CODECA

What CODECA does

CODECA (Companhia de Desenvolvimento de Caxias do Sul) is a mixed-economy municipal corporation (sociedade anônima de economia mista) controlled by the Prefeitura Municipal de Caxias do Sul, constituted in 1975 under Municipal Law nº 2192 to deliver urban cleaning and related environmental services for the municipality of Caxias do Sul in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The company operates a fully integrated vertical stack: mechanized containerized waste collection (~2,000 green/yellow container pairs), conventional organic and selective waste collection, street sweeping (~700 blocks/day), weeding (~3 million m²/month), and the 275-hectare CTR Rincão das Flores sanitary landfill — handling approximately 440 tonnes of domestic waste daily and achieving 100% municipal coverage. CODECA also runs the Departamento de Construção Civil (DCC), which performs paving and road works through its own asphalt plant (rebuilt September 2024) and, since 2024, its first asphalt milling machine.

The business model is that of a captive municipal utility: services are funded directly from the municipal government budget, with no fees charged to citizens for standard collection. Ancillary activities include school meal preparation and cleaning for municipal schools (SMED partnership), and selective-waste deliveries to recycling associations such as Associa\u00e7\u00e3o de Recicladores Interbairros. Revenue diversification is limited — tenders and special contracts exist but are small relative to the core municipal allocation. The company employs approximately 1,700 active collaborators across administrative, civil construction (DCC), urban cleaning (DLU), and infrastructure departments.

Differentiation rests on regulatory exclusivity (CODECA is one of the few cases in Brazil of total municipal control over urban cleaning), operational scale (the 2024 acquisition of 54 new machines/vehicles is described as a historic fleet renewal), community-engagement programs (notably Programa Troca Solidária, which surpassed 1 million kg of waste-for-produce exchanges in 2024 across 29 neighborhoods), and reputational credentials (ISO 9001:2008 in 2012 as Brazil's first certified public urban-cleaning company; Caxias do Sul ranked #1 nationally in the ISLU index among cities above 250,000 inhabitants in 2018). Distribution is direct-to-government and direct-to-citizen through the CAC Alô Codeca call center, online service portal, five neighborhood sector locations, and the institutional website.

Name

CODECA

Legal name

Companhia de Desenvolvimento de Caxias do Sul

Website

https://codeca.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CODECA is the mixed-economy municipal utility of Caxias do Sul, Brazil, providing exclusive urban cleaning, waste collection, street sweeping, weeding, paving, and environmental education services across the entire municipality since 1975. It is government-funded, employs ~1,700 staff, and handles ~440 tonnes of waste daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Waste Management Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Curbside Organics Programs (Municipal/Franchise) (BPALAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial & Office Waste Collection (Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAA), Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste) (BPABALAC), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH), Specialty Cleaning (Deep Cleaning, Floor Care, Disinfection, Post-Construction) (EDAEAAAL)

Keywords

• Municipal waste management
• Urban cleaning services
• Recycling collection
• Street sweeping services
• Sanitary landfill operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Caxias Do Sul

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal Government Funding: As a municipal public utility company (Sociedade Anônima de Economia Mista), CODECA is funded through the municipal government budget. Services are provided as essential public services (limpeza urbana) funded by public taxes and municipal budget allocations.
2. Public Tenders and Contracts: CODECA participates in public procurement processes and holds contracts for urban cleaning services within Caxias do Sul. The company operates under public tender frameworks for various services including school meal preparation, school cleaning, and public bathroom maintenance.
3. Selective Waste Processing: Approximately 100 tonnes of selective waste are collected daily and delivered to recycling associations, supporting employment and income generation for recyclers who separate, compress, and sell materials to industry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CODECA (Companhia de Desenvolvimento de Caxias do Sul) is a mixed-economy municipal company providing essential urban cleaning, waste management, and environmental services to the city of Caxias do Sul, Brazil. Its core offerings include organic and selective waste collection, mechanized containerized waste collection, street sweeping, weed cutting, road paving and asphalt production, sanitary landfill operations (CTR Rincão das Flores), the Troca Solidária waste-for-food exchange program, Ecoponto bulky waste drop-off, and environmental education programs. Services are funded by the municipal government budget and delivered directly to citizens throughout the municipality.

Product overview

CODECA (Companhia de Desenvolvimento de Caxias do Sul) is a mixed-economy municipal company providing comprehensive urban cleaning and environmental services in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Founded in 1975, the company operates as a single integrated service offering with multiple interconnected divisions rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core portfolio centers on waste management services including Organic Waste Collection, Selective Waste Collection, and Mechanized Collection (Coleta Mecanizada), alongside complementary urban maintenance services such as Street Sweeping (Varrição), Weeding (Capinas), and Paving (Pavimentação). Environmental programs include the Troca Solidária exchange program, Ecoponto drop-off facility, Environmental Education Projects, Cooking Oil Recycling, School Recycling Project, and Tire/Lamp Collection. The company also operates the Sanitary Landfill (CTR Rincão das Flores), provides School Meals and Cleaning services, and offers Online Service Request capabilities. CODECA handles approximately 440 tonnes of domestic waste daily, covers 100% of the municipality with organic and selective collection, and employs approximately 1,700 active workers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coleta de Lixo Orgânico (Organic Waste Collection) Daily collection of approximately 350 tonnes of organic waste from all neighborhoods, settlements, and districts of the municipality. In the central area and nearby neighborhoods, collection is daily; in other neighborhoods, it occurs three times per week. Organic waste is taken to the Central de Tratamento de Resíduos (CTR) Rincão das Flores.
• Coleta Seletiva (Selective Waste Collection) Collection of recyclable materials throughout the urban and rural areas of Caxias do Sul. Collection occurs twice per week in all neighborhoods. Approximately 100 tonnes of selective waste are collected daily and delivered to recycling associations. The service covers 100% of the municipality.
• Coleta Mecanizada (Mechanized Collection) Automated waste collection system using specialized containers (green for organic, yellow for selective). Implemented since August 2007 in the central area and expanded to cover approximately 900 blocks and 165,000+ inhabitants. The system operates with about 2,000 container pairs.
• Varrição (Street Sweeping) Street cleaning services covering approximately 700 blocks per day. Four strategically positioned teams of about 20 sweepers each work Monday through Sunday in the central area, streets, avenues, and public places, with alternating coverage in some neighborhoods.
• Capinas (Weeding/Grass Cutting) Weeding and mowing services throughout the urban area of Caxias do Sul. Approximately 3 million square meters are mowed per month by about 80 active employees divided into 13 teams. Includes mechanical sweeping with mini-loader broom and manual collection.
• Pavimentação (Paving/Road Construction)

Quantifiable outcome

• ~440 tonnes/day of domestic waste collected and properly disposed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PWC BrasilminorOthers · 1 January 2018PWC Brasil co-publishes the ISLU (Índice de Sustentabilidade de Limpeza Urbana) ranking with Selur (Sindicato das Empresas de Limpeza Urbana). In 2018, Caxias do Sul ranked #1 in the ISLU among Brazilian cities with over 250,000 inhabitants.
• Sindicato das Empresas de Limpeza Urbana (Selur)minorOthers · 1 January 2018Selur (Union of Urban Cleaning Companies) co-publishes the ISLU ranking with PWC Brasil. The ISLU evaluates urban cleaning sustainability across Brazilian municipalities using data from SNIS.
• Secretaria Municipal de Educação (SMED) - Municipal Education Secretariat of Caxias do SulcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010CODECA partners with the Municipal Education Secretariat to deliver environmental education programs in schools, including the 'A Arte de Brincar Reciclando Valores' (toy-making from selective waste) and 'Consciência Ambiental' (environmental awareness) projects. The partnership also supports school cleaning and meal preparation (merenda) services in municipal schools.
• Secretaria Municipal do Meio Ambiente (Semma)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Semma (Municipal Environment Secretariat) is responsible for environmental licensing and oversight. Semma received from Fepam (Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental) the Operating License (LO) for the CTR Rincão das Flores sanitary landfill. CODECA operates the landfill under this regulatory framework.
• Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental (Fepam)coreOthers · 1 January 2010Fepam is the state environmental protection foundation that grants operating licenses for environmental infrastructure. Fepam issued the Operating License (LO) for the CTR Rincão das Flores sanitary landfill operated by CODECA, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
• Citizens of Caxias do Sul (Troca Solidária Program)coreOthers · 20 June 2009The Troca Solidária program is a community partnership where citizens exchange 4 kg of selective waste for 1 kg of fruits and vegetables. Since its launch on June 20, 2009, the program has grown to cover 29 neighborhoods. In 2024, over 1 million kg of waste was collected and 251,758 kg of horticultural products were distributed. This program serves as both an environmental and social initiative, addressing food security while promoting recycling.
• Associação de Recicladores InterbairroscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997The Inter-neighborhood Recyclers Association, the pioneering recycling association in Caxias do Sul, was established by the municipal administration. CODECA supports the association through the delivery of approximately 100 tonnes of selective waste daily, which recyclers separate, compress, and sell to industry. This supports employment, income generation, and social inclusion.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Solví Participações: One of Brazil's largest private solid waste management groups operating landfills, collection, and recycling across multiple municipalities. Directly comparable to CODECA in service portfolio (collection + landfill + recycling), though Solví operates multi-city vs. CODECA's single-municipality focus.
• Estre Ambiental: Brazilian environmental services company operating sanitary landfills and waste collection services. Comparable in landfill operations and solid waste handling, though Estre focuses on hazardous and industrial streams more heavily than CODECA.
• Logística Ambiental de São Paulo (Loga): Municipal concessionaire for urban cleaning and waste collection in São Paulo's North Zone. Closest functional analog to CODECA — large-scale municipal household waste collection, street sweeping, and selective collection under a public-service framework.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management Inc. Largest waste management company in North America, operating collection, transfer, landfill, and recycling services. Comparable in core waste management operations, though vastly larger and operating under a private equity-influenced model rather than municipal utility.
• Stericycle: U.S.-based waste management company specializing in regulated waste streams, including hazardous and medical waste. Comparable as an environmental services peer in waste handling, but with very different waste-stream focus than CODECA's municipal solid waste.
• Veolia Brasil: Subsidiary of global environmental services giant Veolia, operating water, waste, and energy services across Brazil. Comparable in waste management offerings (collection, treatment, recycling), but as part of a much broader portfolio across multiple industries.
• Republic Services: Major U.S. environmental services company providing solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal. Comparable in residential curbside collection and recycling services, but operates at much greater geographic scale and as a public company.
• Suez Brasil (Suez Water Technologies & Solutions): Brazilian operations of global environmental services group, providing water and waste management solutions. Comparable in municipal solid waste collection and treatment, but operates as a multinational utility with broader scope than CODECA's municipal focus.

Emerging players

• Clean Harbors: North American provider of environmental and industrial services including hazardous waste management. Comparable in operating landfills and treatment facilities, but focused on industrial/hazardous streams rather than municipal residential collection.

Regional players

• EcoURB: Brazilian company focused on urban cleaning and waste management services for municipalities. Comparable in municipal waste collection scope, though typically serves smaller cities and operates regionally rather than with CODECA's full vertical integration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/codecacaxias
• Facebookfacebook.com/codecacaxias
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/codeca-companhia-de-desenvolvimento-de-caxias-do-sul

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CODECA