Environmental Risk Assessment for the Disposal of Clandestine Solid Waste on the Riversides of the Opamayo and Sicra Rivers in Lircay-Huancavelica

Abstract

Inadequate solid waste management causes risks to the environment. This is exacerbated when local governments fail to conduct a relevant environmental risk assessment. The objective of this research was to evaluate the environmental risks of clandestine solid waste disposal sites on the banks of the Sicra and Opamayo rivers in the district of Lircay in the department of Huancavelica, Peru. For the collection of spatial information, the location of clandestine dumps was identified. Seventeen points were mapped in the urban area of Lircay. The estimation of severity and environmental risks was carried out according to the UNE 150008:2008 standard and the Peruvian Environmental Risk Assessment Guide proposed by the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM). Environmental risk zoning maps were then generated. Finally, the result of the environmental risk focused on 4 points of clandestine dumps in medium environmental risk zones and 5 points of clandestine dumps in high environmental risk zones within these riverbanks.