Promoting Comprehensive Waste Management
POR MARÍA FERNANDA CALDERÓN, SOFIA RODAS Y PABLO BOJ/ TRANSLATED BY SOPHIA OCAÑA
The issue of waste generation, particularly solid waste resulting from daily human activities to fulfill consumption needs, is a significant concern in contemporary times. In Quetzaltenango alone, approximately 240 tons of garbage is collected daily. However, projections from the municipality’s Environmental Services indicate a surge in waste generation to around 280 tons by January 2024, surpassing the typical 240 tons.
This escalating waste generation underscores a crisis in waste management within the country, evident in previous years and continuing into 2024, exemplified by the landfill fire at the Authority for Sustainable Management of the Basin of Lake Amatitlán (AMSA) last April. This environmental negligence poses irreparable harm and jeopardizes the well-being of future generations. Thus, initiating the practice of comprehensive solid waste separation is imperative.
Presently, a significant portion of an individual’s waste is reusable or recyclable. Conscious separation can substantially decrease the volume of waste reaching landfills, mitigating adverse impacts on air, soil, and water quality. However, due to prevalent cultural and educational deficiencies regarding waste management and recycling processes, non-reusable waste continues to be indiscriminately mixed with recyclable materials.
Hence, there is a critical need for implementing effective methods for proper solid waste separation. One primary method is correlational classification, involving the identification and segregation of waste based on its composition. Sorting waste into distinct containers ensures a cleaner environment and aligns with the principles of the three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle
According to the guidelines outlined in the Regulations for the Integral Management of Common Solid Wastes, primary classification involves sorting waste into organic and inorganic categories, while secondary classification further distinguishes organic, recyclable (e.g., paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal), and non-recyclable waste.
Additionally, it’s crucial to familiarize ourselves with the entities responsible for waste treatment in our locality to seek assistance when needed. Proper waste separation plays a pivotal role in reducing environmental pollution, fostering collective awareness, and promoting shared responsibility.
The benefits of comprehensive solid waste separation are manifold. It conserves natural resources by facilitating recycling, thereby reducing the need for new raw materials. Moreover, it extends the lifespan of landfills, resulting in cost savings. Energy conservation is another significant advantage, as recycling and reusing materials diminishes the demand for energy-intensive manufacturing processes
In conclusion, we urge the ENTREMUNDOS community to embrace this initiative for positive change. It’s incumbent upon everyone, whether at school, work, or home, to integrate waste separation into their daily lives. By making this practice a societal norm, we can reap collective benefits that transcend individual actions.
The authors are students of the seventh cycle of the International Relations degree at the Rafael Landivar University.
