Solid Waste Management in Large Events: A Pathway Towards Socio-Environmental Responsibility

Abstract

Large events in ecologically dynamic environments can generate serious environmental footprints, if inadequately planned. Poor management practices can cause environmental and economic damage of large magnitudes, directly and indirectly, to the local community and the surrounding areas of seaside cities and towns. This can be especially problematic in North-eastern Brazil, where tourism is a highly relevant source of income. Therefore, this study focuses on the analysis of waste management in large-scale events in coastal areas. The objective of this work was to evaluate the management of the solid waste generated during the Dragão Fashion Brasil 2019 event, which took place in Fortaleza, Brazil. The methodology employed was of qualitative-quantitative, exploratory, and experimental nature. Firstly, on-site monitoring was carried out for the qualitative-quantitative characterization of solid waste, along with an accelerated composting experiment using electromechanical equipment. The processes of separate waste collection, sorting, and final disposal of waste during the event proved to be environmentally beneficial, as it avoided the disposal of over 1,900 kg of solid waste and 200 kg of organic waste into landfills. It also prevented the pollution of close-by marine ecosystems. Additionally, six institutions benefited from the donation program by receiving 731 kg of recyclable waste. This has also contributed a discount on the energy bill of one NGO. It was concluded that the adoption of an environmental management program for solid waste ensured its environmentally friendly redirection and the avoidance of cross-contamination by mixing it with recyclable waste. The sustainable practices observed in this large-scale event, carried out in a coastal and touristic region, can be said to have left a legacy for other events with a similar potential for social and environmental impacts.