Gravimetric characterization of solid waste from selective collection in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2019

Abstract

This research describes the types of plastic packaging consumed in Rio de Janeiro, through the selective collection of recyclables carried out by the Municipal Company of  Urban Cleaning of  the City of Rio de Janeiro (COMLURB).  The quantities, types and manufacturing companies  of the  products contained in the  packages in the neighborhoods of different  Planning Area (PA) were  surveyed. The residues were characterized according to their physical composition: paper, plastic, glass and metal. The Society of Plastics Industries (SPI) Classification  was the parameter for classifying  plastic  materials.  A total of 18 samples of plastic  waste were analysed.  The results point to higher  mass percentages for the paper  component, 39.82%;  plastic, 28.89%;  glass, 25.84% and metal 5.45%.  It was observed that 27% of the plastics are Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Crystal and 1.71% are  PET Waste (no known technology for recycling);   Polyethylene (PE) film plastics  are 4.23%.  The research identified 503 brands and  3,525 products of  these brands,  including cleaning packaging,   personal hygiene, and food. The brands Nestlé, Unilever,  Coca Cola,  Danone,  Bombril, Arcor were observed with the  highest rates of consumption of plastic  packaging by  the population.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/alookdevelopv1-026