Littering Behaviour in Multicultural Slums: A Case Study from Brazil

Patrícia Silva, Mário Ramos (), Ana Alves and Graça Martinho
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Patrícia Silva: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Mário Ramos: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Ana Alves: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Graça Martinho: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-20

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.

Keywords: multicultural slum; favela; litter; littering behaviour; public space cleaning; waste management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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