(Introduction):

The proper management of waste is one of the environmental challenges currently facing worldwide, in its stages of collection, treatment and disposal. Generally, in each nation the government authorities give special attention to large cities, discriminating against rural localities due to the lack of economic and technical resources to treat and to dispose the waste properly in these sites, being the settlers responsible to give proper management to their waste, however, the practices that they perform are not reported.

(Objective):

A diagnosis of the current management of waste by settlers of three rural localities with a medium degree of marginalization, corresponding to Colonia Hidalgo, Ejido Zaragoza and Plan de Guadalupe in Sombrerete (Zacatecas, Mexico), was performed.

(Methodology):

The information was obtained from the application of a survey-type questionnaire to a representative sample of each locality.

(Results):

It was determined that the uncontrolled burning of waste is the most performed practice; organic waste is used as livestock feed in non-sanitary conditions; recyclable waste is separated, but only part of it is sold; fertilizer sacks are reused, and pesticide containers are burned in uncontrolled conditions; practices that affect the environment and the health of the settlers.

(Conclusions):

The lack of attention from government authorities in waste management in rural and marginalized localities is evident, so that the settlers develop unsustainable practices.