Challenges and strengths of urban solid waste management: The case of an emerging economy in Mexico during the 21st century

Abstract

Throughout the third decade of the 21st century, the main problems facing Mexico include, among others, recurring economic crises, the drastic effects of climate change and the water crisis, as well as inadequate municipal solid waste management. The objective of this study is to understand and analyze the social perceptions of young university students and teachers' college students regarding urban solid waste management in the Puebla-Tlaxcala Metropolitan Area. This perception could lead to public policies and recommendations, among other sectors, in the area of environmental education for sustainability. The methodology employed consisted of combining bibliographic and newspaper information with an empirical test conducted through a representative sample of a survey of the youth population in these sectors. A total of 209 surveys were distributed proportionally. From the total number of items, those related to factors such as the importance of women's participation were selected. Among the findings were that 88.9% of the surveyed population was familiar with the concept of solid waste, 58.7% responded that they did practice recycling urban solid waste, 63% affirmatively stated that their educational institution did implement solid waste separation practices, and 51.4% of the surveyed population perceived a need for greater commitment from the authorities to responsible management of urban solid waste. Among the conclusions drawn from this work were that society in general, and young people from universities and teacher training colleges in particular, did have general information about the solid waste phenomenon, but they did not have a broad awareness of the subsequent stages of treatment of said waste and were convinced that the federal or local government was not acting responsibly to manage it properly.