Parte 1 - GESTIÓN DE RESIDUOS SÓLIDOS

Introduction to Solid Waste Management

Overview of the Session

• The session will cover five main points, focusing on a theoretical framework and definitions related to solid waste management.

• Discussion will include global and Peruvian perspectives on solid waste management issues, emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks.

• The session aims to provide insights into managing solid waste in both public and private sectors, concluding with a participatory workshop.

Definitions of Solid Waste

• Solid waste is defined as discarded materials; colloquially referred to as garbage or trash, often perceived as having no economic value.

• The definition has evolved; it now includes semi-solid materials like sludge but excludes liquid wastes such as leachate from other types of waste degradation.

Regulatory Framework

• According to new legislation, any object or substance resulting from consumption or use is classified as waste. This aligns with concepts of input (consumption) and output (waste).

• Waste can be viewed economically; its classification depends on management practices—municipal versus non-municipal.

Classification of Solid Waste

Types of Waste Based on Management

• Municipal waste is categorized into non-hazardous and hazardous types. Non-hazardous includes general household refuse while hazardous encompasses industrial, hospital, radioactive wastes.

Characteristics of Hazardous Waste

• Hazardous wastes are identified by specific physical, chemical, or biological characteristics that pose risks to human health and the environment.

• Seven key characteristics define hazardous wastes: flammability, explosiveness, corrosiveness, radioactivity, toxicity, pathogenicity among others.

Examples and Implications

Recognizing Hazardous Materials

• Visual indicators help identify hazardous materials; examples include containers marked for flammable substances or toxic chemicals.

Impact of Recent Events

• The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the generation of hazardous waste due to personal protective equipment (PPE), which must be managed properly.

Non-Hazardous Wastes in Detail

• Non-hazardous municipal wastes include electronic appliances (RAE), construction debris which may contain dangerous components depending on their handling.

Classification and Management of Construction and Demolition Waste

Overview of Waste Classification

• The classification of construction and demolition waste is summarized in a graph, categorizing waste based on characteristics such as municipal vs. non-municipal and hazardous vs. non-hazardous.

Municipal Solid Waste Management

• According to regulations, municipal solid waste must be disposed of in sanitary landfills, which are designed with appropriate physical, chemical, and engineering features to protect the environment.

Economic Valuation of Waste

• Some types of waste can have economic value; for instance, certain landfills generate energy through the degradation process of the waste materials.

Sanitary Landfill Infrastructure

• Sanitary landfills involve deep excavation and impermeabilization techniques to safeguard groundwater from contamination and prevent harmful gas emissions that could affect public health.

Security Landfills for Hazardous Waste

• Non-municipal hazardous wastes are directed to security landfills, which utilize advanced technology for better impermeabilization since these wastes do not undergo degradation but are buried permanently to avoid leachate or gas generation.

Understanding Sanitary Landfills

Definition and Functionality

• A sanitary landfill is designated for depositing solid waste from cities while preventing soil contamination through protective measures like high-density polyethylene liners.

Distinction from Dumping Sites

• Unlike illegal dumping sites (botaderos), sanitary landfills employ compaction methods to minimize space usage while ensuring public health safety through rigorous control measures by authorities.

Current State of Landfill Infrastructure in Peru

Legal Disposal Practices

• Legally mandated disposal practices dictate that all waste should reach a final destination; however, this is not always adhered to in practice.

Existing Landfill Statistics

• Currently, there are 54 sanitary landfills operating in Peru along with mixed landfills (12), indicating a limited infrastructure capacity relative to the country's needs.

Terminology Related to Solid Waste Management

Key Terms Explained

• EOR (Empresa Operadora de Residuos Sólidos): Companies responsible for cleaning, collecting, transporting, transferring, or disposing of solid waste.

• SIGERSOL: An information system where both municipal and non-municipal waste generators report their waste management activities including generation records and plans.

Economic Valuation Concept

• Valorización refers to the process of converting waste into economically valuable products or energy sources.

Understanding Waste Management and Recycling in Peru

Definition of Discarded Materials

• Discarded materials are any residues that can serve as inputs for recycling. Examples include scrap from economic activities, which can be processed by surgical companies or recycled into new lead ingots and batteries.

Types of Industrial Byproducts

• Industrial byproducts like slag are often used in construction, potentially generating reusable building materials. All discarded materials should be seen as valuable inputs that can be collected and transferred for reuse.

Economic Value of Waste

• Waste typically holds economic value; many NGOs focus on the economic valorization and commercialization of waste. For instance, funds generated from solid waste sales may support rehabilitation programs for burn victims.

E-Waste: A Growing Concern

• Electronic waste (RAE), defined as any device using electrical energy that has reached the end of its useful life, poses significant challenges. Common examples include old laptops and fluorescent lights, which have inherent economic value.

The Problematic Increase in Solid Waste Generation

• The increase in solid waste generation correlates with rising consumption levels driven by population growth. In the 20th century alone, global energy consumption increased twelvefold while resource extraction rose thirty-four times.

Projections for Resource Consumption

• By 2050, projections indicate a 70% increase in material consumption due to population growth. This necessitates a tenfold improvement in resource use efficiency to manage escalating waste generation effectively.

Current Waste Statistics in Peru

• Peru generates approximately 82,143 tons of municipal waste annually. Of this total:

• 56.9% is organic,

• 20.9% is potentially recyclable,

• Only 1.8% is currently being recycled.

Challenges with Landfills

• Over half (45.5%) of generated waste ends up in landfills without proper disposal technology or environmental protection measures, leading to health risks and pollution issues.

Health Risks Associated with Improper Waste Disposal

• Landfills contribute to public health risks through contamination and disease vectors such as flies and rodents. Informal recycling practices further complicate these issues.

Sustainable Alternatives: Sanitary Landfills

Contaminación y Gestión de Residuos

Problemas en Botaderos Informales

• En botaderos informales, la exposición de residuos genera proliferación de insectos y roedores, malos olores y emisión de gases tóxicos. La quema de basura también es un problema significativo.

• Los rellenos sanitarios operan bajo condiciones controladas, donde los residuos son compactados y cubiertos diariamente para evitar riesgos a la salud pública.

• La construcción de un relleno sanitario implica diversas disciplinas como ingeniería civil ambiental, química y biología, con rigurosas medidas de seguridad para mitigar impactos ambientales.

Importancia del Diseño y Operación

• Un buen relleno sanitario requiere una ubicación adecuada, diseño operativo eficiente y control ambiental riguroso durante su gestión.

• El éxito en la gestión de residuos depende del interés local en crear condiciones adecuadas para el funcionamiento efectivo del relleno sanitario.

Generación de Residuos en Lima

• Lima genera más de 8,630 toneladas diarias de residuos sólidos; cada habitante produce aproximadamente 0.65 kg al día. Un 12% no es recolectado.

• Se proyecta que para el año 2034 se duplicará la cantidad generada por habitante debido al crecimiento poblacional.

Puntos Críticos en la Gestión

• Los puntos críticos en la gestión incluyen domicilios, centros comerciales y botaderos. En Lima Metropolitana hay más de 631 puntos problemáticos relacionados con botaderos.

• La problemática incluye tanto los botaderos como los rellenos sanitarios inadecuados que afectan gravemente a las comunidades locales.

Residuos Electrónicos (RAE)

• Los RAE presentan problemas significativos debido a su quema, liberando metales pesados como cobre y plomo que generan gases nocivos para la salud humana.

• Estos gases pueden causar problemas graves como enfermedades oncológicas o daños al sistema nervioso central, además contribuyen al calentamiento global.

Problemas Globales con Plásticos

• A nivel mundial, el manejo inadecuado de plásticos ha llevado a la creación de islas flotantes en océanos; esto representa un desafío crítico para el medio ambiente.

Environmental Management and Waste Generation Awareness

Importance of Environmental Awareness in Organizations

• The role of environmental management is to raise awareness among employees about the impact of solid waste generation on society and how their company can contribute positively to the environment.

• In Peru, plastic consumption reaches approximately 950,000 tons annually, with each person using around 30 kg of plastic per year. This highlights a significant environmental challenge.

• Monthly, around 80 million polystyrene containers enter Peru illegally, despite being prohibited. This illegal trade exacerbates waste issues and poses health risks.

Health Risks Associated with Polystyrene

• Consumers are urged to reject products packaged in polystyrene (technopor), as it is derived from petroleum and can lead to serious health problems when heated food comes into contact with it.