Are smart cities truly sustainable? Analysis of circular economy and waste management practices with proposals for the Brazilian context

Abstract

Urban expansion and population growth have generated significant challenges, especially in relation to solid waste management. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to rethink government strategies that address this issue associated with circular economy practices. The concept of "smart cities"is a solution to the challenges faced in the management of urban solid waste, since it integrates emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence as innovative solutions to address them. Thus, the research aims to identify and map in the literature, through bibliographic and documentary methodology, the established practices of circular economy and waste management in world-renowned "smart cities"- Amsterdam, Barcelona and Copenhagen, analyzed using the SWOT tool. Thus, a comparison was made with the panorama of current Brazilian legislation, such as the National Policy on Solid Waste and the areas of action of the practices of both scenarios were mapped. The work highlights the importance of integrating the circular economy and waste management in smart cities and of investing in areas such as: innovation, environmental education and public-private partnerships, in addition to streamlining public policies, which are essential to promote the development of more smart cities in Brazil.