O lixo como externalidade negativa

Abstract

This monograph analyzes the production and management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the city of São Paulo through the lens of environmental economics, focusing on the identification and treatment of negative externalities. Based on Pigou’s classical concept of externalities and Coase’s institutional critique, the study aims to understand why, despite legal frameworks such as the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), waste management in the city still faces technical, economic, and social barriers. The research investigates both the formal and informal waste flows, the costs of collection and treatment, and the financing mechanisms used by the municipal government. Public policies such as the waste tax, composting and recycling initiatives, and the role of waste picker cooperatives are also analyzed. The methodology combines a literature review, analysis of official data, and the development of theoretical externality curves. The results reveal market failures — such as underprovision of public goods, information asymmetry, and unclear property rights — that hinder the efficiency of current waste management. The study finds that the existing model prioritizes costly and low-impact solutions, such as landfilling and incineration, over more sustainable alternatives like composting and selective collection. It concludes that overcoming these failures requires integrated public policies, transparent governance, and incentive mechanisms that internalize the social costs of waste, along with stronger institutions and the socioeconomic inclusion of waste sector workers.