FROM WASTE DISPOSAL TO RESOURCE RECOVERY

Transcription

1 UNEP Extract from: Andersson et al. (2016) Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability. UNEP and SEI. ISBN: SANITATION, WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY FROM WASTE DISPOSAL TO RESOURCE RECOVERY

2 Extracted from: Andersson et al. (2016) Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability. UNEP and SEI. ISBN: Copyright United Nations Environment Programme and Stockholm Environment Institute, 2016 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP and SEI would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme and Stocholm Environment Institute. Editor: Caspar Trimmer, SEI Design/layout: UNEP DCPI and SEI ISBN: Disclaimer The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Moreover, the views expressed do not necessarily represent the decision or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, nor does citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement. Suggested citation: Andersson, K., Rosemarin, A., Lamizana, B., Kvarnström, E., McConville, J., Seidu, R., Dickin, S. and Trimmer, C. (2016). Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability: from Waste Disposal to Resource Recovery. Nairobi and Stockholm: United Nations Environment Programme and Stockholm Environment Institute. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SEI and UNEP would like to extend warm thanks to all of the institutions and individuals who helped make this publication possible. In particular, we would like to thank the researchers who contributed to our case studies, especially Simone Bittencourt, Cleverson Vitório Andreoli, Miguel Mansur Aisse, Beatriz Monte Serrat, Ricardo Franci, Rafaela Flach, and Denise Silvetti. We would also like to express our appreciation to the many people who gave invaluable feedback on early drafts. In no special order we thank the following expert reviewers for their input: Neil Macleod, Head of Water and Sanitation at ethekwini Water and Sanitation; Claudia Wendland, Water and Sanitation Specialist at Women Engage for our Common Future; Mariska Ronteltap, Senior Lecturer in Sanitary Engineering at UNESCO-IHE; Petter D. Jenssen, Professor at Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Valerie Naidoo, Executive Manager: Innovation & Business Development, South African Water Research Commission; Gustavo Heredia, Executive President at Fundación AGUATUYA; Anders Finnson, Svenskt Vatten; and Louise Karlberg, SEI. Funding for this publication was provided jointly by UNEP Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Activities (GPA) and SEI.

3 Extract from: Andersson et al. (2016) Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability. UNEP and SEI. ISBN: SANITATION, WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY FROM WASTE DISPOSAL TO RESOURCE RECOVERY Kim Andersson, Arno Rosemarin, Birguy Lamizana, Elisabeth Kvarnström, Jennifer McConville, Razak Seidu, Sarah Dickin and Caspar Trimmer UN Environment Programme Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Activities and Stockholm Environment Institute

4 Extracted from: Andersson et al. (2016) Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability. UNEP and SEI. ISBN: FOREWORD SANITATION, WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY: FROM WASTE DISPOSAL TO RESOURCE RECOVERY Wastewater and human excreta are commonly seen as useless and potentially dangerous waste products. However, they can also be valuable resources. The organic matter contained in our excreta and wastewater could go to improve soils or produce clean-burning, low-carbon biogas, and if properly treated, wastewater can be used for agricultural irrigation or even drinking water. Putting these resources to productive use is important, but for this to happen, a change in perceptions is needed. The goal of this book is to help bring about this change by showing how improved wastewater and sanitation management can benefit both humans and the environment alike. It is estimated that globally, we produce 9.5 million m 3 of human excreta and 900m 3 of municipal wastewater a day. These wastes contains enough nutrients to replace 25% of the nitrogen currently used to fertilize agricultural land in form of synthetic fertilizers, and it is enough water to irrigate about 15% of the farmland in the world. Harnessing these resources would help to address food security, water security and agricultural productivity, while better management would also reduce nutrient pollution of our oceans. In addition, when poor sanitation and hygiene lie behind one of the largest causes of death in children under age 5 in developing countries, there are clear health benefits to be realized by improving sanitation and wastewater management. Jakob Granit, PhD Centre Director SEI Stockholm Deputy Director SEI This book, however, looks beyond human health, marine environment protection and resource recovery to the many other ways that sustainable sanitation and wastewater systems can contribute to meeting the social, environmental and economic goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There are job opportunities, for example, along the entire sanitation and wastewater value chain of this circular economy. There are potential gains for education, economic productivity and gender equity. Communities can also become more resilient to natural and man-made hazards. And ecosystems are better able to provide life- and lifestylesustaining services. In addition, improved management of sanitation of wastewater systems can make important contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation that are often overlooked. Improving wastewater and sanitation management globally, and particularly in developing countries, is not something that can be done quickly. Moreover, it requires substantial investments. Nonetheless, it is our hope that this book will inspire policy-makers as well as civil society and private sector actors to start moving towards a future where wastewater and sanitation systems make valuable contributions to promoting healthy and sustainable communities while also contributing to a healthier environment. Mette Løyche Wilkie Director, Ecosystems Division, UN Environment ii

5 Extract from: Andersson et al. (2016) Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability. UNEP and SEI. ISBN: THE AUTHORS Kim Andersson is a Research Fellow at SEI and currently leads the SEI Initiative on Sustainable Sanitation. Dr Sarah Dickin is a Research Fellow at SEI and works in the SEI Initiative on Sustainable Sanitation. Dr Elisabeth Kvarnström is a researcher at SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden and part of the group Urban Water Management. Dr Birguy Lamizana is a Programme Officer at UNEP and currently leading the UNEP Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Activities (GPA) Wastewater portfolio. Dr Jennifer McConville is a researcher at SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden and part of the group Urban Water Management. Dr Arno Rosemarin is a Senior Research Fellow at SEI and works in the SEI Initiative on Sustainable Sanitation. Dr Razak Seidu is a Professor and the leader of the Water and Environmental Engineering Group at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Ålesund. Caspar Trimmer is a Science Writer and Editor at SEI and communications lead for the SEI Initiative on Sustainable Sanitation.

6 Extracted from: Andersson et al. (2016) Sanitation, Wastewater Management and Sustainability. UNEP and SEI. ISBN: