solid waste

The Doña Juana Landfill is Bogotá’s main municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal site. It has been in operation since 1988 and is one of the largest landfills in Colombia.It primarily receives large amounts of waste generated by Bogotá and nearby cities, handling several thousand tons of waste daily. A significant portion of Bogotá’s solid waste is organic, meaning that during decomposition in the landfill, it produces leachate and gases such as methane. Leachate contamination poses risks to soil and groundwater: as waste decomposes in the landfill, moisture and decomposition byproducts generate leachate, which can infiltrate surface soil or groundwater and, if poorly managed, carry heavy metals, harmful chemicals, and pathogens. In addition, the accumulation of waste in the landfill can create landslide and geological hazards when internal pressures, such as leachate and gas buildup, become too high. For example, the Doña Juana Landfill has experienced several large-scale landslides since 1997, including a 1.2 million cubic meter waste slide in 1997, with additional events in 2015 and 2020. Waste, leachate, and landfill gases also lead to land degradation and ecological damage, potentially disrupting soil structure, vegetation, wetlands, water bodies, and terrestrial ecosystems. Communities living near the landfill are exposed to public health risks, including odors, pests, air pollution, and contaminated surface and groundwater, which can result in respiratory, skin, visual, and digestive health problems.