Análise dos resíduos sólidos urbanos no bairro do planalto, Natal/RN: uma abordagem socioambiental sobre o lixo acumulado em locais públicos

Abstract

The research studied the perspective of the population regarding the issue of urban solid waste, with a focus on the accumulation of garbage in public places in the Planalto neighborhood, located in the Western Administrative Region of the municipality of Natal. Its main objective was to evaluate how the population perceives the reality in which they live and the infrastructure available for proper solid waste management in the neighborhood. Therefore, the investigation considered the community's perception through the application of questionnaires, the understanding of the lived reality through images, and the collection of data from the authorities responsible for managing the neighborhood. The results obtained revealed that a significant portion of the community considers the environmental issue important, although they also understand that they are partly responsible for the current situation of the neighborhood. However, it was also found that the infrastructure available for the proper disposal of these waste materials is minimal, including the lack of public garbage bins, insufficient personnel for sweeping and collection, and inadequate management of the serviced streets. Furthermore, the study identified a lack of incentives and initiatives from the local government to promote community understanding of the environmental issue and the mechanisms of social participation. As a result, short- and long-term measures were suggested to address the socio-environmental inconsistencies existing in the study area.