27-02-2020 | di COOPI

Bolivia. Waste enhancement for sustainable development.

Since September 2019, COOPI supports the implementation of circular economy in Bolivia, through the research, the information and the introduction of new technologies for waste recycling.

Thanks to the project “LaPazRecicla. Integrated approach to waste management in the municipality of La Paz, Bolivia. New technologies to promote the circular economy”, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and in collaboration with the Municipality of La Paz, the Engineering Faculty of the Universidad Mayor de San Adrés of La Paz with the Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences of the University of Insubria in Varese, COOPI aims to the introduction of innovative waste recycling systems. Moreover, it wants to conduct awareness campaigns, to reinforce the technical skills of the operators involved in waste collecting and sorting and support the scientific research.

The enhancement of the waste collection and its treatment are a priority in Bolivia. In particular, in the municipality of La Paz, where, even if some pilot initiatives on garbage collection and recycling of waste have been implemented in the latest years, the main treatment system has remained bound by the final disposition in landfills, both controlled and abusive.

In Bolivia, the lack of an adequate waste management is an environmental, social and economic issue with negative effects which directly affect people’s health. This is especially true in urban areas, where human activities are relatively high.

Sorting bins

The reduction of the impact of proper solid waste management can be achieved through controlled collection, separation by material, necessary treatment for recycling and recovery, energy recovery and finally, its final disposal in appropriate areas. Everything contributes to the generation of a virtuous model of circular economy, a concept that connects to sustainability and whose aim is to maintain the value of the products, the material and the resources for as long as possible.

The project, which last 30 months, will involve the entire community of La Paz, directly including 8,000 inhabitants with specific information campaign, 10,000 boys and girls in school thanks to activities on sorted collection, 300 university’s students through courses, seminars, training and environmental volunteer activities, 70 professors and researchers with technical training and research activity and 55 workers and technicians of the municipality with in-depth courses and the introduction to new methods of waste’s collection and treatment.