A gestão de resíduos sólidos nos municípios costeiros brasileiros e suas implicações para o desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Brazilian coastal municipalities represents a multidimensional challenge involving socioeconomic, infrastructural, environmental, and institutional aspects. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between socio-territorial characteristics and urban cleaning performance, measured by the Urban Cleaning Sustainability Index (ISLU), considering its interface with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A quantitative approach was adopted, analyzing 251 Brazilian coastal municipalities using secondary data from official sources. Normality tests and Spearman correlation analyses were applied to identify associations between ISLU and variables such as education level, waste collection, sewage access, urbanization, and environmental public policies. The results revealed significant interregional disparities, with better performance in the South and Southeast regions and lower indicators in the North and Northeast. A moderate positive correlation was observed between ISLU and socioeconomic variables, especially education level, highlighting the importance of education in promoting sustainable practices. In contrast, municipal environmental policies showed weak correlation with the index, suggesting limitations in their effectiveness and implementation. The analysis also identified inequalities related to race, revealing patterns of environmental racism in access to sanitation and urban cleaning services. It is concluded that MSW management goes beyond technical dimensions and is intrinsically linked to structural inequalities in the Brazilian territory. Therefore, strengthening intersectoral policies focused on environmental education, social inclusion, institutional cooperation, and socio-environmental justice is recommended to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda.