An interdisciplinary approach for introducing sustainable integrated solid waste management system in developing countries: the case of La Paz (Bolivia)

Solid waste management (SWM) has become one of the most difficult environmental and political issue in developing countries worldwide. The increase of diseases from uncollected waste, inadequate informal collection and/or waste open dumps are only few unsustainable practices that affect low income countries population health. The international cooperation between developing and developed countries can be an affordable solution in order to implement new recycling policies and environmental sustainability. In fact, the lack of management instruments and insufficient monitoring and accounting can be solved by introducing long term processes and by involving all local institutions. However, this challenge includes several social, economic, environmental aspects, and implies the development of technical abilities in many disciplines. This article moves from a field research work aimed to develop sustainable integrated waste management policies. That has been made possible by applying university international agreements and public-private partnerships. The work took place in the Bolivian capital city (La Paz), with the direct collaboration of three Universities (University of Trento – DICAM, Major University of S.Andrés – IIDEPROQ, Salesian University of La Paz). During the field study the NGO Swisscontact and the La Paz Municipal Government were involved. They helped to investigate directly city waste management daily difficulties. Furthermore, an Italian waste recycling company (EliteAmbiente) has been involved in the project, in order to estimate the process cost and the management needs for introduce a recycling industry. The process is going to continue with an enlargement of the working group and with other agreements that will involve other institutions. The main issues are widely discussed in order to explain the advantages and the difficulties that have been found while implementing this integrated process. Moreover, the methods to implement the study are focused and some future objectives are presented.