Major Characteristics of Hazardous Waste Management in Brazil Isis Arend da Silva, Luís Paulo Sant'ana

Abstract

Brazil, the seventh economy in the world, is a member of the Basel Convention, but the country has specific legislation of waste management. Brazil has three classifications for hazardous waste: Hazardous Waste- Class I, Non Inert Waste- Class IIA and Inert Waste- Class IIB. In relation to the final destiny of the hazardous waste is not clear in and there is no data informing the total cost of implementation of the National Policy of Solid Waste in Brazil. Brazil has been managing hazardous waste since before the establishment of the Basel Convention. However, the control was poor and non-unified, since the nation has clear non knowledge about the amounts of hazardous waste produced. The lack of control in Brazil was focus of the biggest accident with hazardous waste in this country. This study presents the current situation of hazardous waste management in Brazil, based on the most recent available information.