Waste Removal in Huaraz -

We have been interested in the garbage collection system in the city. It is certainly different from what we know at home. Basically each home or business puts their garbage out either late at night or very early in the morning. Pickup times vary depending on where you live on the route. At our apartment, the truck comes twice, once at, or near, 6:00 a.m. and again around 7:00 a.m. We always take it out in the morning and try to catch the 7:00 a.m. pickup. The truck comes every day except Sunday and you can put out your garbage as frequently as needed. 

In my early morning walks, I have been able to observe the various forms and locations of the garbage as well as the fate of some of the garbage that is put out at night.

These were on the corner across from our apartment, awaiting pickup by the garbage truck.

This is the usual method: bag it up and set it on the curb in front of your dwelling.

Here is another option, put it out by your car so the truck will be sure to see it.

This is interesting. The blue barrel is a garbage can but perhaps the homeowner, not being sure how soon it would be emptied, chose to put his garbage in a more visible location to ensure pickup that morning.

A creative option. Probably to make it a little more difficult for the ever present street dogs to get into the garbage.

Not all garbage is bagged.

Easy spot to remember, the street corner with the leaning street sign.

Umbrella anyone? Looks like several neighbors contributed to this pile.

Here is why it is not wise to put your garbage out at night or too early in the morning -- dogs! There are lots of street dogs here and this is perhaps the only source of food for them.

Taking his picture didn't seem to deter him from his objective.

Same corner, different day, different dog. They must have tasty scraps.

A doggie bag for take out! Maybe he didn't want to share his meal with the other dogs.

"Let sleeping dogs lie" might apply to this group. What do the street dogs do when not rummaging through garbage? Take a nap. These were on the main street downtown in front of the post office.

Garbage is not the only thing that gets piled in the street. This is construction material from the project to the left. It is covered to protect from the rain and possibly theft. Also to let the garbage truck know that it is not garbage.

This construction waste is probably intended for pickup.

A mixed assortment of construction waste and garbage.

A neat and tidy pile. Probably indicates the owner is still using the sand or gravel that is underneath.

Apparently anything can be put out for pick up.

This has been on the street for months. Obviously not in running condition,

The back doesn't look much better.

There are trash cans around the city, but not very many. There are two in the park in front of our apartment. They swivel on the posts and are emptied by tipping the bottom up until the contents fall out.

This is another style that we have seen in some residential areas. It keeps the garbage away from the dogs but they are not used very much. Most people prefer to put out their plastic bags on the curb.

Last year we posted a picture of the garbage pickup ladies who worked our neighborhood. I have not seen them since the first of the year when the new mayor was sworn in. Ladies like this one are all over the city all day sweeping up and gathering garbage, litter and dog droppings from the streets and sidewalks. Thanks to them there is some semblance of sanitation on the sidewalks and streets of the city.

Huaraz does have modern garbage trucks to pick up the bags and debri that are left out each morning. Notice the stuffed animals on the roof. Since this picture was taken they have added several more. They play music as they make their rounds as well as a recorded message about sanitation. The music easily penetrates your early morning slumber, thanks to the loudspeaker on the roof of the cab.

"Municipality District of Independencia" "A clean district is a healthy district" - We actually live in the city of Independencia, which is adjacent to Huaraz. The men riding on the back of the truck jump off and pick up the garbage and throw it in the back as the truck moves slowly through the streets.