Belo Horizonte may extend landfill's useful life

The municipal government of Belo Horizonte may extend the useful life of the Brazilian city's current landfill beyond 2005 by up to four years, an official from the city's urban policy and environment department confirmed to BNamericas. Although the official said there are still plans to launch bidding to build and operate a new landfill, current demand requirements mean an immediate solution must be found, said the official. The landfill began operating in 1975. The municipality declared a previous bidding process void due to problems with the bidding rules that kept the process tied up in court. The contract entailed a 25-year concession. A study will be submitted to Minas Gerais state's environment authority Feam in coming weeks to propose extending the landfill's original 30-year useful life by up to four years, the official said. Belo Horizonte is the capital of Minas Gerais state and has some 3 million residents. The capital city generates 4,500t/d of residential and commercial waste.