Prácticas de gestión de residuos sólidos, durante y después de la emergencia sanitaria, en los hogares de dos parroquias rurales de la ciudad de Cuenca.

Abstract

Due to the health emergency caused by Covid-19, measures were established in Ecuador that put activities such as study, work, including collection activities, on hold in order to prevent contagion. Thus, the present study deals with how households in the rural parishes of Sinincay and El Valle in the canton of Cuenca managed their solid waste during and after the health emergency. Through surveys, interviews and participant observation with inhabitants of the parishes, EMAC officials and grassroots recyclers, it was found that about 50% of the respondents the most produced solid waste is organic, which is used in animal feed or compost, and less than 20% of the households surveyed in each parish recycle and separate their waste, in addition, households do not directly deliver recyclable material to recyclers and the household member who is most engaged in disposal, recycling and separation activities is the mother. It was also learned that the pilot projects that are being carried out in these parishes to take advantage of organic waste are not intended to be expanded, since the budget designated to the GADs does not cover the necessary expenses to do so. And the grassroots recyclers think that their work is not valued as such, they are discriminated against by housewives, they are not paid fairly for the recycled material and they ask that households sort, so that not so much material would be lost.