Solid waste management: the experience of Barcelona as a contribution to the Brazilian cities

• Grant number: 12/19277-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Physical Geography
• Principal Investigator: Ana Tereza Caceres Cortez
• Grantee: Ana Tereza Caceres Cortez
• Host Investigator: Xavier Gabarrell Durany
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain

Abstract

The intense industrialization, the advent of new technologies, increased population in urban centers and diversification of consumption of goods and services, the waste turned into serious urban problems with a costly and complex management. Over time the problems were emerging and worsening with the high social costs of waste management, public sanitation problems and environmental contamination, the shortage of waste disposal areas caused by the occupation and exploitation of urban areas. In developed countries, mainly in Europe, there are serious problems related to physical space for allocation of waste and in some cases, solid waste there are transported over long distances to reach their final destination. In Brazil, the Brazilian solid waste Policy, approved in 2010, still cause controversy and major challenges for the next years. This law, which includes the responsibility of generators, consumers and public authorities, if conducted, constitutes a major breakthrough in the attempt to solve or minimize the number of problems generated by the exploitation of natural resources and the excessive disposal of materials of various types. The general objective of the research is to make a comparison between cities of Spain (Barcelona) and Brazil (Campinas) about the public policies adopted with regard to solid waste and packaging systems (disposable or reusable) emphasizing the post-consumption responsibility conferred by the laws of both countries. (AU)