A serious situation involving waste management has arisen in Fernando de Noronha, following the revelation that a ship scheduled to transport garbage from the island left without taking any waste aboard, instead transporting a microbus. The Ambipar company, responsible for waste management on the island, has been fined R$ 700,000 due to the irregular accumulation of garbage at the Solid Waste Sorting Unit (UTRS). In light of the excessive waste on the island, the failure to transport trash during this trip raises concerns about the logistics and accountability of waste management operations in this environmentally sensitive area.

Despite inquiries made to Ambipar about why the ship did not take any waste with it, no response was received, raising questions about the company's transparency in handling waste disposal issues. The island's administration has also been approached for clarification regarding the lack of waste transportation and how monitoring of the waste management service is conducted, but they similarly have not provided any information. The state's environmental agency conducted an inspection on February 12 and reported finding irregular storage of waste at the UTRS, which subsequently led to the fine imposed on Ambipar.

The implications of this incident extend beyond just financial penalties for the waste management company; they highlight the ongoing struggles of maintaining proper waste management practices in popular tourist destinations like Fernando de Noronha. Tourist areas that lack adequate waste handling can face significant environmental challenges, risking damage to their ecosystems. As such, the situation necessitates urgent attention from local authorities to ensure compliance and improve waste management operations, safeguarding both the natural beauty of the island and the health of its residents and visitors.