Location and operation ecopontos to collect batteries: a question that can and should be resolved in the city of São Bernardo do Campo/SP

• Grant number: 14/00607-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Aparecida Farias
• Grantee: Fernanda Cristina Romero
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The final disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a serious environmental problem in metropolitan areas. It is the responsibility of the municipalities the management of MSW produced in its territory, and one of the alternatives to reduce the volume of such waste is the recycling of materials. And among these, the recycling of batteries, whose names are applied to different types of sources or devices that allow direct release of electrical energy from chemical reaction. Classified as hazardous waste and composed of highly toxic metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury, after use, most are still thrown into general waste and goes into landfills contaminating soil, air and water, affecting the flora and fauna of the surrounding regions. In Brazil, the entity representing the industrial area states that "If it depends of batteries represented by ABINEE industries - Associação Brasileira da Indústria Elétrica e Eletrônica- , the environment will be protected in Brazil." These companies have invested in research and technology and have reduced the amount of potentially hazardous metals in most of its products to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Council (CONAMA), the Resolutions 257/99, 263/99 and 401/08. However, for the action to be effective, it is also part of an efficient recycling process and for this to happen is of crucial importance the selective collection (reverse logistics). From this perspective, the aim of this proposal is to reflect and investigate, through a literature review and a field research, the efficiency of Ecopontos to collect batteries in general in the country, as well as available Ecopontos by the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo, in the state of São Paulo. We intend to evaluate, especially if Ecopontos listed by the City Hall actually exist and still work if the population look for them for the material disposal and where it is taken after being collected.