions in the local energy demand (-0.31%), carbon emissions (-3.40%). On the other hand, it has suggested gains in the GDP (+0.21%) and formal job positions (+0.08% or 10.6k) when recyclables are introduced massively in the economy.

Automated summary

This article examines the socio-economic, energetic and CO(2 )emissions' impact of a large-scale integrated plant for treating Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo (MRSP), Brazil. It shows that introducing recyclables massively into the economy can reduce energy demand and carbon emissions, while increasing GDP and formal job positions.