ABSTRACT
In Sintra, SMAS is the public service responsible for managing water distribution, wastewater drainage and treatment, and urban waste collection and transportation to an appropriate final destination (bulk service), serving 385,654 inhabitants across 320 km² area. Effective waste management is critical to maintaining a high quality of life, but it requires both individual and institutional responsibility. The high consumption of goods driven by economic and societal trends necessitates the adoption of new behavioral patterns that promote social, economic, and environmental development. Believing that “social responsibility and environmental preservation mean a commitment to life and the future”, in this paper is proposed participatory strategies to awareness the citizens regarding conscious purchasing, prevention, recycling, proper waste disposal, the impacts of waste on public and environmental health. The aim is to increase participation, in an informed way and minimizing environmental and public health impacts of waste management system in Sintra.
