Landfill2015. The Role of the Informal Waste Sector in Affecting Alternate Waste Treatment. Lloyd Wallace, Waste and Environmental Engineer

Transcription

1 The Role of the Informal Waste Sector in Affecting Alternate Waste Treatment Lloyd Wallace, Waste and Environmental Engineer B Eng (Hons) Environmental Engineering

2 This Presentation Introduction to Waste Management Solid Waste Management Status Quo The Informal Waste Sector Alternative Economic Instruments Towards Sustainable Waste Management

3 Introduction: Solid waste management in developing countries is, in general, poorly executed presenting significant social, health, environmental and financial impacts. Environmental Reduce negative environmental impacts around SWM. Social Create jobs and improve the working conditions. Financial Financial sustainability of SWM activities. Health Reduce the incidence of negative health effects. Technical Novel technologies and systems.

4 Status Quo of Solid Waste Management Migration from Rural to Urban Areas (Unemployed Low Income) Municipal budgets for Solid Waste Management are low Inadequate waste collection Disposal to unlined, informal waste dumps Lack of Separation at Source Significant impacts to health & safety

5 Status Quo of Solid Waste Management Majority of Municipal Solid Waste is disposed to Landfill without any pre-treatment. Why landfill instead of trying to divert waste? Cheapest solution from a financial cost perspective. Full cost accounting shows that landfilling is not the cheapest option.

6 Status Quo of Solid Waste Management Why is separating out the organic stream important? Potential for Waste to Energy (WtE) and bioprocessing. Reduce the potential for contamination of landfills post closure.

7 The Informal Waste Sector Largely disregarded or recipients of hostility. Significant cost savings and efficiency in recovery of recyclables Shows good collection efficiency especially in low income areas Needs careful consideration as decisions impact their livelihoods with potential negative repercussions Significant opportunities exist for job creation, skills development and social upliftment.

8 The Informal Waste Sector Primary Waste Picking Activities: Itinerant Buyers (Door to Door) Street Waste Picking (From bins before collection) Municipal Waste Collection Crew Waste Picking off Dump-sites From Wilson et al (2006)

9 The Informal Waste Sector From Wilson et al (2006)

10 The Informal Waste Sector IWS Value Chain: Lower Levels Heavily Exploited by Higher Levels Organisation amongst the lower levels is crucial From Wilson et al (2006)

11 The Informal Waste Sector Philippines Case Study: Iloilo City Population Sustainable Livelihood Approach to use SWM to create jobs and solve problems In two years: Established a Informal Waste Representative Assoc. Created 95 sustainable jobs with a forecast of 160 additional jobs as the program developed Average income 3 5 times the Minimum Wage

12 Alternative Economic Instruments Who pays for the management of MSW? Municipalities and other public entities, but their available financial resources to do so are very limited. Issues with this model? Municipalities are not directly responsible for the generation of MWS. They are not receiving the financial benefits that the generators of the waste enjoy.

13 Alternative Economic Instruments Polluter Pays Principle is being implemented through the development of Economic Instruments and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programs. Successful business models behind using ring-fenced funds have not been linked to the involvement of unskilled labour, especially in a municipal environment.

14 Towards Sustainable Solid Waste Management:

15 Towards Sustainable Solid Waste Management: Developing countries need low tech, labour intensive solutions Waste separation improves recycling efficiencies Pre-treating the organic fraction reduces the duration for contamination The value of the Informal Waste Sector should not be ignored

16 Thank you for your attention. Any questions? Lloyd Wallace, Environmental Engineer B Eng (Hons) Environmental Engineering