Characteristics and patterns of inappropriate disposal of construction and demolition waste in the municipality of Cabo Frio, Brazil

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify and quantify inappropriate disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW) in Cabo Frio, Brazil. The municipality has areas of environmental preservation and suffers significant environmental impacts due to the large flow of tourists and the inappropriate disposal of CDW. Data collection, carried out from June to September-2019, covered eighteen neighborhoods. 179 inadequate CDW disposal points were detected corresponding to a volume of approximately 448.75m3. The results were grouped by neighbourhood, kind of disposal place and CDW type. Pareto diagrams were also presented to help define priority neighborhoods for inappropriate disposal reducing actions. There was inappropriate disposal in areas of ecological, landscape or scientific interest, over drainage places, on public roads or sidewalks, and on vacant lots. Besides analysing the disposal characteristics and suggesting actions to solve the problem, a methodology for surveying of inappropriate disposal of CDW was proposed, including a method for the rough calculation of CDW volumes. The development of a smartphone application is another contribution that can facilitate data registration and assist decision making. Although the research focuses on a Brazilian municipality, the same work can be expanded to other municipalities in the world.