Panama to Build New Leachate Pond at Cerro Patacón Landfill

The lifespan of Cerro Patacón landfill is nearing its end, making it necessary to enable a new site for the construction of a new leachate pond. This is to meet the obligation of ensuring the continuous receipt of more than 2,500 tons of garbage that arrive at the landfill daily. After a first public act that drew no bids, the Urban and Domestic Cleaning Authority (AAUD) finally awarded the project to build a leachate pond at Cerro Patacón. Currently, a fourth stage is planned with a cell whose depth will range between 3.5 and 5 meters. It is projected that Stage IV, which includes this leachate pond, will become operational by the end of 2026. A mooring zone will also be built, with layers of clay and gravel placed to protect the pipes. Previously, various final disposal cells have been built at Cerro Patacón in three phases. Building the pond includes conducting studies and designs, replanning the land, earthmoving, and the construction of a partial perimeter wall. The Cleaning Authority indicated that the implementation of a pre-closure cover is required, conceived as a transitional solution to stabilize inactive areas, minimize the infiltration of rainwater, and enable the biogas and leachate collection system until final closure of the landfill is viable, a fact that will not be possible in the coming years. The new pond will be built in such a way as to prevent the infiltration of leachates, through the placement of pipes with petrous material, the construction of an access road, a perimeter street, and a disposal ramp. An inspection carried out by the AAUD on August 4, 2025, revealed that the leachate infrastructure is in critical condition. Stage I was used from its opening until 1992 and was subsequently used partially. Cerro Patacón occupies 162 hectares in the district of Ancón and contemplated four disposal stages. The Patacón Consortium, made up of the companies Inversiones FJ, Serviequipos Construction, and Industriales PC, was the successful bidder. Another study underway for the country's main open-air landfill is an integrated biogas and leachate management project. This group of companies was the one that presented the least costly proposal of the three that bid in the public act. The other two were Grupo Innova, which submitted a $4.9 million proposal, and Administración y Supervisión de Obras Civiles, whose bid was for $5.3 million. None of the pumping stations were found to be usable, and the leachates flow through earthen channels without waterproofing, with a risk of infiltration and discharges into bodies of water. The consortium presented an offer of 4 million, 499 thousand, 999 dollars and 88 cents ($4,499,999.88).