Spanish
Santo Domingo.- Professors from the School of Biology of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) expressed their rejection of the proposed reform to Law 225-20 on Integral Management and Co-processing of Solid Waste, which proposes to allow the operation of open-air landfills for five more years.
Academics agreed that this measure would have serious consequences for the environment and public health in the Dominican Republic. Professor Adriana Bueno, a biologist and university professor, stated that allowing landfills to continue operating under these conditions "is an environmental setback" and called on the Ministry of Environment to take on a monitoring role in this case.Read more: Survey reveals citizens are unaware of what the Solid Waste Law is about
"Extending the useful life of these landfills is allowing the prolongation of damage to the air, soil, aquifers and nearby communities," he said. For his part, biologist Reginaldo Gómez Segura maintained that prolonged exposure to the gases and waste generated in landfills can cause multiple respiratory diseases. “It’s not just about pollution or bad smells, we are talking about chronic lung conditions, severe allergies and even an increase in infectious diseases caused by vectors,” he/she pointed out. Meanwhile, biologist Marta María Villafaña, who also holds a master's degree in environment, joined the rejection, calling any reform that allows the closure of these landfills to be postponed as irresponsible. "The law was created precisely to move towards a more sustainable management model. Postponing the closure only aggravates the problem and contradicts the principles of the circular economy and environmental health," he indicated.Finally, they called on the National Congress to reconsider the reform and convene consultations with specialists, universities, and community sectors.
