Summary.
The bill adds Title VIII-A to Law 276 of 2021 on the location, installation, operation, maintenance, and oversight of municipal solid waste collection points in high-density urban areas of the Republic of Panama. Its provisions would apply only to areas with more than 5,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, according to official data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo), where urban conditions prevent the use of the traditional household collection model. The collection points would separate organic, recyclable, and non-recyclable waste; the law’s regulations would establish the technical definition of each category.
In those areas, there would be at least one collection point for every 500 inhabitants. A maximum distance of 100 meters would also be set from the first dwelling with direct street access to the nearest collection point. The Urban and Household Sanitation Authority (Autoridad de Aseo Urbano y Domiciliario) could grant exceptions to these criteria through a reasoned resolution based on topographic or accessibility conditions. Each point would have separate containers, a durable platform made of concrete or similar material, visible signage, adequate lighting, and safe pedestrian access. The regulations would define the general technical specifications for the containers.
Each municipality with areas covered by the new title would submit a Collection Point Distribution Plan to the Urban and Household Sanitation Authority within 12 months after the proposed law takes effect. The plan would include proposed locations, the type and number of containers, maintenance arrangements, and community participation strategies, and would be updated every 3 years. Municipalities and community boards, in coordination with community and educational organizations, would promote community monitoring of proper use of the collection points and the establishment of community recycling centers.
The Urban and Household Sanitation Authority, attached to the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), would oversee compliance with the new title. Together with that ministry, the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning (Ministerio de Vivienda y Ordenamiento Territorial), and the National Institute of Statistics and Census, it would prepare a list of corregimientos containing areas that meet the specified demographic and infrastructure conditions. The Authority would approve the list by administrative resolution and publish it in the Official Gazette. The information would be updated within 6 months after the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República) officially publishes the Census.
The bill also amends Article 82 of Law 276 of 2021: the Executive Branch would issue regulations under the law within 6 months of its promulgation, and failure to comply would give rise to any liability applicable under law. The proposed law would take effect upon its promulgation in the Official Gazette. Its provisions concern the public authorities mentioned and may be of interest to municipalities, community boards, residents of the covered areas, community and educational organizations, collection services, and the recycling sector.
What it proposes.
- Municipal solid waste collection points in high-density areas.
- Coverage, specifications, and maintenance of collection points.
- Municipal plans, community participation, and oversight.
Who it would affect.
- Municipalities with areas covered by the new title.
- Community boards in those areas.
- Authorities responsible for collection and oversight.
- Communities in the covered urban areas.
Key points.
- The new title would apply to urban areas with more than 5,000 inhabitants per square kilometer where urban development prevents traditional household collection.Art. 1
- The collection points would separate organic, recyclable, and non-recyclable waste according to categories defined in the regulations.Art. 1
- There would be at least one collection point for every 500 inhabitants and a maximum distance of 100 meters, subject to reasoned exceptions based on topography or accessibility.Art. 1
- Each point would have separate containers, a durable platform, signage, lighting, and safe pedestrian access.Art. 1
- Municipalities would submit a distribution plan within 12 months after the law takes effect and update it every 3 years.Art. 1
- The Urban and Household Sanitation Authority (Autoridad de Aseo Urbano y Domiciliario) would oversee compliance and approve a list of corregimientos prepared jointly with the other specified institutions.Art. 1
- The Executive Branch would issue regulations under the law within 6 months of its promulgation; failure to comply would give rise to any liability applicable under law.Art. 2