Aprimoramento da eficiência e sustentabilidade da reciclagem no município de Parintins: um estudo de caso na Associação de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis de Parintins (ASCALPIN)

Abstract

Solid waste management in municipalities of the Amazon region faces unique challenges due to local logistical and infrastructural complexities. This work presents a case study on the Association of Recyclable Material Collectors of Parintins (ASCALPIN), analyzing the bottlenecks that impact its efficiency and sustainability. The central problem of the research lies in the low recycling efficiency of complex materials — such as multilayer plastics and Styrofoam — aggravated by the entity's lack of legal regularization and the incipient population engagement in selective collection. Methodologically, a qualitative approach with a descriptive and exploratory character was adopted, using bibliographic review, documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews with managers and waste pickers, on-site observation, and the application of a quantitative questionnaire to residents. The results showed that, despite its socio-environmental relevance, ASCALPIN operates with precarious infrastructure and faces high costs of fluvial reverse logistics. Furthermore, it was found that only about 15% of the population performs correct waste separation, generating a high rate of rejected materials. As a practical contribution, the study proposes integrated strategies that include the legal transition to a cooperative model, the feasibility of pre-processing equipment, and the implementation of gamification as a public policy tool to encourage community engagement, aiming to strengthen the circular economy in the municipality.