Gestão ambiental em resíduos sólidos urbanos: análise sobre a situação no município de São Bento – MA

Abstract

Brazil neglects the treatment and disposal of solid waste produced in its territory. Waste generation is growing as the population and consumption increase, directly impacting the environment and public health. In Brazil, according to the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), Law No. 12.305/10, dumps should have been extinguished and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) should only be sent to landfills. Municipalities are responsible for ensuring public cleaning services, including the collection and final disposal of MSW. It is in this context that this research is justified. The need is to investigate the efficiency of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the municipality of São Bento, located in the state of Maranhão. In this scenario, the question that guides the research is: How does the municipality manage MSW? The general objective was to analyze the implementation and practices adopted in relation to the national solid waste policy in the municipality of São Bento - Maranhão. As a methodology, data was collected by analyzing documents and available legislation, interviews with municipal representatives responsible for MSW management and primary data collection in the field. Bibliographic research improved the theoretical basis of the study, dealing with aspects related to sustainability and solid waste management. Documentary research looked at solid waste regulations, identifying the public policies that have already been adopted and evaluating their efficiency in waste management, as well as making it possible to compare environmental regulations relating to solid waste at federal, state and municipal level, and the obligation of public authorities to implement them. The field research used a questionnaire to members of the municipal administration responsible for the management and correct disposal of MSW, using the SWOT technique to assess the strengths and weaknesses of management, as well as visits with photographic records of public places where waste is disposed of. Therefore, getting to know the actions being carried out by the municipal government, the challenges faced in solid waste management, shed light on what is being done and developed in this municipality. The results show that in the municipality of São Bento, federal legislation on solid waste is not being implemented according to national guidelines. These findings show that there is a pressing need to systematize and speed up the process of compliance with this legislation, highlighting the urgency of corrective measures