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Is the word desperdício the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

Yes

The word "desperdício" is identical in spelling, meaning, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The only difference lies in pronunciation. In Brazilian Portuguese, the vowels are typically more open and the unstressed "e" in the first syllable is pronounced clearly (e.g., de-sper-DÍ-si-oo). In Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels are much more reduced or "closed," often sounding almost like a swallowed consonant, making the first syllable much shorter and more muffled (e.g., dɨʃ-per-DÍ-si-ku).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Jogar comida fora é um grande desperdício. (Throwing food away is a great waste.)
  2. Não quero que isso seja um desperdício de dinheiro. (I don't want this to be a waste of money.)
  3. Trabalhar sem planejamento é um desperdício de tempo. (Working without planning is a waste of time.)
  4. É um desperdício de talento não aproveitar as oportunidades. (It is a waste of talent not to take advantage of opportunities.)
  5. O desperdício de água precisa ser combatido. (The waste of water needs to be fought.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. É um desperdício de comida deitar isto tudo fora. (It is a waste of food to throw all this away.)
  2. Todo este gasto foi um total desperdício. (All this spending was a total waste.)
  3. Não admitimos o desperdício de materiais na fábrica. (We do not admit the waste of materials in the factory.)
  4. Considero o uso de plástico um desperdício de recursos. (I consider the use of plastic a waste of resources.)
  5. Há muito desperdício de papel no escritório. (There is a lot of paper waste in the office.)