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Study Finds
Lack of Regulations For Waste Management
By Greta Bourke / Business News Americas
The majority of municipalities in Costa Rica
cannot classify the types of waste being
generated in their areas of influence,
according to a study carried out by local
non-profit organization Fundación Ambio.
"We have been having meetings with local
authorities, and are trying to raise
awareness of solid waste management within
civil society as well," Fundación Ambio's
technical director Roxana Salazar told
BNamericas.
"There is interest but a general lack of
knowledge on the subject," she added.
This is affecting recycling programs
designed to reduce the amount of waste that
is disposed of at sanitary landfills and
open-air dumps.
Fundación Ambio carried out the study in 14
of the country's 81 municipalities.
A total of 64% of the municipalities do not
have studies that show the type and amount
of garbage being produced by their
inhabitants.
Among the local governments that do have
such information are Escazú, Cartago, Tibás,
Alajuelita and Coronado.
"Escazú has a collection center and the
inhabitants have to separate waste at
source," Salazar said. However, the bigger
municipalities, such as San José, do not
have any regulations, she added.
Only 38% of the municipalities in the study
currently have a policy on solid waste
management.
At the same time, 86% have illegal waste
dumps in their jurisdictions.
"This makes it impossible to properly treat
waste, which could become a public health
problem," according to the study.
The majority of the municipalities believe
sanitary landfills are the solution to the
problem and are not considering recycling.
According to the health ministry, the
country produces 11,000t/d of domestic solid
waste, of which 300t ends up in rivers,
streams, irrigation ditches and illegal
dumps.
Salazar said one of the problems is that the
majority of sanitary landfills are run by
private companies who are more interested in
the tonnage than in classifying the garbage.
WASTE MANAGEMENT BILL
Meanwhile, a bill to regulate integrated
waste management is being discussed in
congress.
The project proposes sanctions of up to 15
years in prison for hazardous waste dumping.
The sentence can be increased if the
hazardous waste is being dumped near water
sources, protected areas or along the coast.
The bill defines hazardous waste as deriving
from hydrocarbons, chemicals, electronic
equipment and radioactive materials.
The new law promotes corporate
responsibility for waste products and the
final disposal of materials such as plastic
bottles and mobile phone batteries. The
project also promotes recycling.
Congresswoman Maureen Ballestero, president
of the congressional committee for
environmental affairs, hopes the law will be
given the green light soon. If this were to
happen, it would be the first law of its
kind in the country, after more than 10
years of trying to implement the measure.
If the bill were approved, it would be a
miracle, said Salazar, who has been
promoting the legislation since 1991.
Health minister María Luisa Ávila has called
on congress to approve the bill, which will
also obligate municipalities to draw up
waste management plans.
Fundación Ambio was created in 1989 as a
non-profit organization to promote
environmental policies based on sustainable
development.
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