Análise ambiental e econômica do sistema de coleta seletiva. Estudo de caso: João Pessoa - PB

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) represent alternatives for identifying the impacts generated by municipal solid waste management and possible solutions that seek to minimize or even eliminate those impacts. The present study aims to analyze the environmental and economic life cycle of the municipal solid waste selective collection system in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil, from 2015 to 2018, using the LCA and LCC methodologies. The environmental analysis was performed using SimaPro 9.0.0.49 software, with the Ecoinvent 3.5 database and CML impact assessment method, adopting the impact categories of global warming potential, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidation, acidification, and eutrophication. The economic analysis listed the costs and benefits arising from the selective collection program of the study area, followed by the use of the benefit-cost analysis tool. The obtained results indicate that, during the studied period, 99.53% of the emissions generated by the selective collection program is derived from the global warming impact category and that the stages responsible for most impacts were the middlemen and the landfill, especially the transportation processes and landfill operation. The only stage generating net benefits was "companies", due to the recycling processes inserted in it. However, this stage does not overcome the environmental impacts generated. In the economic sphere, João Pessoa's waste selective collection, despite the small amount collected, has shown favorable results, with income exceeding expenses. Nonetheless, measures that seek to reduce costs and increase the collection of recyclables in the waste management program, become essential for improving the remuneration and quality of life of members as well as monetary benefits for the city of João Pessoa, thus implying into positive gains for the environment, infrastructure, economy, and society.