Scania’s circular biofuel partnership powering cleaner urban sanitation in São Paulo
19 JANUARY 2026
If you want to understand circular economy in action, look no further than this biofuel partnership between Scania Brazil and urban sanitation company Loga in São Paulo.
One person’s garbage is another person’s gold.
Well, not literally, but in the Brazilian metropolis São Paulo, the most populous city in the Americas, urban sanitation company Loga (Logística Ambiental de São Paulo) is turning landfill waste into the fuel that propels the fleet of Scania trucks it uses to collect household refuse.
Household waste collected in São Paulo is processed through a circular system where waste is converted into biomethane used to power the city’s waste collection fleet.
Loga is a sanitation company that is responsible for the collection, transportation, treatment and final disposal of household and healthcare waste in the northwest area of São Paulo municipality.
In an imaginative partnership that perfectly embodies the concept of a circular economy, waste produced by local residents returns to the productive cycle as a clean energy source. The organic waste collected by Loga from households into landfills decomposes and generates biomethane, which is then extracted and used to power the same Scania-supplied trucks responsible for collecting it, forming a self-sustaining, low-carbon energy loop.
Biomethane produced from household waste is used to fuel Scania trucks, helping reduce emissions in São Paulo’s urban sanitation operations.
A substantial decrease in emissions
“For Loga, being part of this project is a source of pride and reaffirms our commitment to helping São Paulo become one of the most sustainable cities in the world,” says Domênico Barreto Granata, CEO of Loga.
“We have already delivered more than 80 vehicles powered by cleaner energy, including trailers, mechanised and conventional collection trucks, support units, and electric tricycles. The new equipment represents a technological leap and enables a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Each delivery reinforces this progress, and we are already seeing a substantial decrease in emissions thanks to a cleaner, quieter and more efficient fleet.”
Loga’s biomethane-powered fleet supports daily waste collection across São Paulo, contributing to lower emissions and improved urban air quality.
Mauro Haddad is the director of SP Regula, the municipal agency in São Paulo that regulates and inspects public services delegated to private companies, such as waste management, public lighting, and cemetery/funeral services. “The gradual renewal of the fleets is an essential step towards a more sustainable waste management system in São Paulo,” he says.
“Each new vehicle placed into operation eliminates the consumption of 35,000 litres of diesel per year and prevents 94 tons of CO₂ from being emitted into the atmosphere, resulting in greater efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and a service increasingly aligned with the city’s climate goals. Our commitment is to ensure that this transition takes place consistently, responsibly, and with direct benefits for the population.”
Overall, this adoption of biomethane marks a major step towards decarbonising urban transport. By replacing diesel with a renewable fuel, the trucks can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90 percent. They also generate less noise pollution, as gas engines operate more quietly, an important factor in densely populated areas. Additionally, the project prevents methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO₂, from being released into the atmosphere, further contributing to the fight against climate change.
Project expansion plans
Since its launch in February 2023, the pilot project has shown strong operational and environmental performance. Loga’s biomethane-powered trucks now run regular waste collection routes across São Paulo, demonstrating both technical and economic feasibility.
The company has been monitoring fuel consumption and emissions data to support the gradual expansion of biomethane use throughout its entire fleet, aiming to scale up the initiative to the whole city in the next few years.
“The collaboration between Loga and Scania stands as a concrete example of how technological innovation and environmental commitment can work together to transform urban challenges into sustainable opportunities, paving the way for cleaner, more efficient cities,” says Alex Nucci, Director of Solution Services at Scania Brazil.
Sometimes it pays to let a good idea go to waste.