Evaluación del cumplimiento normativo en la disposición final de residuos sólidos bajo los lineamientos de las normas NTC ISO 9001:2015 e ISO 14001:2015 en el relleno sanitario de Cimitarra, Santander

Abstract

The inadequate management of solid waste in intermediate-sized Colombian municipalities constitutes an environmental and public health problem that requires rigorous management assessments. Based on this premise, the study evaluated regulatory compliance at the La Florida sanitary landfill, located in Cimitarra, Santander. The facility, which was temporarily suspended by the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Santander, was assessed with the aim of mitigating the contamination of water sources and reducing the socio-environmental risks associated with its operation. The research adopted a mixed-method approach with a descriptive and documentary scope, developed in three stages: a documentary review of the regulatory framework using a checklist; a correspondence analysis between Colombian regulations and the NTC ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 standards; and the formulation of a framework of recommendations structured according to the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) cycle. The assessment revealed non-compliance issues affecting all phases of the cycle, with critical gaps in policy, measurable objectives, internal auditing, and performance evaluation. The correspondence analysis showed a consistent partial alignment across the seven chapters evaluated, attributable to a structural difference in purpose between regulations focused on technical and sanitary control and ISO standards aimed at systematizing management practices. In response, 16 improvement actions were proposed, 12 of which were classified as high priority. It was concluded that the landfill’s critical situation results primarily from management weaknesses rather than from a regulatory deficit and could therefore be addressed through the voluntary adoption of systematic management tools.