Municipalities in Uruguay and Bolivia face waste management challenges

Municipalities in Uruguay and Bolivia are facing challenges regarding waste management and sanitation services.

In Salto, Uruguay, the local Junta authorized the Intendencia to initiate a public bidding process for waste collection, sweeping, and final disposal for a period of up to 12 years. The package includes the sealing of the current landfill and the construction of a new sanitary landfill. While the administration describes the move as outsourcing where the municipality retains control, opposition members have characterized it as privatization. The decision follows long-standing resident complaints regarding landfill infrastructure and fires.

In Oruro, Bolivia, the Empresa Municipal de Aseo Oruro (EMAO) has declared a technical breakdown due to the removal of diesel subsidies. The increase in fuel costs has doubled monthly expenditures, leading to a critical financial situation where current revenue cannot cover operating costs. EMAO is evaluating a potential 50% reduction in garbage collection services and is seeking to expand its taxpayer base to maintain operations.