As in many developing or emerging economies, the main type of disposal is landfilling, which in Brazil accounted for almost 98% of treatment in 2008. Waste disposal in non-sanitary landfills (i.e. sites without measures to minimise environmental damage such as groundwater contamination) decreased over 2000-08, particularly disposal in uncontrolled, open-air dumps (Figure 1.11). Despite this improving trend, however, Brazil fell short of its national target to eliminate uncontrolled landfills by August 2014. Small municipalities, and those with large rural zones, have particular trouble complying with national legislation, usually because of limited institutional capacity and lack of economies of scale (Chapters 2 and 3).