In Chile, approximately 6.5 millions of tons of MSW were generated in 2008 [4], and since the System of Environmental Evaluation (SEE) came into force in 1997, the country has made considerable progress in matters of collection, recycling, minimisation and landfilling of MSW. Approximately 60% of the total MSW generated was collected in the municipalities (data from 2008), with a rate of approximately 80% collection in municipalities with populations upwards of 50,000 inhabitants (data from 2007) [5]. Furthermore, the country contains an internal market for recycled plastic, cardboard, glass, aluminium and scrap, accounting for 11% in the Metropolitan Region [6].
Beyond the progress accomplished thus far, significant challenges remain to improving the management of a growing amount of MSW associated with the rising income levels observed in recent decades as well as demographic growth. Modifications of recent sanitary regulations should improve the conditions of final MSW disposition sites.