Design of a comprehensive strategy for sustainable solid waste management in the 14 de Junio neighborhood, Urumita, La Guajira, Colombia

Abstract

Inadequate solid waste management is one of the main environmental problems affecting the quality of life in urban and rural communities. In the 14 de Junio neighborhood of the municipality of Urumita, La Guajira, this problem manifests itself through the accumulation of waste in public spaces and the limited practice of separation at source. In response to this situation, the objective of this research was to design a comprehensive strategy for the sustainable management of solid waste in the community, contributing to the improvement of the environment and the environmental awareness of its inhabitants. The research was developed using a projective approach, with a contemporary, non-experimental, cross-sectional field design, through the application of a digital form distributed by Google Forms to 30 randomly selected households, complemented by a checklist and direct observation. The data collected were analyzed descriptively to identify the types of waste generated, disposal practices, and the environmental needs of the community. The results revealed a partial practice of separation at source and a high generation of unusable organic and inorganic waste, along with potentially recyclable materials such as plastics, paper, and glass. Likewise, the lack of environmental culture and adequate infrastructure for waste management was evident. Based on this diagnosis, eight strategic guidelines were designed covering environmental education, sorting, collection, composting, recycling, reduction, hazardous waste management, and community participation, based on Resolution 2184 of 2019 and Law 2232 of 2022. The proposal seeks to promote citizen responsibility, strengthen local sustainability, and serve as a replicable model in other sectors with similar problems. The study provides a replicable framework for strengthening community environmental sustainability and guiding future local waste management policies