<p>This study evaluated a waste management system in Northeast Brazil using life cycle assessment and cumulative exergy demand analysis. The latter adds the recovery analysis, which is vital given the scarcity of natural resources. Variations in the electrical matrix, organic content and logistical parameters were evaluated aiming to expand the conclusions to other developing countries. The work compared technologies for managing mixed waste and specific fractions: organics, recyclables, and refuse. Adopting the best practices lowered global warming potential from 623.92 to − 519.13 kgCO₂eq per ton of waste. Regarding mixed waste, results cautioned against over-reliance on incineration, especially in renewable energy mix areas. Anaerobic digestion was the most efficient recovery method for organics. Recycling was the solution that most increased the resource recovery efficiency. The logistical impact of each recyclable fraction was different: for metals, the distance travelled can be twenty times greater than for paper. Refuse-derived fuel use avoids the consumption of petroleum coke, but it does not outweigh the resource savings from recycling. Lastly, even for the optimum scenario, 45% of exergy demand stemmed from material transport. Thus, the sustainability of waste management in developing countries hinges on the selected technology, the electric matrix and the transport infrastructure.</p>