A participação das cooperativas de catadores na gestão de resíduos sólidos da Universidade Federal da Bahia : desafios e avanços

Abstract

In recent decades, the issue of solid waste has gained more space in environmental discussions at a global level. In Brazil, the National Solid Waste Policy made all actors involved in the production chain responsible for the waste they generate. In this context, selective collection is an important tool for the adequate disposal of recyclable waste and cooperatives of recyclable material collectors begin to play a fundamental role in solid waste management and in combating social exclusion. Higher Education Institutions, as they generate waste in their activities, have the duty to dispose of it correctly and, according to Presidential Decree No. 10,936/2022, recyclables must be delivered to collector cooperatives. The Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) has two waste management programs involving cooperatives: (i) Recicle UFBA, aimed at recycling paper, glass, metal and plastic; and (ii) PROVER, for the correct disposal of residual vegetable oil. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the involvement of waste picker cooperatives in the selective waste collection at UFBA and propose alternatives for more effective waste management, coupled with strengthening these cooperatives. It is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research that employed semi-structured interviews with individuals involved in the aforementioned programs, documentary analysis of institutional reports from 2013 to 2022, and on-site observation, with data analysis conducted through triangulation. The main findings of the research identified ongoing issues previously addressed in earlier studies, as well as advancements. Among the challenges identified were low engagement of the university community in selective waste collection and lack of support from administrators, resistance from cafeterias in separating oil waste, and absence of institutionalized academic actions aimed at cooperative strengthening. Progress included milestones such as the inauguration of a waste warehouse, support from the State Government in program implementation, the increase in the number of Voluntary Drop-Off Points for waste and the university departments participating in the collection, and the execution of the Recycle UFBA support extension project. Based on these findings, a proposal for organizational intervention was presented with initiatives to be adopted by the University at both administrative and academic levels.