Brazil is the country of contradictions in many aspects. Certain strata of society live in conditions similar to that of Europeans, while others are at a level very close to that of low-income Indians. The innumerable contrasts of this Belindia, an expression created by the economist Edmar Bacha, oblige us to analyze with accuracy what happens in different aspects in the social and economic sphere. In terms of recycling, for example, Brazil can compete with the United States and Germany, depending on the item analyzed. Even when we remember that only 3% of waste generated in Brazil is destined for recycling.
According to the Panorama of Solid Waste in Brazil, prepared by Abrelpe, in 2018, 79 million solid wastes were generated, which is equivalent to 380 kilos per year for each inhabitant. Of this total, 59.5% were sent to appropriate locations: sanitary landfills. More. The recycling rate remains at the ridiculous level of 3%, 12 years after the approval of the Solid Waste Law (Law No. 12,305/10). One of the provisions of this legislation predicted that we would reach a recycling rate of 5% in five years.
Even with all the problems, which are not few, it can be said that we have something to celebrate on World Recycling Day, established by the UN on May 17th. After all, we are world leaders in recycling aluminum and crop protection packaging, for example, surpassing the United States and Germany. In addition, several sectors have been renewing their efforts and adhering to the provisions of Law No. 12,305/10. One of them is that of steel cans.
1 Papo Reto spoke with Thais Fagury, president of the Brazilian Steel Packaging Association (Abeaço), to find out what companies in the segment have been doing.
What does Brazil stand out in the continental and global scenario, in terms of recycling steel cans?
Recycling steel and cans is very similar across the world. The handling of scrap and the final destination of post-consumer steel are invariably carried out by the steel mill. The highlight for the Brazilian market is its territorial size and the work performed by recyclable material collectors' cooperatives. Even in the most remote places, the recycling of steel cans is possible, since there is already an extremely structured market for collecting scrap steel and sending it to steel mills (recyclers). The work carried out by the cooperatives, today, provides capillarity and also professionalization in relation to the material.
Brazil surpasses the United States and Germany in the recycling of agricultural defensive containers and aluminum cans. What is missing for steel cans to have a greater presence in the recycling process?
There is no guarantee of traceability of the material. One of the proposals of the Prolata Program is precisely to guarantee the traceability of the steel can, through transparency and the formalization of the system, passing through the entire chain to the environmentally appropriate final destination (steel mill – mechanical recycling of the material).
Last year, Prolata launched a campaign to collect empty packaging in several cities across the country. What is the balance of this activity and the next steps?
A non-profit association created in 2012 by the value chain of steel can manufacturers in Brazil, Prolata recycled 8,059.6 tons of steel in 2019 through 51 cooperatives and 37 Voluntary Delivery Points (PEVs) spread across the country. For the environment, the results are also relevant: in the accumulated of 2019, the extraction of iron ore for steel production was reduced by 12 thousand tons and that of mineral coal by more than 1,200 tons. In addition, the emission of greenhouse gases decreased by 29,822 m³ with the use of recycled steel. These numbers represent 164,247 trees that were not cut down and a saving of 70% of water in the manufacture of new steel.
Prolata's objective is to create conditions for the steel can recycling chain to be completed, involving can manufacturers, product manufacturers, cooperatives, the final consumer and the steel industry, guaranteeing the shared responsibility of the chain provided for by the National Waste Policy Solid. The next steps are to increase the Program's capillarity, including a greater number of warehouses, engaging the consumer through actions such as door-to-door in conjunction with partner cooperatives, and working on environmental education, mainly in the public school network, that is, communicating , educate and facilitate the disposal of post-consumer steel cans.
With social distancing, confinement and lockdown in some cities, due to COVID-19, the volume of meals at home grew and, consequently, many families began to separate solid waste. Has an increase been detected in the case of steel packaging?
We have not yet been able to identify this increase in relation to the generation of post-consumer waste. In other countries, we have seen an increase in the consumption of canned food. In the USA, for example, the increase was around 28%, however, nothing was said about the disposal of waste. This is one of the concerns of the Prolata Program today, since most of the cooperatives are inoperative or partially functioning, as well as PEVs and partner warehouses. We will first follow WHO recommendations and then work hard to ensure waste recovery.
Fonte: https://clipping.cservice.com.br/cliente/viewmateria.htm?materiaId%3d49354342%26canalId%3d458662%26clienteId%3dSxnE%2bmhr%2fDY%3d%26newsletterId%3daLda164hG%2fI%3d
