The city of Manta generates nearly 250 tonnes of solid waste per day, of which only 2 per cent is currently recycled. Most of the waste is sent to a landfill site that has been in operation since the 1990s and no longer meets current technical standards. In response to these environmental, social and operational challenges, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through its ‘Too Good to Waste’ programme, is supporting the municipality in developing a comprehensive strategy to improve solid waste management.

The pre-feasibility study identified the most appropriate technical, institutional and social solutions to modernise the service, increase waste recovery, improve processing conditions and promote the inclusion of informal waste pickers within the waste management system.

Type of services provided

• Assessment and characterisation of solid waste generation.

• Optimisation of collection, street-cleaning, recovery and final disposal services.
• Pre-feasibility study of waste recovery schemes.
• Pre-feasibility study of a controlled landfill site and the closure/redevelopment of the existing landfill.
• Development of a short-, medium- and long-term roadmap.
• Development of a social inclusion plan for waste pickers.