EMERGY ACCOUNTING AS AN ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN RECYCLING COOPERATIVES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev7n12-119Keywords:
Emergy, Circular Economy, Recycling Cooperative, Sustainability, Urban Solid WasteAbstract
This study employs emergy accounting to assess the energy efficiency and systemic sustainability of a recycling cooperative operating in a medium-sized municipality in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. The research adopts a qualitative, descriptive–exploratory design grounded in a single case study. Data collection integrated semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and non-participant direct observation. The results reveal a significant expansion of the cooperative’s operational capacity, driven by infrastructure investments and participatory management practices. Emergy synthesis indicated a return of nearly forty times the energy invested, accompanied by low environmental impact and high efficiency in the recovery of recyclable materials. The emergy sustainability index reached 2,687, reflecting a resilient and low-cost production arrangement characterized by substantial ecological rationality. From a social perspective, the cooperative provided income for approximately forty workers, enhancing socioeconomic inclusion in a region with limited labor formalization. Collectively, the findings present the cooperative as a viable model of local circular economy with strong potential for replication in comparable urban contexts. Nonetheless, persistent structural challenges were identified, including underutilization of the recyclable potential, absence of stable public contracting mechanisms, and dependence on institutional support. Overcoming these constraints requires robust public policies capable of recognizing and reinforcing the strategic role of cooperatives in the sustainable governance of urban solid waste.
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