Carnival and Circular Economy: lessons from Brazil’s biggest popular festival

Recycling is gaining ground in one of Brazil’s largest festivals, showing that it is possible to celebrate responsibly, generate income, and reduce environmental impacts. 

By Arlene Carvalho, from Movimento Circular  

Carnival is synonymous with joy, festivity, and tradition in Brazil. Thousands of revelers take to the streets to celebrate, but alongside the excitement comes a major challenge: the massive amount of waste generated during the festivities. In 2025, the Year of the Circular Economy, cities hosting the country’s largest Carnival events have invested in solutions to manage this waste more sustainably.  

The goal of these initiatives was to ensure city cleanliness, generate income for recycling workers, save resources, and reintegrate materials into the production chain. But is it really possible to make Carnival a truly circular event? Here are some key numbers and measures:  

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) – The capital of Carnival implemented a massive cleaning operation, mobilizing 6,600 workers and providing 6,271 waste containers. Additionally, the use of reclaimed water and eucalyptus-scented disinfectants helped enhance the cleaning process. During the three days of parades at the Sambadrome, 209.6 tons of waste were collected, with 19.6 tons being recyclable.  

São Paulo (SP) – São Paulo also stood out for its commitment to cleanliness and circularity during Carnival. Over 4,900 workers participated in street cleaning efforts, aiming to recycle at least 50% of the waste. During the four days of festivities, the city removed 322.83 tons of waste, using 2,209,000 liters of reclaimed water and 8,954 liters of disinfectant to clean the streets. Strict monitoring of proper waste disposal also contributed to the operation's success.

Salvador (BA) – In the Bahian capital, the city installed 11 recycling centers and invested over R$2 million in infrastructure and workforce, with 3,000 professionals dedicated to waste collection and logistics. During Carnival, 177.5 tons of recyclable materials were collected, with cooperatives playing a key role, gathering 112,969 kg of aluminum, 23,898 kg of PET, and 32,639 kg of plastic.  

Recife (PE) and Olinda (PE) – The twin cities in Pernambuco also set a great example of circular actions during Carnival. In Recife, 600 tons of waste were collected, including 28 tons of recyclable materials. In Olinda, total waste reached 969 tons, with 35.5 tons recycled, including 16.94 tons of aluminum cans and 13.34 tons of PET bottles. The work with waste pickers was crucial, as in 2023 and 2024, increasing their income by up to 93% due to higher recycling rates. Additionally, the Giant Rooster (Galo Gigante), built with 20,000 PET bottles on the Duarte Coelho Bridge, became a circular symbol of Carnival, turning waste into art after the festivities.  

Aluminum cans are one of the main containers collected during the festivities. Image: Prefeitura de Olinda.

Circular Economy: from carnival to everyday life

These initiatives and their results represent significant progress toward a more circular Carnival. However, it is essential to go beyond recycling, which is just one part of the Circular Economy. To make the festival – and any event – truly circular, we must rethink consumption from the start, adopting practices that prioritize waste reduction, reuse, and the design of more durable products.  

Edson Grandisoli, ambassador and pedagogical coordinator at Movimento Circular, emphasizes this idea:  

“The ideal approach is always to rethink, reduce, and avoid waste generation from the start. We are in a moment where recycling is highly valued, but it must be seen as an important step toward broader circularity.”

With reflections like these, Carnival can become a model for the Circular Economy in practice, inspiring other festivals and events to adopt more sustainable solutions. After all, the celebration is even better when it leaves a positive legacy for both the environment and society.