Waste in São Paulo was overwhelmingly being sent to landfills. For example, 100% of organic waste, 95% of dry waste, and 100% of all residual waste were being sent to local landfills as of 2013. In line with Brazil’s Solid Waste National Policy, the city recognized the need to divert this waste in order to extend the life of existing landfills and save land space in the city. More critically, the solid waste management sector in São Paulo was the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the city, with 14% of the city’s total GHG emissions coming from landfills.

Composting offers a solution for decreasing methane emissions from landfills, as well as recovering valuable organic matter that is rich in nutrients and able to improve soil health. As part of a larger effort to encourage home-composting, the city of São Paulo launched a handbook on composting in schools. The handbook, called the Handbook for Schools on Organic Waste Management, provides teachers and school administrators with information on how to teach about composting, how to sort organic waste in schools, and how to manage the composting process in a school setting. 

The handbook includes case studies of successful organic waste management in schools, such as one in Lapa, where organic waste from the school is treated and processed into compost to fertilize a local vegetable garden.

The handbook was developed by the International Solid Waste Association and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, whose Municipal Solid Waste Initiative works with cities to reduce GHG emissions associated with solid waste. 

The handbook was launched in 2017 with 50 schoolteachers and administrators. 

Photo by Altereko