title: Capacity building in rural Guatemala by implementing a solid waste management program.
abstract: The development and implementation of a solid waste management program served to build local capacity in San Mateo Ixtatán between 2002 and 2003 as part of a public health action plan. The program was developed and implemented in two phases: (1) the identification and education of a working team from the community; and (2) the completion of a solid waste classification and quantification study. Social capital and the water cycle were two public health approaches utilized to build a sustainable program. The activities accomplished gained support from the community and municipal authorities. A description of the tasks completed and findings of the solid waste classification and quantification performed by a local working group are presented in this paper.
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University, Health Education and Promotion Department, Environmental Health and Safety Program, Belk Annex 6, Room 105, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. zaratem@ecu.edu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slotnick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012424:Rural Population; D012499:Sanitation; D018505:Waste Management / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*