Semi-arid mountain environments and solid waste disposal: an analysis of the municipality of Serrinha dos Pintos-RN

Abstract

Open-air rubbish dumps are a very common problem in Brazilian cities, and can cause numerous environmental impacts on nature and society. Nonetheless, the municipality of Serrinha dos Pintos-RN, the subject of this research, disposes of its waste in an open-air rubbish dump located on an erosive escarpment, causing an environmental impact on the locality. Based on the above, this research aims to understand how solid waste is managed in this municipality. To this end, bibliographical references from authors who also work on this issue were used. In order to assess the negative environmental impacts of the municipality's open-air rubbish dump, a checklist-type assessment tool and the Leopold matrix were used. Interviews were also conducted with the Secretary for the Environment and the waste collectors in the municipality in order to understand how the waste is dumped there. From this perspective, it was observed that solid waste, when disposed of in an open dump, can cause various negative environmental impacts, degrading the soil, water, air and terrain, especially when this waste is dumped in an elevated area such as the mountain escarpments, as is the case in this study, so the concentration of this waste on these escarpments can generate numerous environmental impacts.