Circular Economy, International Cooperation, and Solid Waste Management: A Development Project in La Paz (Bolivia)

Navarro Ferronato, Rodolfo Pasinetti, Daysi Valencia Vargas, Iris Jabneel Calle Mendoza, Edith Gabriela Guisbert Lizarazu, Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo, Fabio Conti and Vincenzo Torretta
Additional contact information
Navarro Ferronato: Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
Rodolfo Pasinetti: COOPI–Cooperazione Internazionale, Bolivian Office, La Paz 3520, Bolivia
Daysi Valencia Vargas: COOPI–Cooperazione Internazionale, Bolivian Office, La Paz 3520, Bolivia
Iris Jabneel Calle Mendoza: COOPI–Cooperazione Internazionale, Bolivian Office, La Paz 3520, Bolivia
Edith Gabriela Guisbert Lizarazu: IIDEPROQ, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), La Paz 3520, Bolivia
Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo: IIDEPROQ, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), La Paz 3520, Bolivia
Fabio Conti: Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
Vincenzo Torretta: Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: This paper introduces the preliminary results of a development project focused on waste recycling and recovery in La Paz (Bolivia). The aim is to share best practices and to present real-world challenges when implementing appropriate waste management systems in developing countries. Environmental pollution, social inequality, lack of resources, and economic discrepancies are challenges still present in the 21st century, and a global call-for-action is needed to support sustainable development. The project “LaPazRecicla”, financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, provides perspectives that are potentially useful for policy-makers, waste management practitioners, and circular economy visionaries. The article aims to present the effective contribution of the practical actions to the local municipality, and to introduce the reason for why theoretical methods were employed to support the project. The outcomes provided two main indications: on one hand, cooperation among interdisciplinary actors and financial support can give the chance of improvement, suggesting international donors should continue in this direction; on the other, political instability, lack of local technical knowledge, and the absence of planning for a long-term period makes these actions unsuitable for tangible change. Global reflections are required in order to measure the potential benefits of small-scale projects, evaluating the time needed to move towards a sustainable future in low-income countries.

Keywords: developing countries; international cooperation; LCA; recycling; resource recovery; solid waste; sustainable development; waste to energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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