Potencial de aproveitamento dos resíduos sólidos urbanos da cidade de Tarija, Bolívia

Abstract

The management of solid waste in the city of Tarija, Bolivia, has become increasingly challenging, mainly due to population growth and the limited remaining capacity of the Pampa Galana disposal site. To better understand this situation, the study examined how waste generation has evolved in recent years and explored technological alternatives that could help reduce the city’s reliance on landfilling. The analysis was based on demographic information from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), technical documents from the Municipal Cleaning Company of Tarija (EMAT), and reports produced by local institutions such as the Aguatuya Foundation. Estimates for 2024 indicate that Tarija produces around 143.25 tons of waste per day, with organic material representing the largest share. Since 2021, local initiatives aimed at improving material separation have shown gradual but still modest progress. Based on these findings, the study highlights the importance of expanding treatment options, including biological conversion processes and industrial systems focused on material recovery, in order to ease pressure on the city’s disposal facilities and support more sustainable development practices.