Given the guidelines for management and administration of the Brazilian Policy for Solid Waste, as well as the need for a broad view of the problematics regarding municipal solid waste, this article proposed a qualitative methodology of regional analysis of municipal solid waste, based on an index used as a planning tool. An overview of the municipal solid waste generated in the state of Sao Paulo was presented, since it was the area under study. Data for waste generation, population and human development were used for the method development. Measurement spreadsheets and geographic information system were used as tools. An adequacy index of municipal solid waste management (IMSWM) was generated based on weight attribution for variables of population, municipal solid waste generation, selective collection, collection of waste from healthcare services, and participation in municipal consortia. An equation for estimating the generation of municipal solid waste based on the population of the state of Sao Paulo was obtained, with R-2 = 0.9977. The adequacy index of municipal solid waste management did not show a spatial trend, though it was possible to identify municipalities with greater problems regarding the municipal solid waste management. An analysis of regional landfills was carried out. Most of those from the state of Sao Paulo are located close to larger municipalities. There is a need of increasing the amount of regional landfills closer to smaller municipalities in the Western part of the state. The methodology of adequacy index of municipal solid waste management seemed adequate for a regional analysis of the waste problematics. It can be adapted to other study areas, in different regions, in several administrative divisions. No correlation between data generation and human development was found.212367377