Improving Municipal Solid Waste Services: Insights into Efficiency, Productivity, and Recycling in Brazil

This study analyzed the interactions between efficiency, productivity, and the policy of recyclable materials recovery in municipal solid waste (MSW) services in Brazil, using data from the National Sanitation Information System (SNIS) for 199 MSWs, encompassing a balanced longitudinal panel from 2013 to 2022. In this context, the study employed the dynamic slacks-based measure (DSBM) model to assess the intertemporal efficiency and productivity of MSWs. This model is an additive extension of traditional data envelopment analysis, as it does not focus solely on the overall efficiency of operators. Additionally, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), multiple independent sample tests, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were utilized to identify potential interactions among the variables of interest. The main contribution of this study lies in its analysis of dynamic intertemporal efficiency, considering the indirect influence of operating expenses as a carry-over, which impacts the continuity of efficiency across periods. Insights from the results indicated an average efficiency of 61.9% and an accumulated productivity loss over the analyzed period. The recovery of recyclable materials exhibited a negative interaction with both the efficiency of MSW operators performing selective collection and the overall technological advancement of MSW systems. This underscores the importance of integrating this field of study within the circular economy framework and fostering recycling initiatives. Factors such as population density, gross domestic product (GDP), and the COVID-19 pandemic influenced efficiency and, in certain aspects, productivity. The findings provide insights suggesting that policymakers and regulatory agencies should consider these results to enhance eco-efficiency and eco-productivity policies, particularly in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and current Brazilian legislation.