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The rapid growth of the population in recent years, as well as the process of
industrialization have increased waste generation.
30 years ago, the generation of waste per person was about 200 to 500
gr/ihabitant/day, while today is estimated between 500 and 1,000 gr/habitant/day.
In developed countries, this figure is two to four times higher. But the problem is
not only the quantity but also in quality and composition, that went from dense and
almost completely organic to be voluminous, partially no biodegradable and with
increasing percentages of toxic materials.
An important point for the handling and processing of waste is to observe the
natural degradation time of each material. In the following table we can see the
duration of the most common residues that we can found in a home.
Table n°1
The duration of inorganic residues is much longer than the organic wastes. It is
necessary to seek methods to remove or reuse these wastes so it will not
accumulate exponentially in our environment and we can find them a proper use.
Currently the most widely used for handling and disposal of inorganic and organic
wastes methods are:
1. Landfilling: This involves the emplacement of waste on the ground,
spreading them in thin layers and compacting to reduce its volume.
2. Incineration: Incineration is a controlled combustion process which converts
waste into inert materials (ash) and gases.
3. Recycling: Recycling is a process that seeks the recovery of direct or
indirect form of certain components contained in the waste.
According to statistics from Eurostat about the generation and treatment of the city
residues in 2011. The European Union used 48.3% in the method of landfilling
either in open fields or underground landfills, 45.7% recycling and processing of
waste, and only 6% of the waste is treated by incineration.
With the advent of disposable life style there is increasing daily discarded products
would not necessarily end up in landfills, because the vast majority can be
recycled. Today there are many companies engaged in recycling, and many others
buying recycled materials like plastics or metals, so that the road has already been
paved after many years in which recyclable materials and even recycled materials
ended without bothering. In Table 2, we will see the benefits of recycling of certain
products for the environment.
Table n° 2
Benefits of recycling glass, paper, plastic and aluminum
Materials Benefit
Glass is 100% recyclable, with each tonne of clean glass
fragment, another ton of new glass is obtained. Only in
Glass
the manufacture, 10% of ground glass in the mixture,
2.5% saves furnaces energy.
Recycling paper saves 70% water and 45% of the energy
Paper used to manufacture traditional paper. Also air pollution is
reduced.
Recycling two tons of plastic is equivalent to saving a ton
of petrolium. The recycling of 3000 plastic bottles avoids
Plastic
1,000 kg of trash and saves more than one ton of raw
materials.
By recycling aluminum pollution of water, air and mining
wastes are reduced by 70% Getting recycled aluminum
Aluminium reduces pollution by 95%, and contributes to less use of
electricity, compared with the processing of virgin
materials.
Comparing scale can be seen that the most economical method that produces
greater benefits for society and the environment is recycling. Thus the amount of
waste in landfills would reduce costs and time.
Background in Panama
In Panama, the generation rate per capita solid waste was established in 1996 as
1.1 kilograms per person per day, comparing with those of the region as the
highest in Central America (San Salvador 0.5, Managua and Tegucigalpa 0.6, San
Jose and Guatemala 0.9 kg / capita / day).
In January 2003, a study on the plan models Solid Waste Management for the City
of the Republic of Panama through the International Cooperation Agency of Japan
develops.
This study determines the rate of solid waste generation according to the collection
area finding a weighted value of 0.590 kg / person / day, this amount represents a
reasonable value compared with other countries in Latin America (Paraguay 0682,
Mexico 0.616 kg / capita / day).
The volume of waste handled by the Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of
Panama Grooming in Cerro Patacón Landfill is higher due to the contribution of the
Municipality of San Miguelito, Arraijan's contribution and the contribution of
Industries, Trade and Non-Governmental Institutions government, reached values
of 965 tons / day.
According to studies conducted (JICA, 2003), weight (in tons) of waste collected by
trucks is well below the capacity of the collection vehicle usually is 8 tons, thereby
demonstrating that it requires reviewing the collection routes, in order to improve
efficiency and reduce costs for this service.
Recycling in Panama
The information available so far indicates that in Panama all kinds of materials are
recovered: aluminum cans, scrap aluminum, copper, brass, batteries, cardboard,
paper (colored and white), newspapers, plastic, glass, fabric and other materials
that can be repaired and sold. Between 1996 and September 2001, the value of
exports of waste (recycled and finished products) metals, paper and plastics
totaled $ US 61.2 million (FOB value). In the Table 4 can be seen the increase.
Table No. 4
Value F.O.B. of exports of waste and recycled products
1996-September 2001 USA $ 2001 million
Materials $USA
Metals 48.6
Paper 10.9
Plastic 1.7
Total 61.2
In 1999 there was a sharp fall in exports in the recycling sector. This decline also
reflects an overall decline in exports and the country's economic slowdown due to
the following main reasons: a) the economic crisis in Latin America (especially
Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia), one of the main destinations for exports of
waste and recycled products. b) the reduction in investment due to the electoral
and post-electoral uncertainty by the change of government; c) the increase in oil
prices and interest in international markets.
Justification
It is important that people acquire habits and positive attitudes towards solid waste
that they generated, among which are: reducing waste generation, decreasing the
amounts of items used in homes, choose products with less packaging, and using
wrappers cardboard or paper and glass containers which are less harmful.
-Ecologistas In Action, 2002.
Once generated waste, it is essential:
Maximum use of objects and materials in different applications, before they
become garbage.
Recycling materials like paper, cardboard, glass, plastics such as PET (whose
degradation is about 500 years), cans, to turn them back into raw material useful
for producing the same or other objects. –José Pineda, 2013.
So these rules will be part of their training and last for a lifetime.
By placing an appropriate waste management, there´s a variety of benefits,
among which are:
Decreased exploitation of natural resources.
Decrease the amount of waste that generate a negative environmental
impact by not easily decompose.
Reduces the need for incineration.
Reduces emissions of greenhouse gases.
Helps to preserve the environment for future generations.
Reports
The report "Regional evaluation of solid waste management” presented by the
World Health Organization in December 2003 states:
In Panama, the solid waste sector is strengthening, because the government is
beginning to implement best collection services. For there to be a significant
improvement in this area, they should to inform to the inhabitants of the different
municipalities about the improvements in services to make correct use of them.
Legal framework of the solid waste sector
Laws:
General Law on Environment of the Republic of Panama (Law No. 41 of
July 1, 1998). The General Law of the Environment provides the principles
and basic regulations for the protection, preservation and the recovery of the
environment, and promotes the sustainable use of natural resources.
Law No. 41 of August 27, 1999. This law represents one of the most
important steps in the public administration in which a decentralization of the
state is concerned, because the administration, operation and exploitation of
cleaning services are transferred to the municipalities of Panama, San
Miguelito and Colon.
Decrees:
Cabinet Decree No. 1 of 15 January 1968. By this decree, the Ministry of
Health responsibilities include enforce health policies that are promoted
in the country.
Executive Decree No. 57 of 16 March 2000. It develops the provisions of
the National Environmental Law.
Executive Decree No. 58 of 16 March 2000 regulates the procedure for
the preparation of Environmental Quality Standards and maximum
permissible limits.
Executive Decree No. 111 of 23 June 1999. It regulates everything
related to the management and disposal of solid waste generated in
institutions.
In the table n° 2, we can observe that as the population decreases, the per capita
solid waste generation is less.
Characteristics of the Solid Waste Management Services in the main districts
of Panama
District of Panama: is responsible for the collection and management of
solid waste through the Cleanness Metropolitan Directorate.
District of San Miguelito: The municipal authorities gave in concession the
solid waste collection services to the company REVISALUD. The solid
waste collected is disposed of in the landfill in Cerro Patacón.
District of Colón: The solid waste collection service has been concessioner
to the company Aguaseo. The service provided by this company extends to
other places: Nuevo San Juan, Buena Vista, Lemon, New Hope, Sabanitas,
and Puerto Pilon. The waste is disposed in a landfill known as Mount Hope.
District of Arraiján: The solid waste collection service in Arraiján uses a
door-to-door system. Most of these services are performed by individuals,
which account for 90 % of all solid waste collected.
District of La Chorrera: The all solid waste is disposed of in the landfill
located in Playa Leona. The conditioning system used for the collection of
solid waste is plastic bags, rigid plastic or metal, and metal tanks of 55
gallons whole or halved.
District of David: In the District of David, service collection, transport and
disposal is in charge of Municipal Sanitation Services, SA (SEMA).
Coverage Service of Solid Waste Collection
In large population groups, represented by the districts of Panama and San
Miguelito it has a full collection system that includes manual and mechanical
sweeping.
Table n°2
Population groups Sweeping service Collection
(%)
Manual Mechanical Total coverage
Si No Si No (%)
Large population groups X X 90 88
(200.001 a 1.000.000)
Medium population groups X X 0 0,64
(100.001 a 200.000)
Small population groups X X 0 0,29
(15.001 a 50.000)
Source: modified table of "Regional evaluation of solid waste management” World Health Organization. 2015
In the table No. 2 we can see that in the larger municipalities have a sweeping
service and a collection service very effective , also have manual and mechanical
sweeping. The medium and small population groups service have only manually
sweeping service and this is very ineffective.
2 m
2.5 m
2.55 m
The deposit would have a total capacity of 12.75 cubic meters of waste, but the
height of the waste should be 1.5 meters, for this reason, the capacity will be 7.65
cubic meters.