Solid waste management in rural areas, an analysis of a parish in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract

This study aims to determine the generation and composition of solid waste in a rural parish in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The random sampling method and the guidelines of the Pan American Health Organization were used. Waste generated in 51 households was sampled during two weeks in 2015. The daily per capita generation of solid waste in the parish of Fátima is 0.511 kg/inhab/day. Organic matter represents 66% of the generation of solid domestic waste in the parish, 9% is plastic, 7% glass and paper/cardboard, 1% metals, among others. The results show that the recovery of the organic fraction in composting processes and the recovery of materials from recyclable fractions could be management alternatives, which could generate an annual average gain of US $8044.20 that could be used to improve waste management infrastructure.