Santiago's Waste Problems

Keith R

"Believe it!"
Jan 1, 2002
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www.temasactuales.com
Just read today an interesting analysis of Santiago's waste problems, done by some entity called the Santiago Solid Waste Commission (CODESSAN). HB, any idea of who makes up CODESSAN? How seriously should one regard their analysis?

In a nutshell, CODESSAN says that while Santiago generation & waste profile have changed tremendously over the last 30 years, none of its institutions, rules, practices & policies have kept up & are now woefully inadequate.

CODESSAN figures suggest that in 2002 Santiago generated 530 metric tons of waste daily, or about 0.87 kg per resident. To help put that in perspective for you, the average daily per capita waste generation rate for Europe as a whole is 0.94 kg, for metro Sao Paulo & Bogota 0.97, for Japan as a whole, Montevideo, Metro Caracas & Metro Santiago (Chile) 1.1 kg, & the US average is 1.5 kg. Think about that for a second. It means that Santiago's per capita waste generation is as high as metropoles -- nay, national capitals -- many times its size, and on a par with Europe's!

According to CODESSAN, 70% of the wastes are from households, 12% from free zones, 5% apiece for markets & parks/streets, 4% from sales establishments & 4% from other institutions.

This, of course, implies that if it is the waste volume and its accelerating growth that Santiago must worry about, that the sector that authorities most have to influence in terms of their wasting habits are households -- you and me, guys!

What problems does CODESSAN identify that need to be addressed? Well, in stark terms, they point to just about everything:
* "administrative defficiency"
* lack of funds
* "limitations in the implemenation of the Integrated Muncipal Plan" vis-a-vis solid wastes
* "political, regulatory & incentive limitations"
* an "obsolete" framework law regarding the management of solid wastes
* "Deficiences in technical, operative & managerial capacities"
* lack of adequate equipment & infrastructure for the collection & disposal of wastes
* lack of well-planned system of routes & methods to ensure the efficient pick-up of the types & quantities of wastes Santiago generates
* limited legal mechanisms & management systems for the handling of hospital, toxic & other "special" wastes
* the absence of educational programs & citizen participation

Do you agree? How about the opinions of some of our Santiago denizens -- HB, AdrianB, Azb, etc.? Is this checklist on-target? Has it missed anything? Exaggerated anything?

Food for thought...

Regards,
Keith
 
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