ORGANIZATIONS OF RECYCLABLE AND REUSABLE MATERIAL COLLECTORS IN BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS OF THE 2024 RECYCLING YEARBOOK

Abstract

This article analyzes the data presented in the sixth edition of the 2024 Recycling Yearbook, published by the Sustainable Pathways Institute in Brazil, with relevant information on recycling in 2023. This work describes the landscape of organizations of collectors of reusable and recyclable materials, their productive and economic performance, the environmental impacts of their activities, and the situation of selective collection in municipalities. Using its own data acquisition and expansion methodology, the Yearbook shows that, from 2019 to 2023, there was significant growth in the accumulated number of organizations, with a slight setback in 2023 due to some key indicators, such as the revenue generated from the sale and income of collectors, related to the drop in the sale prices of materials. According to the research, these organizations have played a fundamental role in the circular economy, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and saving on the extraction of virgin raw materials, while also discussing the limitations of the data used and possible biases. It is concluded that the Yearbook is an essential tool for understanding the sector and formulating public policies and innovation to ensure its sustainability and enhance its socio-environmental role.