THE CHALENGES OF THE SOLID WASTE INTER-MUNICIPAL CONSORTIUM OF THE AÇU VALLEY, STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Abstract

Solid waste is one of the serious urban problems in contemporary world, for which urgent solutions are sought. In Brazil, the official confrontation of this issue only occurred recently when the federal government sanctioned Law 12.305/2010, which deals with the National Policy on Solid Waste. Despite the law, most Brazilian municipalities have not made progress on this issue. The lack of management and adequate disposal for solid urban waste are pointed out as challenges yet to overcome. Therefore, one of the alternatives found has been the creation of inter-municipal consortia. In the state of Rio Grande do Norte, the state government instituted in 2010 the State Plan for Integrated Management of Solid Waste and the geographical ordering of the 167 municipalities that joined 07 Regional Consortia of Basic Sanitation. The Regional Basic Sanitation Consortium of the Açu Valley, since its creation has not been able to get off the ground. The research investigated the obstacles that hinder its operation and found that the poor economic situation of the municipalities, the turnover of mayors, the distance from the cities to the landfill site and the lack of involvement of the population are obstacles to its operation.