Application of a life cycle assessment for assessing municipal solid waste management systems in Bolivia in an international cooperative framework.

Using a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate municipal solid waste management (MSWM) systems is strongly recommended and the approach has been used in high-income contexts. However, stakeholders in low to middle income countries are not aware of the potential of this approach, mainly due to a lack of financial resources and technical ability. The present work introduces a LCA of MSWM system scenarios into a developing city using an academic licence for the LCA software that is available for use exclusively by researchers. The MSWM system in place in 2018 in La Paz (Bolivia) was assessed according to seven scenarios. The novelty of the research is twofold: the use of LCA academic licensing in a low to middle income region where LCA is unknown as planning tool; and discussing the potential of the approach in conjunction with local and international stakeholders with a view to starting MSWM projects. The results of the analysis allow for the consideration of energy recovery and materials recycling as the main methods by which the environmental impact of MSW can be reduced, as has also been reported by other LCA studies conducted with full licensing of the relevant software. Moreover, the research is the basis for cooperative development projects that will adopt the LCA approach as the main assessment tool. The study discusses the importance of cooperation between universities and local governments for implementing new strategies for MSWM assessment and planning. The research is a contribution towards improving technical knowledge in developing countries for boosting sustainable development.

Application of healthcare waste indicators for assessing infectious waste management in Bolivia.

In the developing world, healthcare waste management is a human health and environmental burden that should be solved for improving sustainability. Solutions should be introduced in the short term, concerning management, planning, financial assistance and expertise. The paper introduces an indicator set for assessing healthcare waste management in developing cities, implemented in La Paz (Bolivia) as a case study. The objective is to suggest an integrated management tool as a first assessment technique to identify the prevailing problems with a healthcare waste management system. Results suggest that, in La Paz, the application of such indicators is useful for evaluating which priorities should be addressed for improving the healthcare waste management system. The tool was applied for introducing a study necessary for the application of new management plans, especially concerning healthcare waste treatment. The method can be replicated in other contexts worldwide, with a focus on the developing world, for comparing cities, management solutions and improvements carried out along the years. The approach is of interest for boosting sustainability and human health, improving the awareness of the actors and policy-makers involved in waste management.

The municipal solid waste management of La Paz (Bolivia): Challenges and opportunities for a sustainable development.

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is considered an important public health, economic and environmental concern, especially in developing countries. This paper introduces the situation of MSWM in La Paz (Bolivia) in 2016, and is based on the Wasteaware indicators and waste flow analysis, useful tools for classifying and comparing waste treatment and management plans among other countries. Taking into account the lack of technology in waste treatment and the presence of a developed informal sector, the paper analyses the main strengths and weak points for implementing a sustainable MSWM. The research conducted revealed that the MSWM of La Paz is not efficient with regard to collection, recycling (8%), financial sustainability, and equity of the service. At the same time, local Government and stakeholders are interested in implementing new MSWM methods for improving the current sanitary state of the city and many efforts were made over the last ten years. In general terms, La Paz could be considered as a good study area for developing plans for waste valorization, becoming an example for a low-middle income developing big city of Latin America. The study provided a few considerations about the affordability of the methodology applied and critically analyzed the case study proposed.

Construction and demolition waste recycling in developing cities: management and cost analysis.

In Bolivia, construction and demolition waste (CDW) is unmanaged. The current research implemented a CDW flow analysis and a cost assessment in the city of La Paz, aiming to compare future recycling scenarios. Lack of data is challenging; therefore, a review of 31 international studies has been conducted. Results report that the waste generation rate (WGR) of concrete residential buildings can be of about 91.9-113.3 kg m-2 for construction and about 867.2-1064.8 kg m-2 for demolition. In addition, positive correlation was found in national WGR with number of inhabitants and the GDP. By these results, it was estimated that about 271,051-349,418 tonnes of CDW are potentially generated yearly in La Paz, about two times more than the CDW projected by local authorities. By the scenarios analysis, it was estimated that 56.1-71.1% of the inert aggregates can be recycled. The cost of the system is estimated between 7.8 and 31.1 USD tCDW-1, for a total annual cost (20 years horizon) of about 2.3-9 million USD y-1 depending on the management scenario. In the best scenario, an average fee of less than 1% of the current costs of a flat in La Paz can be required, potentially affordable for the local economy. The most attractive scenario involves the source separation of recyclable materials and the hybrid organization of stationary and mobile recycling facilities. Results show that a CDW management can be implemented in La Paz to foster a circular economy in developing cities.

Assessment of municipal solid waste selective collection scenarios with geographic information systems in Bolivia.

The analysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) selective collection (SC) scenarios is compulsory for planning future policies and actions towards circular economy. The use of geographic information system (GIS) is appropriated for obtaining reliable data about SC yields and management costs. However, in low-middle income countries, advanced assessments are difficult to introduce due to the lack of technical knowledge, financial support and the presence of the informal recycling sector. This research aims to assess the main potentialities of the introduction of SC systems in a Bolivian developing city taking into account the informal SC system in place. The study was conducted with QGIS3.8 software in order to evaluate the main advantages of the implementation of formal and informal recycling chains. Results reported that, comparing the implementation of formal SC of MSW with the scenario that considered the inclusion of the informal recycling, the activity of waste pickers allows reducing the expenses of about 10%, increasing the recycling rate of about 3.5%, and reducing the distances traveled with compactor trucks of about 7%. It means that, the annual path traveled by the collection trucks for gathering about 16,000ty-1, is reduced by 2734kmy-1, reducing the waste disposed to landfill of about 543.6ty-1 and the expenses of about €59,000 per year. The presentation of these results to policy-makers can support decision-making boosting the implementation of recycling activities including waste pickers. The study provided a contribution to the scientific literature assessing the main challenges and opportunities for implementing the circular economy in developing regions.

Selective collection of recyclable waste in Universities of low-middle income countries: Lessons learned in Bolivia.

The implementation of solid waste selective collection (SC) systems is quite difficult in low-middle income countries. Lack of awareness, infrastructure, administrative support and knowledge about recycling are the main barriers for its operation, reducing the possibility of successes. This paper introduces the methodological approach for assessing a recyclable waste SC project in a Bolivian public University. The waste fractions generated before (2016) and after (2019) the action were assessed, as well as the opinion and knowledge of the students, providing reliable indicators of the improvements and benefits obtained. Results of the waste characterization analysis reported that, after one month of implementation of the system, about 15 kg of plastic and 37.1 kg of paper and cardboard were collected, about 8 wt% and 42.9 wt% of the recyclable waste produced. At the same time, the questionnaire survey allows demonstrating that the SC behavior of the students improved considerably from 2018 to 2019, (t[608] = -7.654, p < 0.05***), as well as the satisfaction about the waste collection service provided (t[608] = -6.6224, p < 0.05***) and about the diffusion of information with awareness campaigns (t[608] = -8.708, p < 0.05***). The project and the phases followed for its implementation can be of reference for other local and international stakeholders, for replicating the study in other Universities and public areas. The novelty of the study is the introduction of a step by step methodology for assessing the SC of recyclable waste for supporting the recycling policies of developing cities in low-middle income countries and for boosting sustainable development according to the principle of the circular economy.