The use of performance indicators in the evaluation of the operational quality of the Rio de Janeiro state sanitary landfill in the 2013-2015 triennium

Abstract

Shutting down dumpsites, implanting and operating landfills are important steps to consolidate an efficient and sustainable urban solid waste management system. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, since 2007, there have been significant advances in this process. However, it is fundamental to transcend the terminology that distinguishes the final disposal sites and to evaluate the real quality of the provision of this public service. There is no doubt that shutting down dumpsites should be a priority for states and municipalities, however, this thought should not distance oneself from the constant evaluation of the environmental performance of these activities and, consequently, the operational quality of the landfills. Based on this principle, the state of Rio de Janeiro, through the State Environmental Institute (INEA), developed in 2013 a methodology for obtaining the Final Destination of Waste Quality Index. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the results of the application of Rio de Janeiro’s Final Destination of Waste Quality Index, in the years of 2013, 2014, and 2015. This analysis made it possible to criticize the strategies proposed by the public policies for waste management in the state, as well as their effectiveness. It was verified that the landfills of Seropédica, Campos, and São Gonçalo presented the best performances and were considered adequate. Together, these landfills received more than ten million tons in the period, about 58% of the urban solid waste collected in the state. The Miguel Pereira, Barra do Piraí, and Piraí landfills presented the worst performance, considered inadequate, receiving about 47,000 tons in the period, less than 1% of the MSW collected in the state.