Diagnóstico dos consórcios intermunicipais de gestão integrada de resíduos sólidos urbanos no estado de Santa Catarina (SC)

Abstract

In recent years, the exponential growth of the global population has led to a significant increase in the production of municipal solid waste (MSW). In response to this scenario, the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), established by Law No. 12,305/2010, stands out in Brazil as an essential regulatory framework for the proper management and disposal of MSW. This research aims to diagnose the integrated management of MSW in the intermunicipal consortia of the state of Santa Catarina, evaluating their practices, challenges, and opportunities. The study covered three consortia (COINCO, CIRSURES, and CIMVI) and 30 associated municipalities, using a descriptive, exploratory, and quantitative-qualitative approach. Data collection involved online questionnaires administered to the consortia's technicians and municipal managers. Quantitative analyses were conducted using SPSS software, while qualitative data were analyzed according to Bardin's content analysis method. The results reveal that the municipalities' participation in the consortia varied considerably, reflecting different stages of progress in waste management policies. Per capita MSW generation was heterogeneous, with significant variations among the consortia: COINCO recorded 125.491 kg/inhabitant/year, CIRSURES 193.413 kg/inhabitant/year, and CIMVI 210.364 kg/inhabitant/year. The overall average for the municipalities was 191.231 kg/inhabitant/year, which is below the national average. It was observed that 26.67% of the municipalities have not yet implemented selective collection, largely due to a lack of financial resources, particularly in the COINCO consortium. Regarding the charging for management services, 66.66% of COINCO's municipalities have adopted this practice, while CIRSURES and CIMVI have already instituted charges in all their municipalities, although financial self-sufficiency has not yet been achieved. Another significant finding is the absence of federal transfers for these services in all the municipalities studied, revealing the obstacles to the effective implementation of the PNRS, especially concerning the consortia's prioritization for federal resources. All municipalities dispose of their waste in sanitary landfills, with average distances traveled being 20.99 km for CIRSURES municipalities, 42.65 km for COINCO municipalities, and 40.38 km for CIMVI municipalities. The main challenges highlighted by municipal managers include the scarcity of financial resources, high operational costs, and lack of state incentives. In consortia management, political and administrative issues, such as information centralization and bureaucracy, were identified as significant barriers. It is concluded that despite advances in integrated MSW management, substantial challenges still need to be overcome to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of the intermunicipal consortia in Santa Catarina.