In Avaré, São Paulo, residents have been grappling with garbage accumulation as trash collection has been halted since Friday, following the State Court of Accounts' (TCE-SP) decision to suspend the bidding process contracted between the city and the waste management company. Initial reports have shown piles of garbage collecting in neighborhoods, particularly in the Braz 1 area, causing growing concern among local residents regarding sanitation and health issues.

The municipal government has stated that payment to the collection staff is up to date and that they have implemented an emergency process to contract a new company to resume garbage collection services by Tuesday. The TCE-SP suspended the original bidding from February 2, citing a need for technical adjustments, while the municipality scrambled to ensure that essential services like garbage collection remain operational during the interim period.

This situation underscores the challenges faced by local authorities in managing essential public services amid bureaucratic hurdles. As residents express frustration over the service disruption, the quick response from the municipality to establish an emergency contract highlights the urgency in maintaining public health and safety, even as they navigate the complexities of public procurement processes.