The integrated management of urban solid waste is of great importance to maintaining public health and the environment. The setting of policies suitable for the local reality ensures efficient performance of services, right choice of type of treatment and environmentally appropriate final disposal. Since 2010, with the regulation of Federal Law no. 11.445 (National Policy for Basic Sanitation) and Federal Law no. 12.305 (National Policy for Solid Waste), the guidelines concerning solid waste management and the responsibilities of its generators and the government became clearly defined, providing extensive discussions and the implementation of classes and seminars all over the country. The National Policy for Solid Waste provides for the goals, instruments and guidelines regarding solid waste management, both its generators and the government s responsibilities and the applicable economic instruments. Among the goals presented in the above-mentioned law, it s important to point out: Reduction of waste consumption and generation, encouragement towards recycling, reutilization, treatment and appropriate disposal of refuse; Support to the recycling industry, inciting the use of products made of recyclable raw materials; Perfecting of technical team for working with solid waste; and Promotion of the engagement of scavengers and associations in actions that involve shared responsibility for the products life cycle. This law also reaffirms that social participation is mandatory and essential in all steps of the elaboration process of solid waste plans (national, state and municipal), thus intending for the programs and plans to represent the real local and the people s need, in addition to determining that these plans be publicized in all social spheres.