August 21, 2021

by Redacción

Types of solid waste considered in Salvadoran law

Over the years, waste management has been a problem that violates public health in the Salvadoran territory. The foregoing, raised the need to develop legal instruments that contribute to give a margin of action, among these, the Law of Integral Management of Waste and Promotion of Recycling; which presents the types of solid waste and the type of management that can be given to each one.

Municipal Waste 

These wastes correspond to those generated in activities carried out in dwellings, public or private offices, those resulting from the cleaning of roads and public places; as well as those that come from any other activity within commercial and industrial establishments. 

Special Handling Waste 

They are those that have characteristics of large volume, difficult handling, size and composition, and require management with characteristics different from the conventional ones considered in the Municipal collection service.  

These wastes are classified as follows: 

• Scrap. 
• Waste produced by construction, remodeling, maintenance and demolition in general. Except for those with dangerous characteristics, such as, for example, asbestos materials or others established in the International Conventions ratified by the country. 
• Electrical and electronic equipment excluded in the Basel Convention. 
• Used tires. 
• Large volume waste: mattresses, furniture, pruning, among others. 
• Non-hazardous waste, but which, due to its size, volume and composition, requires special handling. The list of these wastes. 

Dangerous residues 

Hazardous wastes are those that, in solid, liquid or gaseous state, have any of the characteristics of corrosivity, reactivity, explosivity, toxicity, flammability or that contain infectious biological agents that make them dangerous, as well as materials, containers, containers, packaging and floors that have been in contact with waste or hazardous material. 

It should be noted that hazardous wastes are considered to be those listed in the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Elimination, the Central American Regional Agreement on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes.