Waste Management Companies in Brazil (2025)

The Reality of Waste Management Careers in Brazil

Brazil's waste industry operates under a concession system in many major cities, which creates both opportunities and complexities for workers. In São Paulo, for example, companies like Loga and EcoUrbis hold long-term contracts to handle collection and street cleansing for specific zones. These concessionaires employ thousands of people—drivers, sweepers, mechanics, supervisors—and the work is steady as long as the contracts remain in force. Pay for collection workers typically ranges from R$2,000 to R$3,500 per month depending on role and experience, with benefits including INSS (social security), FGTS, and often meal vouchers or transportation assistance.

What distinguishes Brazilian waste careers from other countries is the scale and the informal sector's continued presence. While formal operators dominate in major cities, cooperatives of catadores (waste pickers) play a significant role in recycling, especially in smaller municipalities. Some cities are now integrating cooperatives into official waste management systems, providing training, equipment, and fair compensation. If you're interested in social enterprise or community development alongside environmental work, supporting or working with these cooperatives can be deeply rewarding—though it requires understanding the social dynamics and being prepared for challenges around inconsistent income and working conditions.

Industrial and hazardous waste services offer higher pay and more technical career paths. Companies like Ambipar and Solví/Essencis handle emergency response, industrial cleaning, and treatment services that require specialized training. If you're willing to get certifications in hazmat handling, emergency response (NR standards), or environmental compliance, you can earn R$4,000–R$7,000+ monthly in technical roles. Language skills matter less here than in Mexico or Canada, but Portuguese fluency and an understanding of Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions, state licensing) are essential. These companies also value military or firefighting backgrounds because emergency response discipline translates well.

Segments

Representative Operators (National / Regional)

Municipal Companies & Concessions

Understanding the concession model is critical for job seekers in Brazil. When a municipality awards a 10- or 20-year concession, the winning company typically absorbs existing workers under labor law protections, then adds new staff as needed. This means job postings often appear in waves when contracts renew or new concessions are awarded. Following municipal bidding processes (licitações) on official transparency portals gives you advance warning of which companies are winning contracts and where hiring will ramp up.

Direct municipal employment exists in some cities but is less common for waste collection roles. When it does exist, these positions usually require passing a concurso público (civil service exam), which can be competitive but offers exceptional job security and benefits. If you're patient and prefer stability over immediate hiring, watching for announced concursos in your region is worthwhile. Private concessionaires, by contrast, hire continuously through their own HR processes—applications typically go through company career pages or recruitment firms rather than government portals.

Trends for 2025