From landfill to valorization: the Ancón Ecopark as a mitigation strategy for solid waste management deficiencies in Panama

Abstract

Municipal solid waste management in the districts of Panamá and San Miguelito is undergoing an environmental and social crisis stemming from the overload and inadequate management of the Cerro Patacón landfill, the metropolitan region's main final disposal site. Waste accumulation, methane emissions, contamination of nearby rivers and streams, and the absence of intermediate treatment infrastructure highlight the need for structured solutions. This study proposes the Ancón Ecopark, an architectural proposal for the valorization of mixed waste conceived as a direct response to the shortcomings of the current system. Based on a diagnosis grounded in surveys of residents from surrounding communities and interviews with key stakeholders (the Public Cleaning and Sanitation Authority, the Ministry of Environment, and sector companies), the main management gaps were identified: irregular collection coverage, a lack of accessible recycling points, low citizen participation linked to the absence of infrastructure, the generation of quantifiable waste by households, businesses, and institutions without the application of circular economy principles, non-operational leachate and biogas systems, and weak regulatory implementation. The Ancón Ecopark is configured as a hybrid facility that integrates a Mixed Waste Valorization Center, an Organic Waste Treatment Zone (composting and biomethanization), and a Visitor and Environmental Education Center, complemented by administrative, logistical, and control areas. Each component addresses a specific gap identified in the diagnosis. The proposal aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4, 9, 11, 12, and 13, and is presented as a replicable pilot project that transforms a degraded space into resilient urban infrastructure.