A economia circular como ferramenta para cidades inteligentes: estudo de viabilidade da reciclagem de resíduos da construção civil

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of recycling construction and demolition waste (CDW), which generates significant material losses and waste that are often discarded into the environment. To reduce the amount of CDW produced on construction sites, one alternative is the production of recycled aggregates through the processing of this waste in recycling plants. The study is based on the perspective of the circular economy, applied as a strategic tool to prevent waste disposal and promote the development of smart and sustainable cities. The CONAMA Resolutions and NBR 15.114 provide guidelines for the proper disposal of waste and the recycling activity of CDW, ensuring that these materials are not illegally disposed of and preventing the increased demand for landfill areas. The study analyzed the economic feasibility of implementing and operating a Class A CDW recycling plant for a small construction company in the city of Juiz de Fora, MG. To this end, a bibliographic review was carried out to identify authors addressing the topic and provide theoretical support for the research. The methodological approach was exploratory and descriptive, developed in six stages: bibliographic and documentary review, technical-operational diagnosis of the public recycling plant in Juiz de Fora, description of the production process, critical analysis of inefficiencies, proposal of technical, economic, and environmental feasibility criteria, and the structuring of a replicable model. Finally, the feasibility of implementing a small private recycling plant on the construction site of Company A was evaluated, consolidating the model’s applicability. The financial feasibility analysis for a small plant (60 m³/month) indicated a Net Present Value (NPV) of R$ 337,232.87 over 10 years, with a payback period of 1 year and 3 months (discounted payback) and 1 year and 8 months (simple payback). The Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) was 1.97, and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) reached 80.8%, further confirming the economic feasibility of the project. It is concluded that the implementation of recycling plants on construction sites is technically and financially feasible but requires municipal public policies and tax incentives to strengthen the recycled aggregate market and ensure its large-scale adoption.