The Dominican Republic is in a process of growth and revitalization of some productive sectors. A series of fiscal and monetary reforms have led the current economy towards the development of the tourism, free trade zones, construction and services sectors, where well-known international industries and commercial companies have settled. Residents abroad are also part of this reactivation. Likewise, agricultural production, trade and mining still maintain an important participation.
Expenditure on basic social services remains at a low level and according to 2003 data, it corresponded to only 8.7% of total government spending. This line of expenses corresponds to the health, family planning, education, drinking water and basic sanitation sectors. By linking this premise to the solid waste sector, it is predictable that, as it happens, the budget allocation to this sector will be insufficient to provide an efficient service, in accordance with the advances and waste management strategies that are currently promoted both at the level of industrialized as well as developing countries.
Until the 1980s, even in the largest cities, a very rudimentary garbage collection service was offered, with collection vehicles without compaction, treatment systems or other more specialized management techniques were not applied. During the 80s and 90s, as the population centers grew, especially the capital of Santo Domingo and the city of Santiago, the difficulties to carry out an efficient collection and final disposal of solid waste increased.
At the beginning of the 21st century, collection containers and equipment have been increased and approved in some areas of the city of Santo Domingo. Likewise, the development of waste management projects with citizen participation in several cities of the country is evident. Most of these projects are carried out with financing from international institutions and under the coordination of non-governmental organizations.
La disposición final de residuos sólidos se realiza a través de uno más de un centenar de vertederos incontrolados establecidos en todo del país. En la ciudad de Santo Domingo, se establecieron desde los años 60 unos 5 vertederos, incluyendo el actual vertedero Duquesa, ubicado a 15 Km. Del centro de la ciudad, en el límite noroeste. Duquesa era un vertedero incontrolado que escenificaba frecuentes incendios hasta que fueron adecuadas algunas de sus instalaciones con un financiamiento de US$3 millones del Gobierno Japonés en 1998. En ese entonces quedo bajo la operación de una empresa privada y administrada por el Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional. Actualmente Duquesa es operado y administrado por el Ayuntamiento de Santo Domingo Oeste.
In the case of the municipality of Constanza as of August 16, 2006, the new municipal management has made profound modifications to the "natural system" that evolved during 12 years of management of the previous municipal trustee, the modifications based on pragmatism and above all the lessons learned from the previous administration.
Among the main changes and / or "improvements" made, are:
- Restoration (repair) of dump trucks and compactors of the grab train; Incorporation to the cleaning train fleet of 2 new dump trucks and 2 compactors; Modifications to garbage collection routes; Modifications and extension of the garbage collection schedule in neighborhoods and communities; Basic informative campaign on route, schedule and environmental education to communities and neighborhoods; Person-to-person collection of solid waste management and collection; Increased field supervision to dump trucks and compactors; and Development of a strategic analysis of the solid waste management situation in the municipality of Constanza.
Despite the effort made, the analysis resulting from the "Public Opinion Survey" indicates that the volume of solid waste production exceeds 84 metric tons per day, while the city council, despite the increase in routes, schedules and cleaning trains, can only collect 68 metric tons per day, the above estimate based on normal days and not holidays where garbage production can easily exceed 113 metric tons per day.
It is important to consider the considerable investment made by the city council in the management, collection and transport of solid waste, where it spends RD $ 1,150,000.00 monthly, which significantly reduces the city council's budget to be able to make investments in infrastructure for development and social.
At the level of psychosocial perception, the community, despite the great effort that the current municipal management makes to manage solid waste, 63% is satisfied by the household cleaning train system and 78% at the commercial level, but Despite this relatively high acceptance rate at the household level, only 4% currently pay for garbage collection and at the commercial level 9%. When evaluating the “Social Payment Will” (VPS), only 24% are willing to pay at the household level, within a range that ranges from RD $ 5.00 to RD $. 20.00 and at the commercial level, the VPS is better positioned with 65% between a range of RD $ 5.00 to RD 1,000.00, which can be enhanced through an effective awareness and social education campaign.
The data above are part of this preliminary report that seeks to provide the "Municipal Trustee" and Head of the "Municipal Environmental Management Department" (DGAM) an advance in information for timely decision-making and thereby improve the quality of service, without demerit of increasing the immersion of financial, human and logistical resources.
2. Characteristics of the Description of the investigation
The project seeks to make the garbage collection service more efficient while optimizing the collection for said service, based on the co-management of the city council-civil society to generate a process of citizen involvement and awareness from permanent educational action.
The project consists of three phases:
Phase 1: structuring phase, fully concluded.
Phase 2: data collection in the field, completed in its entirety.
Phase 3: information analysis, missing 50% analysis and processing.
Research time (with modifications)
40 calendar days divided into:
20 calendar days for field research.
10 calendar days for cabinet analysis and feedback.
10 calendar days for review and approval of the research.
Responsable
Ph.D. Marvin Melgar Ceballos
School of Organic Evolutionary Planning (EPOE)
Supervision and technical support
Ing. José Eduardo Martínez
Head of the Municipal Management Unit (UGAM)
Geographical area of the investigation
The investigation will be carried out in the central area of the Municipality, periruban neighborhoods and rural communities where the city council will collect solid waste.
Research beneficiary population
The population with settlement in the urban, peri-urban and rural areas of the municipality of Constanza.
3. Justification of the investigation
Due to the accelerated growth and without planning of the urban center of Constanza, moreover, cultural habits have caused the population to be exposed to a greater amount of garbage every day and that the city council dedicates an enormous amount of economic and human resources in the management of a problem that is getting bigger every day, which consequently translates into a decrease in the quality of life of this.
Traditionally, the solution to the garbage problem has been the sole responsibility of the city council, with little or no support from other sectors of society, however, the effect of garbage falls on everyone who in one way or another lives in the town.
If the municipal council manages an adequate management of the garbage problem and we have the support of all the inhabitants of the municipality, the council will be able to meet other demands of the population with greater efficiency.
The research is prepared in order to identify those points that make the garbage problem the main service to which the city council is dedicated in order to make it more efficient and less expensive.
4. Project objectives
4.1 General objective
- Establish the "baseline" on garbage production at the central, peri-urban and rural level, as well as the psychosocial attitude of the population regarding the management, collection, transportation and deposit of solid waste in the municipality of Constanza.
4.2 Specific objectives
- Determine the volume of garbage production at the household, neighborhood and community level per day, week and month; Identify the psychosocial perception of homes and businesses located in the central, peri-urban and rural areas, on the garbage collection service carried out by the Municipal Council of Constanza; Establish the critical points at the central, peri-urban and rural area where the accumulation of solid waste has the greatest impact; Know the real costs at the municipal, neighborhood, community and household levels of solid waste management by metric ton, Identify the proposals for actions to coordinate and implement solid waste management and collection strategies with “Neighborhood Councils” and / or “Grassroots Organizations”;Considering the results of the investigation and its respective analysis, outline the actions of education and environmental awareness, establishing the strategies of social approach, as well as the means of communication to be used to be operationalized.
5. Results of the investigation
5.1 Statistical characteristics of the Public Opinion Survey (SOP)
Central area of the Municipality of Constanza
- Main streets and periphery of the central park.
Five standard “peri-urban” neighborhoods
- The Flowers; The Fencing; Arroyo Arriba; The Hairstyles; Japanese Colony; and Colonia Kennedy.
Two standard rural communities
- Las Auyamas; El Arenazo.
Form 1 "Standard homes of neighborhoods and communities"
- 300 forms for the central zone of the Municipality of Constanza; 100 forms in each of the standard peri-urban neighborhoods; 100 forms in each of the standard rural communities.
Form 2 "Large, medium and small businesses"
- 050 forms for the central zone of the Municipality of Constanza; 025 forms in each of the standard peri-urban neighborhoods; 025 forms in each of the standard rural communities.
Total interviews conducted
- 350 forms for the central area of the Municipality of Constanza; 900 forms for urban and peri-urban neighborhoods; 250 forms for peri-urban and rural neighborhoods.
Form 3 "Survey of household and commerce of volumetry of garbage production"
- 025 urban households 015 urban businesses.
5.2 Statistical characteristics
Sample universe
- Total households in the Municipality of Constanza (without districts), according to the 2002 official Census:
- 6,475 households
- Total households and businesses sampled:
- 1,500 homes and businesses.
- Sample percentage:
- 23.16%
- Mean standard error of sampling system:
- 08.00%
- Social random sampling error:
- 13.00%
- Percentage of certainty of social and sample sampling:
- 10.00%
- Standard deviation:
- 11.00%
- Percentage of viability of social data:
- 87.00%
- Estimated projection of certainty of social data in time:
- 8 calendar months from the date of data collection (July 2007)
5.3 Summary of weighted results of the Public Opinion Survey (SOP)
Considering that this document is a preliminary report due to the abundant and copious amount of information that deserves a careful analysis, to which in fact it is being submitted to provide an adequate framework of reliability to the "municipal council", allowing it to serve as an adequate tool for making decisions that increase the level of efficiency in the management, transportation and collection of solid waste in the municipality of Constanza.
5.3.1 SOP results for households
The results are presented referring to each of the questions asked in the SOP report for households:
1- How many days should you take the garbage out of your home?
- 55% every day 30% interday 10% two days a week 05% once a week
2- How many days does the garbage collector pass through your home?
- 61% two days a week 27% once a week 04% interday 08% every day
3- They coordinate the management and collection of garbage with the neighborhood association:
- 92% do not coordinate with the neighborhood council 08% coordinate with the neighborhood council
4- How do you take out the garbage for transportation:
- 66% plastic sleeve; 04% trash; 13% cardboard box; and 17% plastic bags.
5- What type of garbage do you mainly produce:
- 03% paper; 04% cardboard; 12% plastics; 21% food waste; and 60% all of the above.
6- Approximately what weight of garbage you produce daily:
- 38% 10 pounds; 47% 20 pounds; and 15% 30 pounds.
7- Number of members living in your household:
- 5 members per household central area; 7 members per household in central and periurban neighborhoods; and 6 members per household in rural neighborhoods.
8- Through the media you find out about events in your community
- 02% written press; 59% radius; 27% television; 07% meetings; 05% lampoons.
9- Receive messages about the type, schedule and days of garbage collection in your home, neighborhood and / or Community:
- 18% Yes; and 82% No.
10- Do you know who is responsible for garbage collection in your neighborhood, community, avenue and / or business:
- 95% Yes; 05% No.
95% responded that the Municipal Council, of that percentage, 69% indicated that the Municipal Union Joaquín Gómez Espinal, 05% who answered that “No” established that their garbage is generally thrown into the river or left in the Street.
11- You pay for the garbage collection service:
- 04% Yes; 96%
A “Social Payment Will” was established at the household level between RD $ 5.00 to RD $ 20.00 per month, the preferred charge is direct house-to-house or under agreement with the Neighborhood Council.
12- What time do you usually take the garbage out of your home
- 49% 7:00 AM; 12% 8:00 AM; 18% 2:00 PM; 02% 3:00 PM; 09% 6:00 PM; 03% 7:00 PM; 07% any time.
13- Who regularly removes the garbage from their home:
- 44% any of the family; 41% mom, wife, housewife; 10% children; 03% service personnel; and 02% husband.
14- What type of service would you like to have (explain):
- 63% appreciate the work of the new municipal management; 21% believe that the measures are insufficient and not very effective; and 16% consider that the new management is not doing an effective job.
5.3.2 Trade SOP Results
The results are presented in the SOP ballot as a result of the lifting of small, medium and large businesses.
1- How often do you collect garbage in your company and / or business?
- 16% daily; 21% inter-day; 53% twice a week; and 10% weekly.
2- Are you satisfied with the frequency with which garbage is collected in your neighborhood?
- 38% no; 62% yes.
3- Do you have a garbage deposit in your business to handle garbage?
- 49% yes; 51% no.
4- In case of a lot of garbage accumulation, what do you do with it?
- 21% burning; 34% threw it on the street; 39% throws it into the river; 06% seek deposit.
5- Do you know any claim mechanism to make garbage collection more efficient?
- a) 91% no; b) 09% yes.
6- Has received guidance about the effect of garbage on health:
- a) 86% no; b) 14% yes.
7- Does your business and / or company pay for the garbage collection service?
- a) 09% yes; b) 91% no.
8- If the previous answer is yes) Where do you pay it?
- a) 86% municipal council; b) 14% when they go through the trade to collect.
9- (if answer 7 is no) Why don't you pay for the service?
- a) 43% because it is the obligation of the municipal council b) 18% it is customary not to pay for the municipal council c) 31% for the poor service provided by the council d) 08% do not charge for the service.
10- Would you be willing to pay for the garbage collection service?
- a) 65% if they would be willing to pay for the garbage collection service; and b) 35% would not be willing to pay for the garbage collection service.
11- What amount would you be willing to pay for the garbage collection service?
The merchants expressed their consent by making a payment that ranges between
RD $. 5.00 to RD $. 1,000.00.
5.3.3 Results of volumetric analysis produced in the municipality of Constanza
Despite the effort made, the analysis resulting from the "Public Opinion Survey" indicates that the volume of solid waste production exceeds 84 metric tons per day, while the city council, despite the increase in routes, schedules and cleaning trains, can only collect 68 metric tons per day, the above estimate based on normal days and not holidays where garbage production can easily exceed 113 metric tons per day.
6. Proposal for a municipal tax table, to charge for the management, collection and transportation of solid waste management
6. Annexes
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