Recovery potencial of recyclables at a large residential condominium in São Caetano do Sul

ABSTRACT This paper aims at evaluating the potential recovery of recyclable materials at a large vertical residential condominium located in the municipality of São Caetano do Sul, state of São Paulo, Brazil. A survey on the waste management and the building facilities was conducted. Interviews with the governing board of the condominium and with the institute responsible for segregating recyclables were carried out, together with questionnaires applied to residents. The main challenge during this survey was the frequency and quality of internal communication for information and awareness, including both residents and respective domestic staff. As positive aspects, the convenience for disposal of recyclables by the residents; favorable conditions for the recyclables market, and presence of suitable location for storing segregated recyclables at the condominium were identified. It was found that the recovered materials were 13.7% of all recyclables present in domestic waste. This study showed that the selective collection of solid waste in residential condominiums is vulnerable owing to the lack of effective promoting and mobilization actions, as well lack of local administration decisions.

摘要 本研究旨在评估位于巴西圣保罗州圣卡塔努杜苏市的一处大型高层住宅公寓的可回收物料回收潜力。研究人员针对该楼宇的垃圾管理情况与配套设施开展调研，对公寓管委会及负责可回收物分类的机构进行访谈，并向居民发放调查问卷。本次调研面临的核心挑战在于面向居民及所属家政服务人员的信息传递与宣传动员的频次不足、质量欠佳。调研确认了多项积极条件：居民处置可回收物较为便捷；当地可回收物市场环境良好；公寓内设有专门存储分类后可回收物的合适场地。经测算，回收物料占生活垃圾中可回收物总量的13.7%。本研究表明，住宅公寓的生活垃圾分选收集工作存在脆弱性，究其原因在于缺乏有效的宣传动员举措，且当地行政管理部门未出台相关配套决策。