Resíduos sólidos em ambiente litorâneo na orla Leste da Ilha do Cajual em Alcântara – Maranhão

Abstract

Globalization does not provide access to everything at all times, but it fosters belief in anonymous forces capable of making any market product accessible, even those we do not need but desire. The urge to want and to have leads to a consumerist mindset, demanding that the market produce increasingly more goods—useful or not—to satisfy the expectations of a globalized population. This dynamic gives rise to a consumer society heavily influenced by digital media, which pressures individuals to consume products regardless of their utility, responding more to market demands than to real needs. Such unrestrained consumption requires more raw materials and results in a massive increase in waste generation, particularly solid waste, which eventually accumulates in various parts of the world. As consumption rises, so does waste, heightening the likelihood of these materials ending up in the ocean as marine debris. This study aims to analyze the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the accumulation of marine solid waste along the eastern coast of Ilha do Cajual, in Alcântara, Brazil. To understand this dynamic, we first explore the relationship between globalization, consumer society, and the increase in solid waste disposal. We then describe the materials and methods used, including the characterization and location of the research transects. The paper is structured into four chapters: Chapter 1 presents the study area's description, including its physical, economic, environmental, and social aspects. Chapter 2 discusses the National Solid Waste Policy and the history of waste on Ilha do Cajual, followed by a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the waste collected in each transect, highlighting the main environmental issues on the island's eastern coast. Chapter 3 presents the results and discussion, and Chapter 4 concludes with final considerations.