Integrated management of solid wastes – 16 years of experience in the city of Porto Alegre

Abstract

In 1989, the prefecture of Porto Alegre, city of about 1.4 million inhabitants and capital of the southernmost state of Brazil, starts implementing a new approach to solid waste management, which later constituted the Program of Integrated Management of Solid Wastes. The program was organized based upon a survey on wastes, involving its origin, amount and specific composition. Then, a management system was projected to maximize the reuse of wastes, seeking social inclusion of the population of waste gatherers. In July 7, 1990, selective gathering in the city was started. Initially only in one neighborhood, nowadays it covers almost the entire city and with about 60% of the dwellers participating in the program. In this project, waste gatherers were involved through associations, which are currently more that 10 and are organized in a statewide organization and nationally articulated. The organic matter recycling also initiated at this time, where food wastes were destined to animal feeding. Latter, a processing and composting unit entered into operation, allowing the reuse of a certain amount of organic matter. Areas that had been degraded by non-proper waste deposits were ameliorated and sanitary landfills were constructed and operated following environmental regulations. In this paper, statistical data will be presented form this 16-year experience in Porto Alegre city, demonstrating that a prefecture may in fact accomplish solid waste management, provided that the whole process in properly planned and human resources qualified.