Proposição de áreas institucionais para a implementação de usina de compostagem em ambiente urbano de Santa Maria - RS

Abstract

The organic waste is the main component of the generated waste in Brazilian households, corresponding to approximately 45.3% of the total amount. There are effective alternatives for organic waste treatment, for instance, composting, which is considered an environmentally safe process, it also converts the organic matter into compounds, through the revaluation and reuse of organic matter. The Compost Plants are excellent options for organic waste treatment, considering that they transform a negative sum into a positive one. The main goal of this work is to propose public institutional places to accommodate a Compost Plant in the urban area in the city of Santa Maria - RS. The study was developed with a quantitative approach for a population projection (Geometrical Increase Method) and to estimate the production of organic matter. In combination with, it was made qualitative studies through Google Earth’s satellite images and green spaces shapefiles and institutional areas, they were borrowed from the Santa Maria’s Planning Institute (IPLAN). In order to establish a Composting System, an analysis of three technical subjects was made (area size, implementation costs and functional and maintenance costs), for three types of system: Aerated Windrow Composting, Aerated Pile Static Composting and In-Vessel Composting. To determine the placement for the Plant, four exclusion criteria were adopted (Permanent Preservation Area and Natural Conservation Area, risk, current occupation and size). Finally, the area selection considered four specific technical aspects (area designation, access roads, composting system and vegetal confinement). Therefore, it was projected 83,614 kilogram per day of organic waste, considering 60% populational commitment. Thereby, to fulfill the city’s demand, six areas were proposed to install the Compost Plant, which are located in six administrative regions: Center-West, East, Northeast, North, West and South. The proposal for implementation of Compost Plants means a progress in the Solid Waste Management from the city. The Compost Plant installation results in environmental and economic benefits, since it decreases the solid waste fraction intended to be stored in the landfill and conceives job opportunities and income for employees.