Diseño de un sistema descentralizado de recolección, gestión y transformación de residuos urbanos con una perspectiva de negocio escalable y replicable para promover la economía circular en Quito, Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: With the growth of the world population, the amount of waste generated has increased significantly, creating new challenges for the waste management industry and opening spaces for innovation for the sustainable development of Latin America. In Quito alone, more than 2,200 tons of waste are produced every day. Although 85% of this waste could be used for different industrial processes, only 9% is recycled due to limitations in infrastructure and recycling culture. In addition, the lack of modernization of current processes makes this industry neither profitable nor scalable. This research explores the perspectives of industry leaders, analyzing the current state of recycling in the city and identifying opportunities for improvement based on the use of technology and institutional cooperation. As a result, an innovative business model is proposed that incorporates a digital platform to improve operational efficiency, the linking of grassroots recyclers as logistics operators and the quantification and communication of environmental impact as a gamification tool to generate a cultural and social shift towards a circular economy.