Coleta seletiva em condomínios: realidades, possibilidades e desafios - estudo de caso do município de Niterói, RJ

Abstract

The issue of solid waste has become a topic of concern since it is being generated in large quantities in the capitalist society of consumption dominated by the replacement of complex products and packaging. This factor reflects negatively on the environment because of the difficulty of proper management of these wastes without causing negative environmental impact because they take long to degrade and may contain contaminants. Alternative treatments and disposal methods are being encouraged to mitigate the hazards of waste. Among these recycling is emerging as a mechanism for reutilization of waste as raw material. Selective collection is an essential tool to enable the recycling process. Thus public participation is necessary since consumers are a source of waste and enabling a separation shortly after consumption qualifies and facilitates the entire procedure. However, Brazilian municipalities have shown low rates of recycling and selective collection. A literature review has been carried about successful stories in Brazil and in the world in both practices. Understanding of relevant issues involved in all aspects has also been addressed through a theoretical foundation. The residential buildings represent a great contribution to this process of waste generation due to a large population concentrated in a small area. Niterói is an urban municipality located in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro State, with a sizeable population having a number of buildings and large residential condominiums. There is a selective collection program sponsored by the Municipal Urban Cleaning Company of Niterói (CLIN), which is in effect for over fifteen years, and directs the recyclable garbage for two cooperatives of collectors in the city (COOPCANIT and Morro do Céu). This study seeks to identify all actors involved in the selective collection of CLIN (residents, CLIN, COOPCANIT), as well as to evaluate the performance of the program and suggests ways of improving it based on a theoretical framework by making technical visits, and carrying out interviews with officials and applying questionnaires for assessing the environmental awareness of residents of condominiums with and without provision of selective collection service. Failures were observed in the program: shy promotion of the program in the city and the lack of environmental education to residents of condominiums reflected in the low adherence of the population. In the other hand, positive aspects were also identified such as the search for partnerships determined by the initiative of the company AMPLA to offer discount on the electricity bill for residents to bring their waste to delivery centers. Some recommendations and suggestions are made to local managers as well as proposals for future work and studies relevant to the problem.