The environmental trend of evoking a circular economy, generated mainly by the misuse of waste over the years and the abuse of environmental resources, has brought irremediable consequences and in other cases stronger blows to the lifestyle of people and the environment. Despite this reality and the efforts being made in the world, the work ahead is complex and very hard.
Circular Economy Forum in Mexico
For this reason, several Latin American countries are taking important steps in terms of waste management, with the implementation and creation of laws that can mitigate the negative impact of climate change. In the case of Mexico, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) wants to bet on a circular economy and improve efficiency in the use of resources.
In Mexico, a forum on the circular economy in the country was held in mid-May of this year, where topics such as the opportunity it represents, the challenges and the sectors with the highest priority to start implementing more efficient economies were discussed. The idea is to “deepen the knowledge of the circular economy not only to support the environmental variable of sustainability, but also as an engine for growth and the reduction of social inequalities,” said the country’s environmental secretary.
Argentina’s plan
The government of Argentina is also committed to making the circular economy a government banner. Argentina generates an average of 45,000 tons of urban solid waste (USW) per day. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the effects are very negative, as sanitary landfills in urban centers are major sources of greenhouse gases.
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the South American country has implemented the Federal Plan for the Eradication of Open Dumps, a national government initiative carried out with local governments, with the idea of providing materials and inputs for the closure of landfills and the construction of centers where the differential and efficient treatment of waste can be carried out. The government’s objective is to bet on renewable energies and more efficient production models for waste treatment.
Roadmap in Chile
Another country that wants to be at the forefront and have a more sustainable economy is Chile, which at the beginning of the year launched a roadmap for the circular economy. Law 20.920, which establishes the framework for waste management, extended producer responsibility and the promotion of recycling, aims to reduce waste generation and promote the recovery, reuse and recycling of waste.
The Chilean government’s plan is ambitious and its idea is to have a “Chile without waste”. This country has strategic plans for the management of different types of waste, such as organic waste, plastics, construction and demolition waste (CDW), etc. The government has a very ambitious plan in which it intends to reduce waste as much as possible.
Currently, many countries in the region continue to do important work on environmental issues and although in some cases the efforts seem to be minimal, almost all the region is working to have more efficient economies and to have renewable energies available and to minimize waste as much as possible.