Deadline for closing open dumps in cities ends today.
The deadline for municipalities to comply with the National Solid Waste Policy's requirement to eliminate open dumps and store solid waste in sanitary landfills ends today (2), but less than half of them have adequate waste disposal; Brazil currently has 2.202 municipalities with sanitary landfills, representing 39,5% of the country's cities. Although more than half of the cities still have open dumps, 60% of the waste volume is already being properly disposed of.
Yara Aquino - Reporter for Agência Brasil*
The deadline for municipalities to comply with the National Solid Waste Policy's requirement to eliminate open dumps and store solid waste in sanitary landfills ends today (2), but less than half of them have adequate waste disposal.
Brazil currently has 2.202 municipalities with sanitary landfills, representing 39,5% of the country's cities. Although more than half of the cities still have open dumps, 60% of the waste volume is already being properly disposed of.
Last Thursday (31) the Minister of the Environment, Izabella Teixeira, informed that the federal government will not extend the deadline for municipalities to eliminate open dumps. According to her, an extension may be discussed in the National Congress and the renegotiation of the deadline for compliance must be accompanied by a broader debate on the law, taking into account the reality and economic logic of each municipality.
"The need to renegotiate the deadline must be addressed in the National Congress. The government supports a broader discussion of the law. Extending the deadline without considering all the issues is insufficient," the minister stated.
Those who fail to comply with the legislation will be subject to the penalties stipulated in the Environmental Crimes Law, which provides for fines ranging from R$ 5 to R$ 50 million. One of the alternatives for cities that have not met the target would be to seek an agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office, which oversees the enforcement of the law, and sign a Conduct Adjustment Agreement (TAC).
"Those who demonstrate an interest in fulfilling their obligations should sign an agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office. If they do absolutely nothing, take no action, or sign the TAC (Terms of Adjustment of Conduct), they will be liable for a public civil action, administrative misconduct, and environmental crime," explains Margaret Matos de Carvalho, Labor Prosecutor of Paraná and coordinator of the project "Closure of Dumps and Social and Productive Inclusion of Recyclable Material Collectors" of the National Council of the Public Prosecutor's Office (CNMP).
The National Solid Waste Policy was approved in 2010 and mandates that all open dumps in the country must be closed by today's date. According to the law, waste must be sent to a sanitary landfill, lined with an impermeable membrane to prevent soil contamination. Leachate must be treated and methane gas must be burned.
Over the past four years, since the policy was approved, the federal government has allocated R$ 1,2 billion to municipalities and states for solid waste management initiatives, including the development of plans and investments in landfills. According to Minister Izabella Teixeira, less than 50% of these resources have been used, due to municipalities defaulting on payments or operational difficulties.
* Sabrina Craide and Andreia Verdélio collaborated.