GLASS RECYCLING IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT: ANALYSIS BASIS FOR CONSIDERING THE PROCESS IN BRAZIL

Abstract

This article is one of the excerpts from the dissertation defended in April/2025 in the Professional Master's Degree in Urban and Environmental Engineering at PUC-Rio, which proposed to carry out a study on the opportunities and weaknesses existing in the glass recycling chain in the state of Rio de Janeiro, this is because the state has two glass processing industries, which could absorb a large part of the packaging, but its supply still has as its main source, virgin material such as sand, extracted from mines that move from other states or even import shards; without taking advantage of the existing material that according to Abividro (2024) has the potential to be 100% reusable and recyclable, with around 35 return cycles. The methodological approach used was based on qualitative research, through documentary and bibliographical surveys, reading of academic articles, dissertations and theses, among other records, in addition to the legal regulations that precept and regulate the area, and to broaden our understanding, we sought to understand the international reality, through legislation from different countries and success stories, in the search to subsidize the analysis at a national level, in particular, that of the State of Rio de Janeiro, with the perspective of referencing successful actions, which may not only inspire socio-environmentally appropriate practices, but also sustainable ones.