Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil
Waste is a valuable commodity and remains a livelihood source for waste pickers in the global South. Waste to Energy (WtoE) is often described as alternative to landfilling, as it provides cheap fuel while making waste disappear. In some European cities, this method has evolved into an impediment, s...
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doaj-ee4b95d64d634cfe865de84458aff6e32020-11-25T02:32:09ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502020-03-01127262810.3390/su12072628su12072628Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and BrazilJutta Gutberlet0Torleif Bramryd1Michael Johansson2Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, CanadaEnvironmental Strategy, ISM, Campus Helsingborg, Lund University, PO Box 882, SE-251 08 Helsingborg, SwedenEnvironmental Strategy, ISM, Campus Helsingborg, Lund University, PO Box 882, SE-251 08 Helsingborg, SwedenWaste is a valuable commodity and remains a livelihood source for waste pickers in the global South. Waste to Energy (WtoE) is often described as alternative to landfilling, as it provides cheap fuel while making waste disappear. In some European cities, this method has evolved into an impediment, slowing down the adoption of more sustainable technologies and waste prevention. These plants typically strain municipal budgets and provide fewer jobs than recycling and composting, thereby inhibiting the development of small-scale local recycling businesses. We applied the idea of ‘waste regime’ with an interdisciplinary and situated lens to provide insights to the following questions: <i>How do different political developments in Brazil and Sweden, frame and reframe waste incineration and energy recovery, in the context of sustainability and waste management on local, regional and national levels? What forms of resistance against WtoE exist and what are the arguments of these protagonists?</i> We evaluated the impact of WtoE and compare it with other waste management options with regard to CO<sub>2</sub> balances and general environmental and social impacts. We conclude by suggesting more socially and environmentally appropriate ways of waste management, particularly for the context of global South cities.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2628waste managementwaste to energybiogasmaterial recyclingcircular economywaste pickerswaste regimesustainabilitybrazilsweden |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jutta Gutberlet Torleif Bramryd Michael Johansson |
spellingShingle |
Jutta Gutberlet Torleif Bramryd Michael Johansson Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil Sustainability waste management waste to energy biogas material recycling circular economy waste pickers waste regime sustainability brazil sweden |
author_facet |
Jutta Gutberlet Torleif Bramryd Michael Johansson |
author_sort |
Jutta Gutberlet |
title |
Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil |
title_short |
Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil |
title_full |
Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil |
title_fullStr |
Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil |
title_full_unstemmed |
Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil |
title_sort |
expansion of the waste-based commodity frontier: insights from sweden and brazil |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2020-03-01 |
description |
Waste is a valuable commodity and remains a livelihood source for waste pickers in the global South. Waste to Energy (WtoE) is often described as alternative to landfilling, as it provides cheap fuel while making waste disappear. In some European cities, this method has evolved into an impediment, slowing down the adoption of more sustainable technologies and waste prevention. These plants typically strain municipal budgets and provide fewer jobs than recycling and composting, thereby inhibiting the development of small-scale local recycling businesses. We applied the idea of ‘waste regime’ with an interdisciplinary and situated lens to provide insights to the following questions: <i>How do different political developments in Brazil and Sweden, frame and reframe waste incineration and energy recovery, in the context of sustainability and waste management on local, regional and national levels? What forms of resistance against WtoE exist and what are the arguments of these protagonists?</i> We evaluated the impact of WtoE and compare it with other waste management options with regard to CO<sub>2</sub> balances and general environmental and social impacts. We conclude by suggesting more socially and environmentally appropriate ways of waste management, particularly for the context of global South cities. |
topic |
waste management waste to energy biogas material recycling circular economy waste pickers waste regime sustainability brazil sweden |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2628 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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