Various projects for generating electricity from waste have been waiting for the new regulation, which states that only waste which can not be recycled, reduced or reused may be incinerated.
Municipalities are now able, with these newly approved rules to reactivate projects that have been on hold since June 2014, when the moratorium went into effect. According to the National Association of Mayors and Municipalities, at least half of them are interested in mechanisms to generate electricity from waste.
The Ministry of Health in Costa Rica has finalized the regulations governing the operation of incineration plants which generate energy from waste.
Almost a year after the moratorium on power generation based on solid waste, which is mainly affecting municipalities, the Ministry of Public Health has announced that the regulations which establish the conditions for the incineration of waste are ready.
On August 19th in Guatemala a conference will be held on the comprehensive management and export of residues and solid waste.
The Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport) estimates that they hope to export 196,000 tonnes of residues and solid waste, equivalent to $50 million, this year.
S21.com.gt reports: "... on August 19 the 6th edition of ECONCIENCIA 2014 ExpoConferencias on Recycling and Environmental Responsibility will be held, in order to raise awareness of integrated management of residues and solid waste.."
The absence of a long-term waste management policy is preventing the ability to take advantage of a sector which could generate significant business opportunities.
An Editorial on Nacion.com notes that "...The reasons for this lethargy, in the face of a problem that is about to overwhelm us and could be an important source of income, range from financing to lack of technological alternatives.
The Authority of Urban and Household Waste Disposal is studying the acquisition of new trucks for garbage collection in the district of Panama.
The Authority of Urban and Household Waste Disposal (AAUD by its initials in Spanish) is discussing the acquisition of new trucks for waste collection in the district of Panama. So far they have not said how many vehicles are needed.
The Government of Panama has approved the State Authority for Urban and Household Sanitation a credit of $14 million for the rental of thirty trucks for garbage collection.
From a press release issued by the Presidency of Honduras:
The Cabinet Council approved a resolution authorizing a loan in favor of the Cleaning Authority in the amount of $14 million and supported the signing of a nonreimbursable technical cooperation agreement with Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) for $350,000 for implementation of the project Urban Park Mangrove in the Bay of Panama.
The municipalities of the capital of Costa Rica have announced the construction a power plant which will produce energy from waste.
The project, which could be put out to tender by the middle of this year, includes the construction of the plant and a concession for its operation for twenty years. Works are expected to commence in 2014 for the plant to be in operation in 2016.
The agency is currently spending $1 million a month on hiring garbage trucks.
Mismanagement of the trucks has led the authority to abandon the option of having its own fleet of vehicles, opting for rental instead.
For the next 12 months the institution plans to spend $16.8 million on rental payments, which is currently distributed between about 7 companies at a rate of $65 per hour.