A responsabilidade compartilhada como fator de logística reversa: o caso de garrafas de vidro modelo Long Neck na cidade de Montes Claros

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the scenario of disposal of long neck glass bottles in the city, investigating the performance of all agents that participate in the life cycle of these packages so that their return to the production process is possible. Shared responsibility in the product chain is provided for in the National Policy on Solid Waste, which points out the role that should be played by the government, manufacturers, commerce and consumers to encourage reverse logistics. The method adopted was a qualitative, exploratory and documental research, with interviews with representatives of the government, manufacturers, commerce and at the headquarters of waste pickers' associations. On-site visits were also carried out in urban areas, supermarkets and waste pickers associations in the city. As a result, the research found a scenario of irregular disposal in urban areas, even with a specific law that establishes the mandatory collection of long neck bottles in the city, by manufacturers, distributors, bars and businesses. Long Neck bottles arrive in the city through breweries that send the product to distributors and supermarkets, which in turn, distribute to bars, restaurants, other businesses and domestic consumers. Although they do not have an educational campaign to return the packages, supermarkets receive the bottles from consumers who want to deliver them and send them to the sheds of waste pickers' associations. These associations sell the bottles from supermarkets together with others that are collected by the municipality's selective collection to a middleman. However, the amount collected in supermarkets and by selective collection in the city is very small and most long neck bottles have common waste as their final destination, not being reintroduced in the production cycle. It is understood that the government needs to assume its responsibility in the management of waste glass, seeking first with the factories information on the quantity of one-way glass bottles that are sold in the municipality in order to measure advances in selective collection. It is also necessary to expand inspection to prevent irregular disposal in urban areas and common garbage. Public authorities have an important role to play in involving consumers in the correct disposal of bottles, promoting environmental education and reverse logistics actions for this product. The initiative identified by the Reviver Vidros project is an alternative among many others that can be used for waste glass. However, success in the reverse flow, regardless of the path to be followed, will only be possible with the articulation of all social actors that participate in the life cycle of the bottles. Rethinking and reflecting on the production chain is necessarily urgent, aiming to reduce environmental impacts that will have consequences for everyone, but mainly affecting the most vulnerable.