Brazil bans solid waste imports
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Effective 7 January 2025, an amendment to the National Solid Waste Policy prohibits the import of solid waste and residues into the country, including paper, glass, plastic and metal
National Solid Waste Policy
Legal framework
The National Solid Waste Policy (Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos – PNRS) was established by Law 12,305/2010 and is regulated by Decree 10,936/2022. The PNRS provides general principles and guidelines for the management and administration of solid waste, which include duties and liabilities of waste generators and public authorities, selective collection, recycling and reduction, reverse logistics, and federal and state waste management plans.
The National Solid Waste Plan (Plano Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos – Planares), introduced by Decree 11,043/2022, outlines a long-term strategy and goals at the national level to materialise the legal provisions and objectives enshrined in the PNRS. The Planares also offers comprehensive guidelines for managing different types of waste. It introduced tools, such as the Waste Transport Manifest (Manifesto de Transporte de Resíduos – MTR), to track and trace solid waste generation and processing in line with the national policy. Additional regulations implemented instruments to foster reverse logistics infrastructures and create economies of scale in waste recycling and reuse, as well as to adopt measures aimed at preventing and reducing waste generation.
Solid waste imports
The PNRS and its regulations prohibit the importation of hazardous solid waste and rejects, including any solid waste that poses a risk to the environment, as well as public, animal, and plant health, even if intended for treatment, reuse, or recycling. This meant that imports of certain materials, such as paper, glass, and aluminium, were still allowed.
According to data from the Brazilian Association of Waste and Environment (Abrema), cited by the Federal Senate, Brazil recycles only 4% of the waste it produces. Yet, the country imports large quantities of solid waste to meet legal obligations regarding the minimum recycled content required to be used as input material. Abrema estimates that between 2023 and 2024, over US$ 322 million were spent importing more than 70,000 tonnes of recyclable materials into Brazil.
Legislative change
Last year, the Chamber of Deputies revisited the issue. Ultimately, federal lawmakers concluded that since Brazil is a major producer of waste that recycles only a small fraction of it, it made no sense to continue allowing solid waste imports into the country. In December, the Senate approved a bill banning the import of solid waste, including paper and derivatives, as well as plastic, glass and metal, in an attempt to promote recycling and reverse logistics practices in the country.
On 6 January 2025, the president sanctioned Law 15,088/2025, amending the National Solid Waste Policy to prohibit the import of these materials. It came into effect on 7 January 2025.
The amendment to the PNRS provides for some exceptions. It allows the import of waste used in the transformation of strategic materials and minerals, including long-fibre paper scraps and metal waste. Importers and manufacturers of auto parts (excluding tyre manufacturers) may import solid waste derived from previously exported domestic products strictly for purposes of reverse logistics and full recycling, even if classified as hazardous waste. Specific regulations will be issued in the future for these cases.
The Ministry of Environment, through the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), remains responsible for licensing and controlling solid waste imports.
Shipboard waste management
Waste and residues from ships
Brazil has signed IMO conventions, such as MARPOL and its amendments, which govern the management of waste generated on ships. The Brazilian Navy’s Directorate of Ports and Coasts (DPC) is responsible for enforcing compliance with international regulations related to shipboard waste and residues. This enforcement is carried out through the ‘Maritime Authority Standards for Prevention of Environmental Pollution caused by Ships and Platforms – NORMAM-401/DPC’.
Ship-sourced waste removal
The National Agency of Waterway Transport (ANTAQ) regulates and oversees the procedures for licensing services for the removal, shore reception and final disposal of shipboard wastes and residues at Brazilian ports, which is still allowed. Shipowners and operators requiring shipboard waste removal should consult with their local agents to check the availability and credentials of the local service providers and shore waste reception facilities well ahead of the vessel’s arrival.
ANTAQ has established fines for violations of the relevant national regulations, which can reach up to BRL 600,000. The fine is in addition to any other penalties and sanctions that may be imposed for shipboard pollution, as outlined in this article.
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