Dialogues of an Urban Population with the Presence of Solid Waste thrown in the Open Air

Abstract

Solid waste treatment is an everyday, complex, and challenging issue. For this reason, it becomes a permanent research theme and generates a specific vocabulary. This study aims to clarify how an urban community deals with the domestic, organic, and non-organic waste and other undesirable or unpleasant materials in landfills, sidewalks, and streets. The research is of analytical, bibliographical, and field type, with data collected through structured and semi-structured questions, asked to people living around vacant land with large garbage dumps. The analyses are based on principles of environmental education. It becomes evident that the population copes with the phenomenon, although not adequately understanding the cycle of waste materials, their treatment, and their effects on the health. The lack of solution uses to be associated to the lack of punishment. On the other hand, the cultural habit of throwing garbage in the vicinity of the houses, is rooted in childhood.