Waste generation has been a global problem for decades and not just a national one. It is estimated that in 2023 global waste production reached 2.3 billion tons and is expected to continue growing and increase by more than 50% by 2050 and reach 3.8 billion tons.
Although it is a global problem, the greatest effects are felt in the poorest countries that do not manage their waste correctly, often incinerating or disposing of it irregularly. The environmental consequences are soil contamination, emission of greenhouse gases, contamination of rivers and groundwater.
And this is a Brazilian reality, where 38.9% of all waste generated does not have an environmentally appropriate destination, according to data from the Brazilian Association of Waste and the Environment (Abrema). Recent data from Abrema shows that in 2023, almost 38 million tons of waste were sent to landfills or open disposal and another 5.3 million tons were not collected and ended up being discarded irregularly.
All this volume of waste brings an enormous burden to world economies, it is estimated that currently the cost of treating waste is around 361 billion dollars, considering the treatment and combating pollution due to irregular disposal, but by the middle of the century the bill should almost double, reaching 640 billion dollars per year (R$ 3.1 trillion), according to data from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
However, the bill could be much smaller and be reduced to 270 billion dollars per year by 2050, a reduction of 58% if better treatment methods and expanded waste collection and recycling were adopted. And the account can be improved and stay in the black, if there is an advance in industrial practices, waste recovery and adoption of circular economy, it is possible to obtain a net profit of 100 billion dollars annually.
Brazil plays a fundamental role in this and can account for a large share of the profit pie from waste management, as it recycles only 4% of the solid waste generated and exploits less than 1% of its installed biomethane capacity.
Biogas is a gas that comes from the decomposition of waste in landfills and is one of the main greenhouse gases. Once purified, it becomes biomethane and has several applications. Currently, most landfills burn this gas so that it is converted into carbon and causes less environmental impact.
But gas can be a great ally in combating climate change and promoting economies, as there is a global demand for biomethane, which can be purified and used to generate electricity or replace vehicle natural gas (CNG) in the supply of vehicles, be injected into the natural gas network, be used in industries and homes, in addition to having great thermal potential.
Brazil currently has 20 biomethane production plants in landfills and exploits less than 1% of its daily potential, estimated at 100 million m³/day, double the country’s natural gas supply in 2022. Considering the price of sale of biomethane in 2021, this market could account for almost 10 billion dollars annually in Brazil and 100 billion globally.
We are having the opportunity to transform waste treatment into a source of income, technology and energy that is less polluting than those of fossil origin. Expectations indicate that by 2029 Brazil should have up to 90 biomethane generation plants and increase its daily production by 700%.
References:
Exam: Pepsi replaces natural gas with biomethane from Ultragaz in its largest factory – Money Report
Brazil should have 70 biomethane plants in operation by 2029 – JornalCana
What is the National Biomethane Program discussed in Fuel of the Future (epbr.com.br)
