Proposition of an urban solid waste characterization method for the municipalities of the hydrographic basin of the Paraíba do Sul River

Abstract

The increase in consumption patterns has led to quantitative growth and heterogeneity of municipal solid waste (MSW), favoring the emergence of serious health problems. The National Solid Waste Policy (NSWP) establishes the characterization of solid waste as mandatory content of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Plans (MSWMP). This characterization is the process that identifies the quantity, components and other physical, chemical and biological parameters of the residues. Urban solid waste has different compositions and generation rates depending on variables such as: life habits, cultures, climates, GDP, waste treatment technologies, socioeconomic conditions of the population, degree of industrialization of the region, geographic location, energy sources. In addition to the heterogeneity, the RSU are also susceptible to seasonality, in view of this, it becomes fundamental to characterize it in scale and adequate temporality. Since there is no standardized MSW characterization methodology at the federal level, the MSWMP developed for the municipalities belonging to the Paraíba do Sul river basin can not be equated. In view of this, the present research proposes to construct and validate a solid urban waste characterization methodology compatible with the demands of this region. This applied research will be carried out with the support of the Pro-Water Management Association of the Paraíba do Sul River Basin (AGEVAP) and will make use of survey-type research with the managers of the municipalities that are inserted in the referred basin. Considering AGEVAP's performance, it is necessary to infer that the proposed methodology must be appropriated by local managers and, thus, contribute to the improvement of the environmental quality of the territories. (AU)