Background

The City provides street sweeping, solid waste collection and final disposal services through the Municipal Solid Waste Collection Department. Street sweeping is done with mechanical sweepers that are in poor condition, and garbage is collected with trucks that have
surpassed their useful life, which results in high repair costs and inconsistent garbage collection services.

Final solid waste disposal is in an open-air dumpsite located one mile south of town that has been in operation for ten years and has exceeded its capacity, turning it into a serious environmental pollution problem due to frequent fires, gas emissions and foul odors as a result of inadequate waste management.

Description

The project consists of:

• Improvements in the quality, coverage and efficiency of street
  sweeping.
• Improvements in the solid waste collection services by redesigning
  collection routes and acquiring new collection trucks, as well as
  instituting a preventive and corrective maintenance program for
  equipment and infrastructure.
• Construction of a sanitary landfill and closure of the open-air
  dumpsite.
• Institutional development of the Municipal Sanitation Service
  utility.

Construction of the landfill is divided into three phases. The first phase will be carried out in 2002 and includes construction of the first landfill cell, as well as acquisition of heavy machinery to operate the landfill. The rest of the phases will be completed in 2009.

Benefits

The improvements in the municipal sanitation services will result in almost 100% collection coverage for city residents. In addition, closing the open-air dumpsite and providing for the proper disposal of waste will reduce contamination of soil, air and ground water resources, thus providing a healthier environment for all area residents.