Centro de Gestión Ambiental

Abstract

Corabastos, the largest wholesale food market in Colombia, faces critical environmental challenges stemming from waste management and the impact of its activities on the surrounding environment. Despite managing 85% of the waste generated, the remaining 15% is not efficiently handled, exacerbating operational sustainability issues and endangering nearby ecosystems, such as the adjacent wetland. This project proposes the creation of an Environmental Management Center to improve waste management, optimize environmental control processes, and protect the surrounding natural resources. Additionally, the project integrates monitoring and environmental control strategies, focusing on mitigating the negative effects on the nearby wetland. This includes the implementation of wastewater management systems and awareness programs for market users, aimed at promoting more sustainable practices. Finally, the center will include areas dedicated to environmental education and awareness, where workshops and training sessions will be provided for Corabastos’ traders, workers, and visitors. These educational spaces will be designed to foster a culture of reduction, reuse, and recycling, contributing to behavioral changes that allow for more sustainable and environmentally friendly operations. This project will not only benefit Corabastos in operational terms but will also have a positive impact on the surrounding ecosystem, particularly in protecting the wetland, and will serve as a model for environmental management for other markets and urban centers across the country.