Basic diagnosis of solid waste generated at Agua Blanca State Park to propose waste management strategies

State parks are highly sensitive areas of great natural importance and tourism value. Herein a case study involving a basic survey of solid waste which was carried out in 2006 in Agua Blanca State Park, Macuspana, Tabasco, Mexico with two sampling periods representing the high and low tourist season is presented. The survey had five objectives: to find out the number of visitors in the different seasons, to consider the daily generation of solid waste from tourist activities, to determine bulk density, to select and quantify sub-products; and to suggest a possible treatment. A daily average of 368 people visited the park: 18 862 people in 14 days during the high season holiday (in just one day, Easter Sunday, up to 4425 visitors) and 2092 visitors in 43 days during the low season. The average weight of the generated solid waste was 61.267 kg day⁻¹ and the generated solid waste average per person was 0.155 kg person⁻¹day⁻¹. During the high season, the average increased to 0.188 kg person⁻¹day⁻¹ and during the low season, the average decreased to 0.144 kg person⁻¹day⁻¹. The bulk density average was 75.014 kg m⁻³, the maximum value was 92.472 kg m⁻³ and the minimum was 68.274 kg m⁻³. The sub-products comprised 54.52% inorganic matter; 32.03% organic matter, 10.60% non-recyclable and 2.85% others. Based on these results, waste management strategies such as reuse/recycling, aerobic and anaerobic digestion, the construction of a manual landfill and the employment of a specialist firm were suggested.