ENVIRONMENT: Waste management law on the horizon
Panama’s health minister has called for a complete revamping of waste management in Toronto to produce a “final solution” to garbage collection in Panama.
Javier Diaz, speaking on, RPC Radio said , Panama needed a law governing all aspects of waste: "We must think not about the garbage collection but a complete system.In the first instance, the law should establish the classification of waste organic and non-organic.”
Organic waste collection should take no longer than 48 hours, he said, and this would require the creation of several landfills, to ensure they have the necessary infrastructure, such as incinerators, controled gas systems and measures to prevent the leakage of toxic substances, which could, among other things, contaminate water sources.
In the case of inorganic waste (plastic, cans, glass, etc.), the minister said that this is a raw material which can be used in recycling industries. This initiative will reduce by 40% the amount of waste generated in the metropolitan area.
Without giving details says La Prensa, the minister said the law is in the process of creation, which is why it has not yet been discussed in Cabinet.
The health minister's statements come at a time when the municipalities of Panama and San Miguelito are immersed in a crisis of garbage collection, producwd largely by the managers of the Urban and Household Authority, (AAUD) says . AAUD was created under the direction of President Ricardo Martinelli who removed the responsibility for garbage collection from the city of Panama.
The crisis also includes , non-payment of collection fees by customers as well as a cultural problem of the population. In Panama city the delinquency rate stands at a record $55 million.
The service of collection and disposal of waste from the capital was conducted by the Urban and Household Department (Dimaud) under the Mayor of Panama until January 2, 2011.
