Inclusion of recyclers in the shared management of solid waste in the municipality of Ipojuca – Pernambuco

Abstract

The increase in the production of solid waste has a negative impact on the environment and on society. Developing sustainability strategies poses a challenge for the public administration given the complexity of the (political, economic, social, environmental, cultural and technological) issues involved in the management of solid waste. Hence, the integration of the public administration, the private sector and the civil society constitutes one of the mitigating alternatives to adjust the management of solid waste to the National Policy for Solid Waste (Law nº 12305/2010). The present study, then, analyzed the difficulties as well as the possibilities of the work of recyclers in the development of shared management of urban solid waste. The method used in this investigation consisted of the following procedures: literature review, visits to the Suape Port’s Solid Waste Sorting Center and to RECICLE, the Association of Recyclers of Ipojuca, interviews with recyclers and photographic recordings. Our findings were analyzed in the light of the theoretical framework. The research presents the strategies adopted by the public administration in the city of Ipojuca that aim to integrate the local recyclers in the management of solid waste. It also shows the relevance of the partnership between the Suape Port Administrative Center and the Association of Recyclers of Ipojuca as means to improve the work of recyclers in the development of a shared chain for recycling urban solid waste.