Geração e composição gravimétrica de resíduos sólidos urbanos em municípios do semiárido de alagoas

The generation of solid urban waste (MSW) has grown significantly in recent decades, mainly due to the increase in population and urban areas. Thus, it is necessary to know the quantity and composition of these materials, especially in small municipalities, where the management of this waste is still deficient. In this sense, the present study aims to analyze the production of solid urban waste and its gravimetry in eight municipalities in the sertão of Alagoas. As a source of data, the State Solid Waste Plan of the State of Alagoas - Sertão Region and economic information from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics were used. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed. The municipalities were characterized by a low urban population and low GDP per capita values. High variability was observed for the daily generation of MSW, with the predominance of the organic fraction, followed by plastic. On the other hand, low percentages of metals (<5%) were observed. The ACP explained 69.2% of the original variance of the data in the first two axes and evidenced the strong association between economic aspects and the gravimetric composition of the residues. In view of the large amount of organic material present in the residues of the study area, actions for the use and proper disposal of this fraction, such as composting, should be encouraged.