Buenos Aires City changes its management of recyclable waste and opens competition between cooperatives and companies

The Buenos Aires Government published Resolution 53/SECH/26, marking a before and after in the management of recyclable waste. For the first time since urban recyclers were incorporated into the public service, collection will no longer be organized solely through agreements with cooperatives.

From now on, the service will be awarded through public tender, in which cooperatives and private companies will compete under the same rules. The main objective is to strengthen the circular economy, increase material recovery, and maintain the principles of the Zero Waste Law, but with greater competition and control.

Historical Background

The current scheme has roots in the 2001 crisis when thousands of people began recovering cardboard and paper on the streets. Law 992 incorporated them into the Public Urban Hygiene Service, organizing the activity through cooperatives. Later, the Zero Waste Law 1,854 consolidated the model, setting waste reduction goals and formalizing thousands of recyclers.

Until now, the relationship between the Government and cooperatives was managed through agreements without open competition. The new scheme introduces mechanisms typical of public contracting: submission of bids, technical and economic evaluation, guarantees, penalties, and awarding by score.

The new scheme maintains preference mechanisms for cooperatives:

• At least one of the six zones must be awarded to a cooperative, provided it submits a technically admissible and competitive offer.
• They are given priority in case of a tie.
• Additional points are awarded to those who incorporate workers from urban recycler cooperatives.

This aims to recognize the historical role of cooperatives in waste management, although there will no longer be direct awards or specific agreements.

Territorial Division and Recycling Centers

The City will be divided into six operational zones, each tendered separately and with service exclusivity for 24 months.

Zone	Communes	Main Neighborhoods	Assigned Recycling Centers
Zone A	1 and 4	Retiro, San Nicolás, La Boca, Barracas, Constitución	Barracas and Cortejarena
Zone B	2 and 14	Recoleta, Palermo	Saavedra
Zone C	12 and 13	Belgrano, Núñez, Villa Urquiza, Colegiales	Núñez and Constituyentes
Zone D	11 and 15	Villa Devoto, Villa Crespo, Chacarita, La Paternal	Balbastro
Zone E	7, 8, 9, and 10	Flores, Lugano, Mataderos, Liniers, Floresta	Chilavert and Corrales
Zone F	3, 5, and 6	Balvanera, Almagro, Caballito, Boedo	Varela

Bidders may propose their own centers, provided they have the corresponding permits.

Scope of Service

The awardee will be responsible for:

• Separate household collection.
• Collection at Green Points and from large generators.
• Reception of waste from green containers.
• Transport, classification, conditioning, and marketing of recyclable materials.
• Environmental promotion campaigns to encourage source separation.

This is a comprehensive contract: a single operator will manage the entire journey of recyclable material, from when a neighbor deposits a bottle until it becomes raw material for the industry.

Income and Risks

The awardee will have two sources of income:

1. The fee for providing the public service.
2. The sale of recyclable materials (cardboard, paper, plastics, glass, aluminum).

The tender specifies that the contractor will fully assume the business risk: they cannot claim compensation if the volume of waste decreases, its composition changes, or material prices fall.

This scheme is part of the circular economy, which seeks to extend the life of materials and reduce waste generation.

Evaluation of Offers

Proposals will be analyzed according to:

• Business experience and background in similar services.
• Technical and operational capacity.
• Economic-financial solvency, with audited balances and tax certifications.
• Infrastructure, logistics, quality certifications, and service organization.

The goal is to ensure that awardees have sufficient backing to sustain a service considered essential.

Impact on Residents

For residents, the tender does not imply immediate changes:

• They will continue to deposit recyclables in green containers and Green Points.
• They will continue to see trucks and crews working in the neighborhoods.
• Recycling centers will continue to operate.

The change will occur “behind the scenes”: who manages the circuit and under what rules. The official expectation is that competition will professionalize the service, optimize logistics, and strengthen traceability controls.

The tender redefines the dry waste management model in Buenos Aires. It shifts from agreements to tender contracts with greater technical and financial requirements.

The daily impact on residents will be limited, but the City aims to improve material recovery and meet the goals of the Zero Waste Law.