Production and Destination of Solid Waste in the Chico Mendes Extrative Reserve, Acre, Brazil

Abstract

The process of development of the Amazon, in post-1970, has led to serious socio-economic and environmental problems, such as the struggle for land ownership and huge deforestation. Conservation units, such as extractive reserves (RESEX), appear as sustainable development alternatives for the region. Today, solid waste has become one of the main environmental problems, particularly in forest areas. The aim of the present work is to analyze the production and destination of solid waste in the Chico Mendes RESEX, state of Acre, in the periods 1996/1997, 2005/2006 and 2014/2015. We work with the methodology of the ASPF project, developed at the Federal University of Acre (UFAC), based on indicators of economic results, as well as the production and destination of solid waste. The results indicate a considerable increase in the generation of solid waste in the forest, especially of plastics coming from goods acquired in the market and without adequate disposal.