Impacts of the COVID-19/2020 pandemic on the waste sector of Rio de Janeiro municipality, Brazil: Assessment on solid waste production in 2018 – 2023

Abstract

The COVID-19/2020 crisis impacted several sectors of our society, including solid waste management (SWM). Changes in waste generation trends ─ quantity and composition ─ have been reported worldwide. Assessing waste data creates the opportunity to provide decision-makers with adequate knowledge to respond effectively to future pandemic-like situations. This work draws on data on household solid waste, healthcare waste (HCW), and recyclables collected in the Rio de Janeiro municipality, analyzed from January 2018 to December 2023. As expected, the collection of HCW in Rio de Janeiro experienced a noticeable increase in 2020 and 2021, with an average of 46.9 and 54.3 tonnes collected per month, respectively. Notably, 2021 saw a significant 42 % increase compared to 2019 (p-value < 0.001), and recyclables experienced a rise higher than 40 % in 2022 and 2023 compared with 2018–2020 (p-value < 0.05). To enhance the SWM in Rio de Janeiro, we suggest 1) Investing in thermal and thermochemical treatments for hazardous waste and non-recyclable residues, 2) Decentralized waste valorization solutions like home-composting practice and decentralized anaerobic digestion systems, and 3) Implementing oriented public awareness campaigns, enforcement of solid waste separation at the source, and creation of recycling programs considering local circumstances. This study offers a template for municipalities facing similar challenges in SWM during public health emergencies and beyond.