Associação entre indicadores socioeconômicos e ambientais e a destinação final dos resíduos sólidos urbanos dos municípios de Minas Gerais

Abstract

The society produces and accumulates various types of solid waste after the life cycle of each product. Raising awareness and buying only the necessities from environmentally correct companies, quality products, with high durability, without observing trends and new technologies can be the challenge of the modern world. The final destination of these residues can result in an accumulation of vector breeding focus that transmit diseases and compromise the quality of the community life, when not treated and destined correctly. Therefore, this study’s objective was to analyze the association between the final destination of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and socioeconomic indicators: Gross domestic product (GDP) and Human Development Index (HDI), the size of the population and the existence of Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in the Minas Gerais state. The methodology used was a quantitative research that involved data collection on the IBGE and FEAM websites and a visit to the environmental agency, besides segregation and data cross-referencing by categories and the use of logistic regression. The language used was the R programming, with the objective of checking the association of the response variable (final destination of the MSW) with the explanatory variables (GDP, HDI, MSWM and Population). Among the results, it was found an association between HDI and final destination of MSW in the years 2015 and 2016, which can be explained by the tripod of the calculation of this indicator that takes into account education, longevity and income, which improved in recent years in the Minas Gerais state. MSWM and GDP have no association with the final destination of MSW in the years surveyed (2012, 2015 and 2016), which can be explained by the application of the waste management tool without the technical knowledge and qualified people in its elaboration and implementation and also by the temporal issue, since the actions demand deadlines to be able to perceive some improvement. Regarding the economic aspect, represented by GDP, both rich and resource-poor municipalities are not aware of the importance of determining actions that regulate the final destination. It is noted that the county size in 2016 was associated with the final destination of the MSW, because the more populous counties generate more waste and must have suitable disposal sites. In addition, in light of these results, it is concluded that the final destination of MSW is not only related to political and economic issues, but mainly depends on education, interest, participation and public awareness.