Linking Low Family Income to Waste Recycling in a Brazilian Public University

Abstract

AbstractSolid waste (SW) production is a global concern addressed in the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations Agenda 2030. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) must make progress in recycling waste. When disposed of incorrectly, waste, comprising cardboard, paper, metal, plastic, and glass, contaminates the environment and promotes the vectors’ proliferation, with negative consequences to the human health. Recycling waste has a positive impact on the preservation of the environment, on the economy, on human health, and also impacting on the income of poor families involved in the collection process.The Management Reports (MR) instituted by the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA ) were used to collect data obtained by the Recycle selective collection program at UFBA. MR, by Decree no. 5940, of October 25, 2006, determine the implementation of the SW selective collection in federal public institutions and subsequent delivery to waste pickers’ cooperatives. The secondary data obtained from the MR will be quantitatively and qualitatively discussed and compared with the available literature in Elsevier, SciELO, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases.Part of the waste generated within HEIs can be recycled. Sustainable waste management (WM) will then result in an environmentally sustainable campi , a healthy workplace, with HEIs also playing an important social role supporting low-income families. All SW collected inside the campi is sold to packaging manufacturers, often being the only source of income for waste pickers’ families.KeywordsSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)Management Reports (MR)Waste recyclingLow-income familiesWaste pickersWaste management (WM)Federal University of Bahia (UFBA)