Earthquake waste management, is it possible in developing countries? Case study: 2017 mexico city seism

Abstract

After a seism, sanitation is an issue that requires immediate attention at different levels, with the aim of minimizing the latent risks to the public health. The aim of this study is to develop a methodological framework proposal to analyze the possibility of earthquake waste management, considering technical aspects and legal frameworks after an earthquake in a developing country. The implementation case study, the 2017 Mexico City earthquake, has presented data collection of the types of waste and quantities carried out in the field, as well as from government reports and calculations; furthermore, a study was developed to analyze the capacity installed to earthquake waste management, by means of interviews conducted in the field due to the lack of public and congruent institutional information. Finally, an analysis was conducted of the current legal framework and public policy of disaster waste management. In this sense, earthquake rubble totaled 344,211.3 tons and the estimated weight of households items per collapsed dwelling amounted to 424.16 kg. This manuscript deals with the management of earthquake waste in Mexico, based on the data of the 2017 earthquake; the study also explains possible problems and political challenges about the earthquake waste management with the limited conditions of a developing country.