SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - A video published on the social network Instagram last Sunday (16) reached almost one million views by showing a large amount of garbage floating in the Pinheiros River, in São Paulo.
Large volume of garbage floating in the Pinheiros River draws attention after heavy rain in SP
SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - A video published on the social network Instagram last Sunday (16) reached almost one million views by showing a large amount of garbage floating in the Pinheiros River, in São Paulo. The images were published...
Rio Pinheiros continues to be treated like this. Disposing of plastic when used is a start", wrote the cyclist in the caption of the video.
- On Saturday morning, heavy rain hit parts of the capital.
- Civil Defense even sent out warnings about the risks of the storm.
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The images were published by cyclist Nelson Pinto de Carvalho, who was passing along the cycle path next to the Pinheiros waterfront.
"What beauty. São Paulo after the rain. Rio Pinheiros continues to be treated like this. Sad to see. There is no solution. Everyone has to do a little. Disposing of plastic when used is a start", wrote the cyclist in the caption of the video.
On Saturday morning, heavy rain hit parts of the capital. Civil Defense even sent out warnings about the risks of the storm.
"Unfortunately, this scene is normal whenever there are very intense rain events. The cities that are part of the Pinheiros river basin have a huge challenge in relation to the adequate disposal of solid waste and basic sanitation", explains Gustavo Veronesi, coordinator of the Água Limpa program at the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica.
"These cities, including São Paulo, have a serious deficiency in solid waste management and have ridiculous rates of selective collection. I live in Lapa and, here, sometimes you have to walk blocks to find a trash can on the street," he says.
"There is also the responsibility of companies, which use and sell plastic packaging and profit from this process, but are not responsible for the final disposal nor do they effectively participate in reverse logistics [return of packaging to companies]", explains Veronesi. In a note to the report, SP Águas (Agência de Águas de São Paulo) stated that the large volume of garbage in Pinheiros is associated with the irregular disposal of waste and the volume of rainfall.
"Waste discarded irregularly on public roads, storm drains, streams and other areas of the basin can be transported by surface runoff and drainage networks to watercourses and, subsequently, reach the river channel. After precipitation events, there may be a greater supply and concentration of floating materials in certain sections of the channel", said SP Águas.
The agency stated that it maintains a "continuous cleaning operation of the Pinheiros River, with the interception, collection, removal, transportation and adequate disposal of floating waste and materials accumulated along the banks."
According to SP Águas, since January 2023, more than 147 thousand tons of waste have been removed from the river.
Last year, the administration of governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) launched a PPP (Public Private Partnership) aimed at "providing desilting and maintenance services for the Tietê and Pinheiros rivers". The selection of the winning company is scheduled for this semester.
According to the state government, in addition to desilting, the partnership agreement also provides for cleaning services for the water surface, with the removal of waste and aquatic vegetation, conservation of the banks and operation of dams. Investments of R$9.5 billion are planned over the 15 years of the concession.
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