Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Based on Social Recycling: A Case Study with Waste Picker Cooperatives in Brasília, Brazil

Author:

Mesquita Julia Luz Camargos1,Gutberlet Jutta2ORCID,de Araujo Katiuscia Pereira3,Cruvinel Vanessa Resende Nogueira4,Duarte Fabiano Harada5

Affiliation:

1. Department of Public Health, University of Brasilia, QE 40 Conj J Lote 30 Guará II, Brasilia 71070-102, Brazil

2. Department of Geography, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3060 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3R4, Canada

3. Department of Chemical Engineer, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil

4. Department of Public Health, University of Brasilia, SHVP Trecho 3 Quadra 10 Conj 07 Casa 07, Brasilia 72002-024, Brazil

5. Department of Public Policies, Federal University of ABC, Alameda da Universidade, S/N, Sao Bernardo do Campo 09606-045, Brazil

Abstract

Solid waste is a major contributor to climate change due to the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) during the decomposition of waste. As a consequence, waste should be avoided, and an appropriate destination should be given to all materials that are discarded. While not the only strategy, recycling is a fundamental process in addressing this problem. In 2013, a study carried out with one waste picker cooperative in São Paulo has paved the way to assessing the impact of recycling on GHG emission reduction, by using the methodological tools of the Clean Development Mechanism of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change. The objective of our study is to evaluate the applicability of this methodology to different work environments, measuring greenhouse gas emission reductions and energy saving as a consequence of recycling. Our study involves three waste picker organizations located in the city of Brasília, Brazil. The three cooperatives have made secondary data for 2019 on their material input and output available. The following variables were considered: type and amount of solid waste collected, type of machines used, energy sources and transport routes. The data analysis verified that waste picker organizations significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and energy savings. We conclude that this methodology can be applied successfully to calculate emission reductions and energy savings from material recycling in different recycling contexts. Ultimately, this research recognizes the positive environmental and climate impact of the work of waste pickers, which needs to be recognized and remunerated.

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Geography, Planning and Development,Building and Construction

Reference54 articles.

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2023, March 19). Global Warming of 1.5 °C. Available online: https://www.ipcc.ch.

2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2023, March 19). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Available online: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/.

3. Contribution of Cooperative Sector Recycling to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction: A Case Study of Ribeirão Pires, Brazil;King;Waste Manag.,2013

4. Gautam, M., and Agrawal, M. (2021). Carbon Footprint Case Studies: Municipal Solid Waste Management, Sustainable Road Transport and Carbon Sequestration, Springer.

5. Global development of greenhouse gas emissions in the waste management sector;Kocina;Detritus,2019

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