The Regional Autonomous Corporation, regional environmental authority for the Colombian department Atlántico, proposed construction of three landfills to remedy the crisis arising from poor management of solid waste. Thonny Palencia, director of the corporation, told Tierramérica on May 17 that an adequate waste management policy requires landfills to handle the garbage from the north of the department, another for the central area, and a third for the south.

The agency reports that daily solid waste output in the department reaches 2,200 tons, and 39 percent of it is not handled properly. Nationwide, Colombia produces 26,000 tons of garbage a day.