A New fire in it Lake Amatitlán basin landfilllocated in the Kilometer 22 of the Route to Pacificthe debate about his technical closure, an argument that It has not been realized for years.
For Omar Orellana, former director of the Authority for sustainable management of the Amatitlán Lake Basin (AMSA) between 2015 and 2020, this incident is A reminder that the life of the landfill has come to an end. In his opinion, the problem is currently aggravated due to the Lack of capacity and efficient waste management.
According to Orellana, the landfill should have been closed in the 2014, When considering that exceeded its useful life. However, the absence of a viable alternative for the final disposal of waste has delayed the process.
“The first technical closure order of the landfill was issued in 2014, but it has not been completed because there is no other place to have garbage,” he explained.
He added that the problem is not only to close it, but to define what will be done with the waste later. “Decisions have not been made for an effective closure. What is missing is a new space for garbage”, pointed out.
The landfill receives approximately 1,300 tons of waste per dayfrom more than 30 municipalities, Among them New Villaone of the main generators.
When created in 1994, the landfill was destined to receive waste from 14 municipalities around the Lake Basin. However, over the years, more municipalities began to send their garbage to this point, leading it to the limit of its capacity. Currently, some 32 municipalities send their waste there.
Due to the current handling of the landfill, which does not consider optimal due to the high volume of waste, long lines of trucks have been generated and A garbage overloadwhich favors the Accumulation of flammable gases such as methane.
These gases, combined with the lack of adequate machinery and maintenance, can be the cause of recurring fires in the landfilla problem that has intensified in recent years.
“Methane is highly flammable and increases the risk of fires, especially in the dry season,” Orellana said.
Before, during his management, he explained that the garbage was compacted in layers and organic waste was classified, which helped more efficient handling and avoided overload.
Certain materials were delivered to industries for reuse. However, it ensures that these practices seem no longer being implemented.
“There is no proper treatment of garbage. It is not forming layers to bury the waste; Everything is thrown together“He said.
Orellana also pointed out that truck drivers must wait long hours to download due to garbage accumulation, which generates Loss of time and money.
This situation, added to the lack of efficient management and environmental danger, contributes to fires. In addition, some speculate that the fire could be caused to reduce the accumulation of garbage and gain space.
According to Orellana, the pressure on the landfill increases in seasons such as Holy Week, when the volume of waste grows significantly, and more space is demanded.
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*Why didn’t the landfill be closed?*
Despite multiple promises of technical closure, especially after fires in the landfill, they have never been completed.
In 2016, the then mayor of Villa Nueva, Edwin Escobar, acquired for more than Q15 million two lands, with the intention of enabling a new landfill, but a complaint prevented its use.
The Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC) warned about a possible overvaluation of the land and issued several sanctions to the commune.
In February 2021, then President Alejandro Giammattei announced for the second time The technical closure of the landfill.
At that time, the Executive said he would work with the mayors of the southern department of Guatemala in a new project, but there were no significant advances.
AMSA posture
Rodolfo García, spokesman for AMSA, explained that there are no records about the origin or context in which the previous fires have occurred.
Regarding the suspicions that these begin in irregular circumstances, he indicated that that possibility is not ruled out. If they were intentional, deeper investigation would be necessary, he said.
According to Garcia, the technical closure is still discussion.
In addition, he mentioned that, together with Ministry of Environmenthave requested extensions and used different mechanisms for the treatment of garbage, which has allowed the landfill to continue operating.