The research reported here characterizes municipal solid waste in terms of the quantity produced as a function of time and pre-sorting as well as post-sorting composition in a municipality with 90,000 inhabitants located in Central Brazil. It pursues the objective of identifying the basic strategy of a municipal solid waste management model specific to household waste. It shows that sorted-waste composition, and not raw waste composition, drives reverse logistics. The household waste production rate is 45 tons per day. The research provides data on the base case of progressive annual tipping rates without a diversion target. It goes on to determine a landfill diversion potential of 67 % of domestic waste produced, based on sorted waste composition data. Annual progress indicators required to reach this potential within a chosen timeframe are detailed. Reverse logistics capacity is identified and found sufficient to remove all inert waste items separated at the source. The necessary logistics for biodegradable matter, based on decentralized composting tests, is outlined. The challenge of the municipal administration is identified as the promotion of source separation, and the funds required for this undertaking are shown to derive from the correspondingly reduced landfill maintenance.