Factors influencing the inadequate disposal of municipal solid waste in the Peruvian Amazon

The inadequate management of solid waste constitutes an environmental and public health problem of growing concern in Latin America, and the Peruvian Amazon is no exception. In cities such as Puerto Maldonado, infrastructure limitations, weak implementation of public policies, and sociocultural barriers shape waste disposal practices. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing the inadequate disposal of urban solid waste in Puerto Maldonado. A descriptive and cross-sectional design was applied to a sample of 383 inhabitants, selected through stratified sampling, using structured surveys that gathered sociodemographic data, waste management practices, and perceptions of barriers. Results showed that the lack of environmental education and awareness was the main barrier (73.4%), followed by insufficient policies and regulations (35.5%) and infrastructure deficiencies (31.9%). Moreover, only 12.8% of respondents reported the existence of recycling programs, while harmful practices such as open burning of waste persist among 37.1% of the population. Higher educational attainment was also associated with a reduction in inadequate practices, such as burning or dumping waste in unauthorized areas. It was concluded that the main factors influencing the inadequate disposal of solid waste in Puerto Maldonado are the lack of contextualized environmental education, deficiencies in basic infrastructure, and weak regulatory frameworks, which need to be strengthened to advance toward sustainable waste management.