O processo de reciclagem em Santa Helena/Paraná: uma análise do trabalho da Associação dos Agentes Ambientais

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that human societies exhibit a persistent need to extract, consume, and dispose of resources, resulting in a substantial increase in the generation of solid waste. The present study aimed to investigate the recycling process conducted in the municipality of Santa Helena, Paraná, Brazil. The methodology adopted was qualitative in nature. To this end, the social statute of the Unidade de Valorização de Recicláveis (UVR, Unit for the Valorization of Recyclables) was analyzed, with a description of the activities carried out within this association, highlighting the significance of this infrastructure for both environmental preservation and local social well-being. Additionally, an interview was conducted with the two UVR coordinators to complement the collected data, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the researched topic. The findings indicate that the UVR currently operates four trucks that perform selective waste collection from Monday to Friday across the entire municipality, including rural districts. The collected material is transported to the UVR facility, where approximately 65 to 68 associates sort the waste, which is subsequently baled and sold to companies specializing in recycling. The coordinators demonstrate an awareness of the importance of their work for both the environment and society. However, they emphasize the significant obstacle of raising public awareness among the population to properly separate and clean recyclable materials before disposal. It is noted that, despite existing public policies aimed at promoting awareness and waste separation, the proportion of recyclable materials remains minimal, constituting less than one-quarter of the total waste. This underscores the need for further research and enhanced environmental education initiatives to address this issue effectively.