Regulatory non-compliance of solid waste final disposal sites in México and their impact on the environment

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present the current state of regulatory non-compliance in the final disposal sites for municipal solid waste (MSW) in Mexico and the environmental damage caused by non-compliance. The legal framework establishes that these sites must meet certain technical requirements to ensure environmental protection and safeguard the right to public health. This research addresses the following questions: Do the final disposal sites in Mexico comply with the legal and regulatory framework? What are the environmental impacts caused by legal and regulatory non-compliance? The study follows a descriptive, documentary, and comparative approach with a cross-sectional design. Statistical data, regulations, and legislation were analyzed, along with information from institutional and governmental sources. The results show that a significant number of officially recognized MSW final disposal sites operate without complying with the applicable legal and regulatory framework. This has led to water, soil, and air pollution, as well as biodiversity loss, findings consistent with other studies on regulatory non-compliance in Mexico and other Latin American countries. The study suggests addressing the underlying causes and factors that foster non-compliance to prevent or mitigate environmental impacts.