Educação ambiental e gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos do assentamento Santo Antônio/PB.

Abstract

With this study sought to establish the relationship between the environmental education and sustainability from a case study in the rural settlement Santo Antonio at Cajazeiras-PB, emphasizing the problem of solid waste generated in the community and proposing alternatives for reuse of this waste, showing its benefits to the quality of life of workers and the environment around them. Solid wastes, when discharged inappropriately produce large environmental impacts, causing pollution of surface and groundwater, soil and air contamination and proliferation of diseases; they constitute not only an aesthetic problem, but also represent serious threat to humanity and nature. When discharged properly the solid wastes present utmost importance to the quality of life of individuals in society, and reduce the risks in public health. The adopted methodology to develop this project was applied one, descriptive in nature, with action research procedures, involving evaluations before and after the educational interventions that have been developed in accordance with the interest and the reality of the settlers. Thus, environmental education was a tool used to create in inhabitants of this rural settlement interest in reuse of waste and the preservation of the local environment. To this end, the proposal had social, environmental and economic relevance, since it contributed to the awareness of the settlers, through educational interventions for building a sustainable community. In this work was detected several problems and challenges to be faced by the settlers regarding the interest in adopting an environmentally correct behavior. It was found in the analysis of the collected data that the settlers discharged inappropriately solid wastes they produce. With educational interventions it was sought to raise awareness of the community of the rural settlement, in minimizing the impacts on the environment caused by the waste generated. It was built an educational manual with affordable and easy-to-understand language addressing topics such as environmental education, recycling, composting and bio-digesters systems in order to raise awareness among the population of the rural settlement regarding good practices in environmental management. Selective waste collection was raised during the talks with the aim of encouraging the population to separate their domestic solid waste. In this perspective it was promoted the implementation of selective waste collection, including being given the community 4 plastic sinks in standard colors to stimulate the process. To this end, it was suggested to introduce composting systems, as well as the construction of a bio-digester, suggestions which were refused because the settlers would like to receive the systems already in operation, only for their operation, which does not match with the proposal of environmental education and changing attitudes. Craft workshop was held with reuse pots of ice cream, but there was no success, as justified that do not have resources to buy the material and the time available is for the household chores. Although small part of settlers not to interest in working with crafts, it became apparent that the vast majority of the residents of the settlement has an interest in adopting environmentally correct measures suggested by the researchers.