• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
Ships and port operations generate different types of waste, which need to follow specific collection, transportation, and disposal procedures to avoid environmental impacts. Food scraps and garbage produced during voyages are joined by packaging, cardboard, wood, items used in maintenance, and materials from administrative areas. Each needs to be separated and stored appropriately for collection, treatment, recycling, or other intended disposal.
One of the first steps is to identify the type of item the port is dealing with. Among the waste generated on vessels are common and recyclable materials, such as food waste and domestic garbage, but also materials that require specific care, such as oily waste, oily bilge water, chemical substances, sewage, hospital waste, among others.
In public ports and authorized port facilities, the removal of waste from vessels is regulated by the National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ). ANTAQ Resolution 99/2023 establishes the rules for the service and determines that collection must be carried out by providers qualified by the controlling authority of the port facility.
During collection operations, materials that may cause leaks or spills must be handled with compatible containment equipment. This measure reduces the risk of oily waste, chemical substances, or other contaminating materials reaching the pier, soil, or water.
Transportation is also accompanied by specific documentation. The Waste Transport Manifest (MTR), provided for in the resolution, accompanies the material during its displacement to the environmentally appropriate final destination and gathers information that allows identifying the waste and monitoring its trajectory.
Waste generated within ports
Cargo handling, maintenance services, workshops, and administrative activities also generate waste in the port complex. To organize this management, facilities have a Solid Waste Management Plan (PGRS), which defines procedures for handling materials, from generation to final disposal.
The plan includes actions such as separation, conditioning, temporary storage, collection, transportation, and final disposal or disposition, considering the characteristics of each waste. Recyclable materials can be reused or recycled, while hazardous or contaminated waste requires specific treatment and disposal.
The storage structure and adopted procedures are also important to reduce environmental risks. In the case of liquid waste or waste with contamination potential, for example, containment measures are necessary to prevent leaks and spills.
The environmental management of port facilities is also monitored by ANTAQ, through the Environmental Performance Index (IDA), which gathers indicators related to aspects such as solid waste management, waste removal from vessels, water monitoring, stormwater drainage, soil-related issues, and environmental risk prevention.
Sustainability policy
Waste management in ports is also part of a broader sustainability agenda for transportation infrastructure. Established by MPor Ordinance 58/2025, the Ministry of Ports and Airports' Sustainability Policy guides the adoption of environmental, social, and governance practices in the port, airport, and waterway sectors. Among the guidelines are the sustainable use of natural resources, the prevention of environmental impacts, and the adaptation of infrastructure to climate change.
Through the Pact for Sustainability, MPor also encourages companies and entities in the sector to establish action plans and environmental indicators. The agenda includes initiatives for a circular economy, reverse logistics, reduction of waste sent to landfills, and reuse of materials, always without replacing the legal and regulatory obligations of each facility.
