Importance of Waste Management within the Urban Infrastructure Social Impacts and Competition with other Public and Commercial Services

Transcription

1 Importance of Waste Management within the Urban Infrastructure Social Impacts and Competition with other Public and Commercial Services Prof. Dr.-Ing. G. Rettenberger, FH Trier 1. Introduction Obviously waste management is that aera which is in the public attention in the rear position Waste laws had been mostly the latest regulations in environmental protection approaches What are the reasons for that? Is that justified? 1

2 2. Aims for waste management In Germany there are at the moment two big arguments for improving the waste management in the future Complete recycling to avoid any landfilling until 2020 Closure and aftercare of all existing landfills Aftercare for landfills 2

3 Therefore the costs for future waste management as overall costs are clear: Collection and transport Treatment Aftercare of the landfills 75 / Mg 100 / Mg 30 / Mg Sum total 205 / Mg To reach that aim depends from - The willing to do that in comparison with other aims - The financial ressources to afford all the expenses (f.e. internationally 10 15/Mg are paid for landfilling) 3

4 3. The role of waste management in the present time The importance of waste management in the public view is dropped down in the past because: - Nearly no new sites had been selected - The technology was improved successfully - less development of the treatment technology happens because it is to expensive (public programs had been reduced) - Waste management is a standing technology - Waste import in Germany is accepted In reality waste management has a important role: - Waste treatment has a big influence on the greenhouse effect (f.e. landfills contribute as much as 40 % of the traffic) - Waste management plays an important role in solid ressources (Materials like metal, fertilizer) - Waste management is an alternative ressource for energy (incineration, RDF, incineration of wood and sludges, biogas) Waste management plays an import role in the hygienic conditions of human settlements Waste management contributes to public security and cleanliness Waste management educates in sustainable behaviour 4

5 4. Acceptence for waste management Obviously this importance is less accepted as the following points can give hints: - The conversion of the new waste strategy in Germany was quite late - Landfill operation was always simple, landfill closure is carried out only slowly and less sofisticated, landfill mining even if obviously is the best solution is not been done - Some areas still have no separate collection of biowaste although the law asks the opposite - Increase of dues are not accepted even if the standard is improved - New sites are not accepted 5. Conclusions Why is there a difference between acceptence and real situation? - Any changes disturb existing situations (f.e. scavangers, existing trading of old materials, existing operation - Any changes disturb existing labour - Priorities have changed in the past concerning jobs, international standards because of globalization 5

6 Demographic situation influences the thinking of the society Priority is given to those strategies which can improve the agreeable parts of life like entertainment, education, travelling, lifestyle Cultural aspects Poverty influences thinking for environmental necessity Fair dues are important Less sensibility for environmental aspects 6. Consequences To install a sustainable waste system it is necessary that the - Cost benefit is obvious - The role of waste management for to indulge the ressources is important - The role of waste management is important for the environment - That an improvement of standards is necessary, 15 / Mg for treatment is not sufficient 6

7 And what is very important is that the existing system has to be adopted in the future system Not only concerning waste technologies but also the social,economical and educational situation of the society 7