Buenos Aires, Argentina – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its Latin America and the Caribbean Office and the International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), together with technical support from the Association for the Study of Solid Waste (ARS, Regional Chapter of ISWA), has supported a national initiative to review and update Argentina’s National Strategy for Integrated Solid Waste Management.
The process began with a comprehensive information-gathering phase to assess the current solid waste management landscape in the country. This initial assessment examined waste generation and composition, the effectiveness of waste collection systems, final disposal practices, source separation efforts, and treatment technologies at the national level. The review also analyzed the existing National Strategy to inform the development of a new roadmap aligned with current challenges and opportunities.
Key facts on solid waste management in Argentina:
- Generation of approximately 53,775 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day (1.2 kg/inhab/day)
- Organic waste accounts for 43% of total municipal solid waste generated
- Waste collection services cover 97% of the population
- Around 43% of municipalities have implemented waste separation at source
- National material recovery rates are estimated at 4.8%
- 64% of waste is disposed of in sanitary landfills
- The remaining waste is disposed of in controlled landfills or dumpsites, with 603 sites identified, alongside nearly 6,000 micro-dumpsites nationwide
The main findings were presented and discussed during a validation workshop held in Buenos Aires in June, which convened representatives from national authorities, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to review the results and contribute to the next steps.
This initiative is expected to lay the groundwork for the development and eventual adoption of a new National Solid Waste Management Strategy for Argentina, with a strong emphasis on circular economy approaches, the integration of gender perspectives, and the promotion of employment opportunities in the waste management and recycling sectors.
