Avaliação da sustentabilidade da logística reversa de embalagens na Região do Médio Solimões

Abstract

Urban solid waste is an extremely important issue worldwide due to the rapid growth of urban areas and the increase in the population in cities. In the urban context, waste generation is constant and diverse, consisting of materials discarded by the daily activities of people, businesses, industries, institutions and services. Rapid urbanization and unbridled consumption have contributed to a significant increase in the amount of waste produced. In addition, the composition of these materials has become increasingly complex, with the presence of non-biodegradable compounds, such as plastics, metals and chemicals, requiring appropriate management to avoid negative impacts on the environment and public health. In order to reduce this impact, environmental legislation related to the subject gradually releases governments from the obligations and makes private companies responsible for managing the reverse flows of post-consumer products. Logistics involves the process that ensures that products reach the hands of the end consumer, as well as their return to the manufacturer. Thus, given the problem of the lack and/or absence of environmentally appropriate solid waste final disposal systems, the large volume of discarded packaging and the difficulties in implementing reverse logistics systems, mainly due to the peculiarities surrounding the Amazonian municipalities, whether due to modal logistics issues, cost factors, seasonality, among others, this research was asked whether in the Middle Solimões Region, in the horizon of good environmental governance, reverse logistics systems for packaging would meet the dimensions of sustainability? To guide the question, this investigation was based on the general objective of evaluating the sustainability of reverse logistics for packaging waste for applicability in the municipality of Coari - Amazonas, Middle Solimões Region, through the development of scenarios that contemplate the environmental, social and economic dimensions. To answer the aforementioned question, a descriptive study was developed regarding the objectives; bibliographic, documentary and field studies regarding the procedures and a qualitative -quantitative approach, using questionnaires applied in semi-structured interviews with the main public managers of the solid waste area of the municipality. The results show that the reuse of packaging, especially plastic packaging, represents a challenge in the quest to minimize harmful effects on the environment. Among the possibilities, disposal management, reinsertion and proper disposal are mentioned. The consolidation of reserve logistics in the Médio Solimões is a purpose that can be implemented, although it is still far from the current reality, but that could contribute to the economic, social and environmental development of the city of Coari, and could be a prototype for other cities in the region.