Management, knowledge, and utilization of organic solid waste in the tianguis of Ozumba, State of Mexico

Abstract

Currently, the municipal tianguis holds a significant place in local and regional commerce; however, this activity generates organic waste regularly. The objective of this work was to identify sociodemographic characteristics, organic waste management, and knowledge of environmental impact. A survey with 26 questions divided into three categories (sociodemographic, management, and knowledge of the environmental impact of organic waste) was designed and applied to 100 regular tianguis vendors. The obtained results underwent descriptive analysis (average, standard deviation, and percentages), revealing that 53% of the vendors are women, typically with an average of 16.56 ± 11.5 years selling in the tianguis. The most traded products are fruits (31%), vegetables (27%), and greens (17%). Vendors consider vegetables (37%) and fruits (36%) to be the most perishable due to their rapid ripening (27%) and weather conditions (34%). The average waste generated from the total sample was 43.30 ± 84.3 kg, with an economic loss per stall of $1,287.45 ± $4,208.00 Mexican pesos weekly. It is concluded that it is imperative to generate awareness strategies regarding the environmental impact and food security associated with organic waste.