For the Audit of the City of Buenos Aires (AGCBA, for its acronym in Spanish), it was not possible to establish how many employees worked at the General Cleaning Office (DGLIM) during 2008. According to a report from the Watchdog, the area's own owner stated that in that year he had 92 people, but the Sub secretariat of Human Resources of the Government revealed that in the DGLIM there were 246 agents in the same year.

The unit in question is responsible for implementing the final disposal program for municipal solid waste. The auditors pointed out that the management of information in the LLGLD is "inadequate and insufficient". In fact, it is emphasized that there were "drawbacks" in the making of the investigation, because "most of the information required by note to the Directorate was not provided." Likewise, the AGCBA observed a "considerable ignorance on the part of the officials" that work there in relation to relevant aspects of its management, for example, the staffing.

Controls

In its work, the DGLIM must inspect the monthly certificates issued by the Ecological Coordination Metropolitan State Society (CEAMSE, for its acronym in Spanish), which since 1977 is the only provider of the final disposal service of solid waste.

However, the City Audit detected that the Directorate "does not in all cases carry out checks on the historical records that are entered into the computer system of the CEAMSE". The tare weight is the weight of the waste trucks when they are empty. The importance of this observation, explained the technicians, is that to verify the work of the CEAMSE, the gross tare (the loaded truck) is contrasted with the historical tare, which is measured twice a year, and from that difference arises the tare net, the basis weight used to calculate how much to pay for the disposal service.


From the examples analyzed by the AGCBA, it was found that in two cases there were "substantial differences between the historical tare and the one recorded in the certificate delivered by CEAMSE, a situation that causes economic damage to the City. This is due to the lower historical burden, higher net weight and, consequently, higher value of service." This was observed in a truck of the company AESA, internal 3301 with patent BUZ 225, and in another one of the firm CLIBA, internal 1351 with patent GOT 176 (see chart).


In addition, the report states that the Cleaning Directorate "does not carry out inspections regarding the performance of the CEAMSE and that it only controls - by GPS - that the domain (patents) of trucks entering the plants are properly entered in the monthly certificate.” Moreover, the technicians added that "the whole system of certification of the service rests on the information provided by the contractor and the Urban Hygiene Entity, and the existence of a control by the opposition is not verified."

Zero Rubbish

In the City of Buenos Aires, a law, 1854, establishes the principle of "zero waste", defined as "the progressive reduction of the final disposal" of waste through a set of measures aimed at reducing generation and encouraging selective separation, recovery, and recycling.


According to this standard, the reduction in the generation of waste should go as far as banning the final disposal of recyclable materials by 2020. However, the Watchdog points out that, in 2008 (the period analyzed by the AGCBA) have not operated a reduction compared to 2007, which marks a trend contrary to the goals set."