Challenges and Opportunities for the Development of Urban Mining in Brazil

This article examines urban mining in Brazil, highlighting its unique context compared to other regions. While European Union focuses on critical metal supply and advanced Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation and circular economy, Brazil’s urban mining is primarily driven by waste management and social inclusion. The current investigation was underpinned by the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR framework), using targeted searches on the Web of Science platform for technological processes and the Brazilian scenario, complemented by an analysis of legislative evolution and a Critical Discourse Analysis of national policies. The results indicate that, despite advanced legislation, significant gaps exist between discourse and practice, highlighting the need for technological appropriation, specific public policies that incentivize reverse logistics and the integration of the informal sector, and overcoming infrastructural challenges. It concludes that Brazil has a unique opportunity to develop an urban mining model that pioneeringly integrates environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and social inclusion, demanding coordinated efforts to overcome existing barriers.