A practical solution to the problem of household waste management in Brazil

The detailed characterization of household waste in the city of Uberlandia, Central Brazil, reveals the presence of 72 weight percent biodegradable or ganic matter. For the first time, this research contributes data on Uberlan dia to national statistics. A new concept of reporting household waste comp osition was employed. The effect of informal collection was considered. A b etter estimate of the true generation rate of household waste in this count ry resulted. Technical and administrative shortcomings of the present model s for household waste management were identified. In order to correct them, the philosophy of divided collection was developed, and the corresponding management model is detailed. The model was applied to a test community. Ex periments were conducted with behavior management of people and with collec tion and sorting of waste. The model was deemed functional. II opens the pr ospect of diverting 84% of waste from landfill. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.