Conversation with the EMAC on solid waste management
On December 16, the School of Biology organized a discussion with Dora Ordoñez, Manager of EMAC, in the framework of the space called “Dialogues to build”. The event took place through the Zoom platform starting at 11:00 am.
Ordoñez began by emphasizing the changes in the conception of waste management in Cuenca that have occurred in recent years, which has allowed the company in charge of cleaning the city to improve continuously; always considering three fundamental axes: environmental, social and economic.
“We have our sustainability policies that are focused on environmental protection through the reduction, recycling and use of waste with a circular economy approach; we also balance the participation of the public and private sectors for financial sustainability and we seek to prioritize the needs of stakeholders and implement a CSR model ”, he commented.
Likewise, he highlighted that the institutional strength of the EMAC lies in the little political permeability existing in the company, even from the municipal offices; This has been achieved by the high technical knowledge of the staff.
At another point, Ordoñez made known the services that EMAC provides to the city, among them are: collection, cleaning and sweeping, final disposal in the sanitary landfill, recycling, dumps, composting, management of infectious waste and maintenance of green areas.
“In the recycling service we recover 153 tons of waste monthly. The challenge we have is to be able to implement in the future a green cover in which organic waste will be placed for composting, this because 60% of the waste in the black cover is precisely compostable ”, he said.
Along the same lines, he stated that more than 8000 thousand tons of organic material were recovered and treated at the EMAC composting plant last year. "Citizen participation is key to all our projects, in this so-called" environmental barter "people can approach the BioEMAC point, deliver organic matter and receive compost for their plants and orchards in return."
Ordoñez shared the project for the use of biogas emitted by the landfill. “With this project we prevent methane from going into the environment, we transform biogas into electrical energy and we sell that energy to generate income; soon we will have a second engine ”.
On the other hand, he explained that 2,4 tons of infectious waste are treated daily in the city; This management was extended to households with positive covid-19 patients this year, since it is possible to request a special collection for these cases by contacting the EMAC.
To finish his presentation, Ordoñez presented his final conclusions. Among them, he highlighted the participation of all actors, especially the academic sector, with which they are open to listening to projects and implementing them in favor of the city.
Other highlights of the conclusions were the economic sustainability through the implementation of fees for the service and the stability and improvement of the skills of all EMAC staff.
Finally, the students had a space to ask questions and interact with the speaker.
UDA Correspondent
