The Illegal Disposal of the Construction Waste in the City of São Paulo: A Study Based on the Instruments of Environmental Public Policies

Abstract

The illegal disposal of construction waste (CW) in public places has been a problem in Brazilian municipalities, causing various environmental impacts and public cleaning costs to municipalities. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the main factors that can influence the generators and transport companies to illegal disposal of construction waste (CW) in São Paulo. The methodological procedure adopted was the descriptive research through the identification and analysis of variables and aspects related to the empirical phenomenon of irregular disposal of CW. As techniques for data collection, we used the documentary research, with emphasis on the Plan of Integrated Solid Waste Management (PGIRS) of the municipality, and other legal documents, supplemented by literature review. It was concluded that the main factors related to the irregular disposal in public places may be associated with income, which limited the small low-income generators to require the rental container for the transport of waste, besides the difficulty of accessibility and logistic costs to the voluntary delivery points (VEPs). There is also a lack of reasonable and appropriate criteria in the definition of small and large generator. The work suggests that there would be a  need for services of collection, transportation and treatment of CW to be offered under public law - paid through tax and priced through social and environmental criteria - for greater control over generators and transport companies.