Chile's Arica and Punta Arenas confront waste management challenges

In Arica, Aguas del Altiplano removed more than 12 tonnes of solid waste from the municipal sewer system between January and June, extracting material equivalent to 2 400 five‑kilogram cement bags or over 26 000 full beverage cans. The haul included used oils, food scraps, plastics, wet wipes and construction debris that caused numerous blockages, prompting the utility to advise residents not to pour waste down drains or flush non‑degradable items.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Punta Arenas announced a one‑day suspension of household solid‑waste collection on 29 July in observance of the national Day of the Waste Collector. Authorities asked residents and businesses to keep trash in external containers to avoid littering, and said normal service would resume the following day.