IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON WASTE RECYCLING: CASE STUDY FEDERAL DISTRICT

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic will impact on various aspects of society and raised concerns about the contamination risks associated with waste management. Through scientific evidence, it was shown that the new coronavirus still exists on inanimate surfaces for a period, so the screening deposits were considered to be places with a high risk of contamination. One of the measures to prevent Covid-19 to prevent the spread of the disease was the temporary suspension of selective collection and the payment of a minimum income with assistance to garbage collectors through technical instructions. In the Federal District, Decree No. 40,548, which temporarily suspended selective collection, sorting of recyclable waste and composting services. As a result, it was possible to notice a decrease in the amount of recycled materials in the year 2020 compared to previous years, because in addition to the temporary suspension, the return of selective collection and sorting services occurred gradually. In addition, it was calculated that the impact of the suspension of recycling programs has prevented the saving of natural resources, these values ​​are 5,579 MKWh of electricity and 43,030 m³ of drinking water, enough to supply, respectively, 35,332.4 households and 9,259 people, over the course of a month. And the total sale price of recyclable materials reaches more than $ 193,000, these materials being disposed of in landfills, requiring an extra volume of 4,323 m3, reducing the useful life of the Landfill in Brasília (ASB).