The principles of sustainability as guiding the management of municipal solid waste

Abstract

Environmental concern is a growing theme in the whole society, for the environment and its preservation directly affects the quality of life and human health. Contributing to the environmental problem is the production of solid waste in urban centers, which has increased due to an economic model that encourages consumption patterns and inadequate waste from the population. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt management models that include the concept of sustainability. This study intends to deepen the discussion on the principles of sustainability in relation to the issue of solid waste, in addition to analyzing the National Policy on Solid Waste in the light of systems thinking. A systemic view is the idea of interdependence between elements of a system so that cannot parse a whole from the isolation of the parties. Thus, the management and the management of waste should take place in an integrated manner, as predicts the legislation, considering the economic, social, environmental and cultural dimensions and involving the various sectors - government, private sector and society - and the various interconnected systems to residues.