Estudo dos diferentes resíduos sólidos descartados às margens do Rio do Campo-PR e sua aplicação na sensibilização da comunidade

Abstract

Improper disposal of solid waste is one of the main environmental challenges faced by urban centers, directly affecting the quality of water resources. This research investigated the composition and mass of waste discarded along the banks of the Rio do Campo in Campo Mourão, Paraná, analyzing its spatial distribution, and seasonality. Additionally, we sought to use the data collected as a basis for Environmental Education actions aimed at raising awareness in the local community. The methodology involved systematic waste collection at four different points along the river over three seasonal periods (T0, T1, and T2), totaling a sampled area of 60,000 m². The waste was sanitized, classified, weighed, and analyzed using statistical techniques. A catalog of items collected in the field was created for use as a pedagogical tool in a socio-educational workshop. The educational intervention was implemented with students in Youth and Adult Education (EJA), and a voluntary questionnaire was provided to participants to obtain socioeconomic data and its relationship to issues related to the topic. The results of the field phase indicated a significant accumulation of waste, particularly in urban areas with greater social vulnerability (city outskirts), with a focus on construction waste and plastics. The workshop and catalog proved effective in broadening participants' understanding of the environmental impacts of urban waste and in changing community attitudes, making them more aware and sustainable, especially among women. The study concludes that integrating environmental diagnostics with educational actions strengthens community engagement in solid waste management and contributes to more effective public policies. The research reinforces the importance of Environmental Education as a strategic tool for building a culture of sustainability, particularly in urban contexts with low sanitation and waste collection infrastructure.