Formulación de elementos de un programa de mejoramiento de la disposición y el tratamiento final de residuos sólidos urbanos en Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

This research project introduces a formulation of elements of a solid waste treatment and disposal improvement program for the urban zone of Bogotá, Colombia; focusing on leachate management of the landfill “Relleno Sanitario Doña Juana”. In order to achieve the objective, a literature review has been executed which leaded to a comparison between the current treatment and final disposition of solid waste in the city of Bogotá and at international scales; additionally, an environmental diagnosis for the waste treatment in Bogotá has been accomplished based on archival studies and a survey applied to 80 people from communities living in areas surrounding the landfill. The results show that solid waste management in Bogotá is at an average panorama worldwide. On one hand, it turns to be a disadvantage compared to waste management in Europe, North America and East Asia; due to the fact that in most of these regions, the use of other alternatives for final disposal and treatment such as thermo-valorization, composting, and recycling has increased. In contrast, Bogotá mostly depends on the burying of the waste in the landfill that entails serious problems along its operations, especially in regards to leachate management; furthermore, it is about to reach its usable life. Nevertheless, Bogotá has also some advantages over other regions in Asia and Africa which still have large areas of open-air dumping sites. On the other hand, surveys show that people living near the landfill “Relleno Sanitario Doña Juana” perceive the place as the main problematic of their neighborhoods, and associate it with bad odors, presence of vectors, and diseases. Likewise, they believe that the principal solution to the situations presented is the closure of the landfill; even though they recognize there are other alternatives such as the improvement of operating conditions, or the implementation of innovating alternatives. Based on these findings, a formulation of elements of an improvement program is introduced and it is composed by four projects considered as a priority in order to achieve a progressive improvement for the urban solid waste treatment and disposal in Bogotá. The implementation of alternatives for treatment and valuation of leachates generated in the area of the landfill “Relleno Sanitario Doña Juana” through thermal-treatment and similar alternatives including the generation of energy and other sub products. The implementation of new systems of utilization, treatment and recovery of organic waste massively in Bogotá, and a regeneration of circular economy in terms encouragement and strengthening.