Panama Recognizes that More than Five Landfills Exceed Their Useful Life: An Environmental Risk is in the Azuero
The Ministry of Environment and the Urban and Domestic Waste Authority have initiated a modernization plan to address open-air dumps in Azuero, closing the most polluted ones and restoring damaged ecosystems. Environment Minister Juan Carlos Navarro, along with his technical staff and AAUD personnel, agreed to the permanent closure of the Pocri open-air landfill.
The Azuero region faces one of Panama’s biggest environmental problems: open-air dumps. These garbage dumps, which operate without oversight or adequate safety measures, not only detract from the landscape but also endanger the public health of thousands of people and contaminate the area’s natural resources. Although the government has begun to take action, the problem persists and demands urgent solutions. In Azuero, more than five landfills have exceeded their lifespan and continue to operate without even the most basic safety measures. If this situation is not addressed, it could have devastating consequences for the ecosystem and the health of the local population. “Open-air landfills pose a serious threat to health and the environment. It is urgent that we take action to close them and rehabilitate the affected areas,” commented Juan Carlos Navarro , Minister of the Environment.
