SOLID WASTE TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR TOURISM ACTIVITIES EVALUATION USING LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Introduction:
Tourist activity generates wastes that impact the environment. Among these, the classified as urban solid wastes occupy an important percentage. In coastal areas with tourist activity case, the integral management of wastes generated by human activity and natural phenomena, requires an efficient management system.
Objective:
To evaluate the impacts associated with current solid wastes management system generated in a tourist area, as well as treatment alternatives evaluation using Life Cycle Analysis.
Materials and Methods:
The Life Cycle Analysis using Eco indicator 99 and the landfill design using the Republic of Cuba´s regulations for solid waste dumping.
Results and Discussion:
The results of analysis demonstrate the environmental impacts reduction, the pollutant load reduction and the impacts associated with solid waste management. classification and reuse of materials in transfer plant, reduces the amount of waste to be disposed in the landfill, while generating economic gains.
Conclusions:
The tourist zone management system after implementing the alternatives, show a decrease in all impacts categories. Proposed management system economic calculations yielded earnings of $ 1 624 462.11 per year and a period of investment recovery of 0.35 years.