Inventory and environmental compliance assessment of final waste disposal sites of Zacatecas, Mexico

In Mexico, the final disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is primarily performed in open-air or clandestine dumps; therefore, landfill siting and construction must consider territorial issues and the legal framework to minimize negative impacts on human health and the environment. However, the lack of a record and adequate and comprehensive waste management by governmental authorities makes it difficult to get precise data related to the amount and composition of the MSW disposed of, available land area, suitable locations, and control of biogas and leachates in final waste disposal sites (FWDS). This work aimed to conduct an inventory of FWDS in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, and to assess their environmental compliance in terms of site category, location restrictions, and operating conditions, based on the guidelines currently in force in the Mexican Official Standard NOM-083-SEMARNAT-2003. The methodology consisted of fieldwork for collecting information on the amount of MSW, a record of site location and delimited area, and an assessment of location restrictions and operating conditions using geographical information systems (GIS) and a checklist. Results showed an inventory of 53 FWDS operating in the 58 municipalities of Zacatecas, of which 86.8% not comply with location restrictions, impacting both human health and the environment. All FWDS were classified as uncontrolled sites since they operate without leachate and biogas control. Therefore, this study provides information on what FWDS must be regulated by governmental authorities, prioritizing those that operate improperly and have an impact on human health and the environment.