In a major legal blow to the city of Goiânia, a state court has declared the operation of its main landfill illegal. The decision, handed down by Judge Mariuccia Benicio Soares Miguel, centers on a jurisdictional dispute and significant environmental and safety concerns.
The core of the ruling states that the Agência Municipal do Meio Ambiente (Amma), the city's environmental agency, is not the competent authority to license and oversee the landfill. That responsibility, according to the court, falls to the state-level Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Semad). Because the landfill has been operating under licenses issued by the municipal agency, its entire operation is considered illegal.
The judge's decision highlighted severe environmental impacts that extend beyond the city's borders. A state environmental inspection report was cited, describing the treatment of leachate—the toxic liquid that drains from the landfill—as inefficient. This untreated waste is reportedly being sent into the Saneago sewage network without proper authorization, threatening regional water bodies that supply multiple cities in the metropolitan area. The ruling also points to degradation of soil, groundwater, and air quality.
Adding another layer of risk, the court noted the landfill's location within an Airport Security Area (ASA). The presence of the landfill attracts large numbers of vultures, creating a direct hazard for air traffic. The decision referenced reports from the administrator of the local aerodrome about incidents involving bird strikes. This issue was previously highlighted when the city's urbanization company, Comurg, spent R$151,000 on rockets and firecrackers in 2025 specifically to scare birds away from the site.
As a result of the ruling, all licenses previously issued by Amma have been annulled. The city has been given a 90-day deadline to apply for the correct environmental license from Semad, including submitting a full Environmental Impact Study (EIA/RIMA). Failure to comply could result in a daily fine of R$5,000, capped at R$200,000. Furthermore, the court prohibited any expansion of the landfill until a new license is secured and ordered the city to present a comprehensive action plan, including a timeline for works and a plan for area recovery and eventual closure.
The judgment also carries a financial penalty. The city of Goiânia and its environmental agency, Amma, have been ordered to pay R$2 million in collective moral damages. These funds are to be directed to the State Environmental Fund (FEMA) for projects within the Meia Ponte River basin.
The Prefeitura de Goiânia (City Hall) has publicly stated its intention to appeal the decision. In an official note, the city announced it will present a "robust set of technical elements" to the court to argue for municipal competence over the landfill. The city claims these documents, including technical reports and updated management plans, prove the operation's viability, safety, and compliance with current regulations.
The legal battle now moves to the appellate courts, with the city fighting to retain control of a critical piece of infrastructure while facing serious allegations of environmental mismanagement and public safety risks.
Based on reporting from g1.