The Supreme Court of Argentina has ruled for the resumption of construction work on the Laudato Si Environmental Center and the remediation of the open-air landfill in Luján.
This ruling marks the end of a prolonged litigation that spanned three years in various courts.
A pivotal ruling for environmental management
The decision by the highest court, with the signatures of Horacio Rosati, Carlos Rosenkrantz, and Ricardo Lorenzetti, dismisses the appeals filed by the New Environment Civil Association, led by Viviana Novelle, who opposed the project.
The Laudato Si Environmental Center, which is 70% complete, is being built with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Its halt over the last 15 months coincided with the flood control works of the Luján River, although these works never stopped as they fall under provincial jurisdiction.
A Necessary Project for Luján
The new center will replace the largest open-air landfill in the province, which has been in existence since the 1970s. Initially located far from the urban area, the demographic growth of Luján (111,000 inhabitants according to the 2022 census) has brought the landfill inside the city, causing serious environmental and health problems.
Residents report that:
- Landfill gases lead to spontaneous combustion, creating dense smoke and affecting visibility in the area.
- The sewage system’s deficiency allowed septic trucks to dump waste at the landfill.
- Environmental assembly mobilizations have demanded a definitive solution.
An environmental, structural, and social impact
The project will also formalize the work of waste pickers who depend on the landfill. Around 220 workers, many organized in cooperatives of the Excluded Workers’ Movement (MTE), are affected by precarious conditions and health issues.
The Mayor of Luján, Leonardo Boto, had requested the resumption of the work from the Minister of Environment, Daniel Scioli, facing legal and political obstacles. Now, with the Court’s decision, national authorities must ensure a healthy and balanced environment, allowing for the resumption of the halted construction.
A step forward for the city
The judicial resolution represents progress in environmental management, providing a structural and social solution for Luján.
The completion of the environmental center ensures an improvement in residents’ quality of life, reducing health and environmental risks.
