Environmental management in solid waste: sustainable construction and eco-efficiency

Abstract

The activities of the construction industry generate great negative impacts on the environment. In order to highlight and point out new trends in the processes and materials used, this article aims to identify aspects related to sustainable construction in small and medium-sized constructions. It analyzes concepts and new trends for the construction sector as tools for meeting the requirements of the National Solid Waste Policy, regarding the observation of sustainability principles aimed at the continuous application of preventive environmental strategies. It is an exploratory, bibliographic study, whose purpose was to expand knowledge in terms of sustainable constructions, in order to guarantee familiarity with the theme and to disseminate information that can collaborate with environmental preservation. It presents and discusses the results obtained during technical visits carried out together with works considered sustainable. It concludes that there is a constructive tendency to use techniques and materials for the reduction of waste generation, reuse of water and use of alternative energy and natural vegetation. Although actions aimed at eco-efficiency in Brazilian civil construction have valuable potential in the area of prevention, they are still insufficient to solve the serious environmental problems generated by the sector.