Desafios e ações na gestão de resíduos da construção civil nos ecopontos da cidade de Uberlândia-MG

Abstract

The urban environment is currently heavily impacted by the large amount of construction waste, which is often irregularly disposed of in various places, including stream banks, permanent preservation areas, and vacant lots, resulting in serious environmental consequences. In the municipality of Uberlândia-MG, irregular disposal practices, especially those from small-scale generators, began to lose ground with the implementation of ecopoints, a strategy aimed at improving waste management and meeting legal requirements in the field of sustainability. However, the effectiveness of these facilities remains limited due to the lack of public awareness, insufficient maintenance of the units, inadequate size, lack of integration within public management, and, ultimately, a set of structural, operational, and social obstacles. Given this context, this study aims to analyze the ecopoints in the southern sector of Uberlândia, investigating their functionality, location, and importance for the proper disposal of construction waste. The methodology applied was based on literature review, documentary research, and direct field observation carried out in the ecopoints and their surroundings. In doing so, the research sought to understand both the challenges and the potential of ecopoints as a public policy for urban solid waste management, particularly concerning construction waste. By analyzing the specific reality of Uberlândia’s southern sector, the study sought to highlight how location, infrastructure, and community participation directly influence the relevance of these facilities. The investigation also proposed reflections on the impacts generated on the urban landscape and on schools located nearby, broadening the debate on sustainability, urban planning, and socio-environmental justice. It is concluded that, although environmental policies establishing principles of sustainability do exist, there is still a lack of integrated waste management that effectively involves schools, municipal departments, public security agencies, and the community in general. The consolidation of these principles depends on the implementation of continuous environmental education, combined with investments in strict enforcement against irregular disposal, the expansion of outreach and maintenance of ecopoints, and the strengthening of recycling incentive policies. Such actions contribute not only to the effectiveness of existing facilities but also to generating economic returns for formal recyclers.