A gestão de resíduos sólidos e educação ambiental no município de Petrópolis, RJ

Abstract

The current study analyzed the Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) developed in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, trying to identify the most relevant impacts of this system over the Piabanha watershed. This research also intended to evaluate the main environmental education projects developed in the municipality, dedicated to the solid waste subject. Interviews and analysis of public sector politics were conducted to build an evaluation matrix for these projects. The ISWMS analysis has showed some improvements since 2001 when the present controlled landfill was installed. However, some elements still causes direct or indirect impacts into the Piabanha watershed: (i) the improperly closure of the old dump site, where the leachate still leaks directly on Piabanha s tributaries rivers; (ii) the incineration of the healthcare waste, which may generate dioxin emissions, with risks to public health; (iii) the civil construction works waste, which is still dumped on the rivers margins; (iv) the inefficient waste collection system on poor communities, which may stimulate people to keep throwing waste on the rivers and (v) the lack of environmental education programs that include the solid waste subject and its roles. According to this evaluation, the project Petrópolis Recicla has been classified as inadequate based on the public politics analyzed. On the other hand, the project Araras Sem lixo was partially classified in accordance, when compared to the same public politics. To properly evaluate whether or not the improvements achieved in Petrópolis IWMS had reduced the impacts on the rivers water condition, it would be necessary, among other actions, to proceed with water quality analysis to compare with other studies.