Buenos Aires
The Urban Hygiene Observatory of the City of Buenos Aires
DURATION: Ongoing
POPULATION: Buenos Aires: 15,752,000 (Growth rate 0.86%)
TOPICS: WASTE MANAGEMENT, URBAN HYGIENE INDICATORS, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, CIRCULAR ECONOMY, DATA COLLECTION
URA SCOPE: ECONOMY Urban Prosperity Beyond GDP, STRATEGY. Shared Vision
MAIN ACTORS:The Urban Hygiene Observatory of the City of Buenos Aires, Sustentar Civil Association and the School of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires
Since 2018, a quiet but determined effort has been reshaping the way Buenos Aires manages its waste and cares for its public spaces. Behind it stands the Ministry of Public Space and Urban Hygiene, tasked with a complex mission: to design a city where environmental care, accessibility, and shared spaces improve everyday life for its residents.
Among its key responsibilities is the city’s solid waste management plan—an ambitious strategy focused on recovering materials from across the waste stream: recyclables, organic matter, construction debris, and garden waste.
To support this task, the Urban Hygiene Observatory was created. It is the result of a collaborative effort between the Sustentar Civil Association and the School of Agriculture at the University of Buenos Aires. Independent and technically rigorous, the Observatory operates as an advisor to the Ministry, producing evidence and performance indicators that help evaluate and improve waste management and urban cleanliness across the city. But the Observatory is not just about data. It is structured around principles of shared knowledge and public engagement. Working with recycling cooperatives, hygiene companies, neighbourhood groups, and public institutions, the Observatory gathers information in ways that involve the community—residents, students, recyclers, and informal waste pickers alike.
These co-creation efforts not only produce better insights but also build trust and awareness. Over the years, more than 50 students and recent graduates from environmental programs have contributed to the work of the Observatory, gaining hands-on experience in a field that is becoming increasingly critical. Training the next generation of experts in urban hygiene is part of a wider goal: creating sustainable systems that serve everyone.
The Observatory also acts as a meeting point for different sectors—public, private, and civil society. Its structure encourages dialogue and cooperation, allowing various actors to take part in shaping public policy.
In doing so, it offers a model for how cities can move toward a circular economy—one grounded not only in efficiency but in shared responsibility and long-term inclusion.
Challenge & Context
Cities like Buenos Aires face a growing challenge linked to the enormous volume of waste generated daily. With millions of residents and continuous urban activity, the city produces vast quantities of household, commercial, organic, and construction waste, placing significant pressure on collection, treatment, and final disposal systems. This complexity is further compounded by the heterogeneity of the city’s urban fabric, which includes both formal neighbourhoods and densely populated informal settlements with limited infrastructure and accessibility.
A critical aspect of the problem lies in the limited public understanding of proper waste management practices. Despite the availability of services and infrastructure in many areas, there is still a widespread lack of awareness regarding basic concepts such as waste separation at source, recyclable material identification, and the environmental impacts of improper disposal. Household habits often fail to align with the requirements of effective recycling systems, weakening the potential for resource recovery and increasing the volume of waste sent to landfills.
This disconnection between urban waste generation and societal awareness presents a pressing environmental and public management issue. Without a shift in public perception and behaviour, the sustainability of urban waste systems remains uncertain in the face of growing demand and finite resources.
Solution Proposed
The Urban Hygiene Observatory was established to contribute to the improvement of Buenos Aires’ waste management system by providing technical assistance, generating standardized and systematic information, and developing performance indicators for ongoing monitoring. Its aim is to support informed decision-making in public policy and to facilitate access to reliable data for citizens and institutions alike.
Operating in a complex environment involving diverse stakeholders—such as civil society organizations, recycling cooperatives, sanitation service providers, and public agencies—the Observatory promotes a coordinated and evidence-based approach to urban hygiene. Its methodology combines objective data collection with participatory tools, including citizen perception surveys, co-creation workshops, and fieldwork in both formal and informal urban areas. Special emphasis is placed on integrating the principles of a circular economy, with a focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. The Observatory has created and applied key indicators—such as the Urban Hygiene Index and the Recycling Monitor—across a range of urban contexts, including vulnerable neighbourhoods.
By fostering collaboration and transparency, the Observatory contributes to a more inclusive and efficient waste management system, advancing environmental sustainability and supporting an improved quality of life for the city’s residents.
Impact
The Urban Hygiene Observatory of Buenos Aires has established a comprehensive framework for generating data-driven insights that inform public policies on waste management and urban cleanliness. Through participatory methodologies, over 70 tailored studies have been conducted in response to the City Government’s needs. This approach has resulted in measurable improvements in hygiene conditions, particularly in informal settlements, and strengthened recycling systems citywide.
Key indicators developed by the Observatory—such as the Urban Hygiene Index (ICL), Recycling Monitor, and Recyclability Index—have provided systematic, objective tools for assessing cleanliness and material recovery. The ICL, applied in over 3,200 blocks across 12 editions, has enabled continuous benchmarking and evidence-based policy interventions. Its adaptation to vulnerable neighbourhoods, in collaboration with cooperatives and residents, demonstrates the flexibility and inclusiveness of the methodology. The Recycling Monitor has quantified household behaviour regarding source separation, analysing over 50 tons of waste and refining methods through expert panels and community surveys. The Recyclability Index further supports systemic improvement by evaluating materials’ potential reintegration into productive cycles, accounting for technical and contextual constraints.
Training over 50 young professionals and engaging thousands of citizens through citizen science initiatives, such as the Citizen Lab, the Observatory has enhanced awareness and contributed to cultural shifts in waste practices. Publishing results through the City’s open data platform ensures transparency and public engagement.
By aligning empirical evidence with inclusive strategies, the Observatory enables coordinated action among public institutions, cooperatives, and citizens—resulting in actionable insights, improved public services, and progress toward a circular, inclusive urban model.
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