Littering Behaviour in Multicultural Slums: A Case Study from Brazil

Findings highlight the need for targeted awareness campaigns and inclusive policies to effectively tackle littering in multicultural slums.

by Patricia Silva, Mário Ramos, Ana Alves, Graça Martinho

Abstract

Morro do Banco, a slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is home to a community composed mainly of Brazilian and Venezuelan nationals, where littering is a persistent issue. This study investigates the causes of littering and examines the differences in perceptions and littering behaviours between residents, addressing a research gap in multicultural slums. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 150 residents, complemented by interviews with community members and professionals from urban cleaning and waste management services. Visual observations were also made. The results indicate that littering is primarily linked to a lack of containers for waste disposal and collection, as well as residents’ failure to dispose of waste at the designated times. There is a notable absence of awareness campaigns aimed at addressing the problem. While both communities recognise the littering issue, Venezuelan residents are less aware of public services and report observing lower levels of littering than Brazilian residents. Furthermore, Brazilians tend to place more responsibility on local authorities, while Venezuelans attribute responsibility to the central government. Venezuelans also express less support for oversight actions involving penalties compared to Brazilians. These findings highlight the need for targeted awareness campaigns and inclusive policies to effectively tackle littering in multicultural slums.

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published: Sustainability, 5|2025
Keywords: Collection, Pollution Control, Policy Tax Instruments, Resource management, Mixed Waste, Methods, Analyses, Data, Brasil