Gestão integrada de resíduos sólidos, agentes e estratégias:o caso de Umuarama – PR

Abstract

Integrated solid waste management covers several stages and predicates the participation of different social agents in order to promote shared responsibility. Its purpose is to solve problems linked to solid waste and involving multiple dimensions, such as environmental, economic and social. Solid waste can be analyzed as a socio-spatial phenomenon, because it results from the relationships between man and nature during the process of space transformation. Over the centuries, waste has been interpreted as a socio-spatial problem due its environmental degradation potential and the threat to public health. However, it is noted the waste can be seen as a solution, because when discarded materials are reused, they can be the answer to local social, economic and environmental problems. Managing solid waste in an integrated way and reinserting it into the cycle of production, consumption and disposal is a challenge to society, which can generate positive results. In Umuarama- PR, the organic materials and waste are sent to the municipal landfill, while the recyclable materials are destined to the collectors cooperative for treatment and commercialization. Besides, Umuarama-PR develops a program called Valuable Trash, to stimulate the separation between recyclable and organic residues in the residences. This program was created to solve specific problems of peripheral districts of the city. Given the above, the objective of this research is to characterize the solid waste management of Umuarama-PR, under the prism of integrated management; the different social agents involved in the process; and the strategies of the public power in solving local issues. The qualitative and quantitative methodology used for that was to collect information and data, such as survey and revision of academic and legislative documents; database query; conducting interviews; and field activities. Results show the involvement of different social agents, such as the citizens, the public administration and collectors cooperative. They execute important stages for the solid waste management, such as selective collection, sorting of reusable solid waste and the environmentally appropriate disposal of waste. Finally, Valuable Trash Program was created with an environmental focus (to preserve the environment) and it was expanded to a social focus (to improve the nutrition of needy families). It defines the search for integrated management because it comprises different dimensions, with the participation of social agents and solves local issues in peripheral districts.