Uma análise bibliométrica sobre indicadores de sustentabilidade aplicados na gestão de resíduos sólidos

Abstract

The increase in waste production is directly related to population growth and urbanization. Faced with the critical scenario of solid waste generation and the challenge of meeting the demands of 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability indicators act as essential tools for identifying gaps, evaluating, monitoring and strengthening solid waste management. Although different systems of sustainability indicators applied to solid waste management have gained prominence in recent years, it is still difficult to propose systems of indicators that reflect and meet the purposes to be achieved and that encompass the multiple characteristics and variables of different cities. Thus, the present study aimed to contextualize solid waste management and sustainability indicators applied to solid waste and map trends in this area of study through a bibliometric analysis. Through the Scopus database, 151 articles published from 2001 to 2021 were obtained, which were analyzed using the VOSviewer software. The field of study and the number of articles published on solid waste management and its sustainability indicators have been growing mainly since 2012, with Brazil and Italy being the countries that published the most articles. According to the bibliometric analysis carried out, the indicators most addressed by the authors were, respectively, solid waste generation rates, recovery rates, recycling and controlled treatment, which are essential to evaluate the performance of solid waste management. Finally, the bibliometric analysis pointed out the main trends and paths that can be better investigated and detailed in order to contribute to the availability of concrete and current data that collaborate for decision-making and strengthening of the sustainable integrated management of solid waste.