Full text version of this study is available as an EEPSEA research report: Solid waste segregation and recycling in Metro Manila : household attitudes and behavior

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003. | Since 1994, there have been sweeping changes made to South African policy and legislation, including environmental rights for all people, environmental protection and the consideration of sustainability in all activities. A national policy for medical waste management is being developed and guidelines for the South African Veterinary Council are currently being revised. By auditing contemporary veterinary waste management in one of South Africa's largest cities, this study sought to provide appropriate input into these initiatives. As a study area, the Durban Unicity provided the opportunity to audit a large population of veterinary clinics within a relatively short distance of each other arid also the opportunity to ascertain whether waste management practices were dependent on the socio-economic status of the clinics catchment area. A pilot study was used to inform the design of a questionnaire, which was then administered to thirty-two clinics sampled to represent a range in size of clinic, predominant type of patient treated and catchment socio-economic status. Another questionnaire was administered to four waste disposal companies and one veterinary diagnostics laboratory that removed waste for disposal from veterinary practices. The main findings suggest that there is a health risk to staff and the public, due to the incorrect separation, storage, handling and disposal of sharps, anatomical, contaminated domestic and infectious material. Staff at 6.3% of clinics sampled are not provided with any safety equipment. Most veterinarians (63%) as well as two of the five waste disposal companies audited were not aware of their responsibilities in terms of waste management policy and legislation. Sixty nine percent of the practices sampled reported that employees have either never been trained or have not received training in waste management in the past five years. Domestic waste contaminated with other potentially hazardous waste forms 12% of the total waste stream reported by practices. Even though the results indicate that a, few veterinary practices are mismanaging their waste this has the potential negative impact on staff, the public and the environment. The findings of the study would suggest a need for well communicated, enforceable guidelines outlining sustainable veterinary waste management for practices and waste disposal companies. The study highlights the similarities between veterinary and medical waste and the need to consider this in planning an effective waste management strategy. It also provides guidelines for a sustainable approach to veterinary waste management.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2003. | Today environmental degradation is perceived to be a global phenomena, since the Earth Summit of 1992 gained phenomenal interest among the international community. Consequently there was a major interest among conservationist, environmentalist and other disciplines to write about the alarming rate at which natural resources are being polluted and over utilized and eventually depleted. This is evident when one looks at land, air, water pollution, and deforestation and soil erosion. Human dependence on these resources, most of which are non-renewable, compounded by growth in popUlation numbers will inevitably impact the quality oflife of the global community. Most developing Urban areas in South Africa and formal residential areas where waste removal services are supposed to be available, are characterised by solid waste being illegal dumps on open spaces, streets etc. The heaps of waste have become breeding grounds for insects and pests. The odour emanating from these sites together with potential for diseases can have serious implications on the health of residents as well as aesthetic nature of the environment. It is not yet understood why such situations exists within formal serviced areas. This provided the motivation for the investigation. The purpose of the study was to investigate solid waste management practices in a forn1al residential area of Durban namely Umlazi and its negative impact on the human and natural environments. The effect of the social dimensions of households on solid waste practices was investigated in order to examine relationship between socio economic and current waste practices. Current perceptions, attitudes and solid waste practices of households were assessed to explain the influence of socio economIC factors in the planning and operations of solid waste management systems in townships. Questionnaires relating to the problem were administered to the residents ofUmlazi. The results indicated that the waste collection system is characterised by inefficiency. The study revealed that attitudes and perceptions, educational status and income are significant factors that contribute to effective waste management processes. The analysis of data for domestic solid waste showed that the evaluation of both the social demographic and solid waste generation rates is crucial in understanding why such inefficiency in formally serviced areas exists. This in turn could provide guidelines on the possible roles that households can play in the planning and implementation of domestic solid waste. Amongst others the consumption patterns, knowledge about waste management practices and preferences for service provision were interpreted. Based on the findings of this study and the review of related literature, it is concluded that attitudes and perceptions of residents need to change. Residents need to become responsible for caring for their environment and a different mind set towards solid waste is needed. Appropriate policy backed by legislation and enforceable regulations must underpin the strategic alternatives selected to deal with waste management in the purban Metropolitan Area (DMA). Policy legislation and regulations at the local level must be fitting with those set at national and provincial levels of government. The planning of integrated waste management should be a consultative process in which partnerships are encouraged between the DMA authorities and communities who will benefit from the waste management plan. The public and private organisations that handle waste in the municipality should be seen as part of the solution, not a problem, of waste management. Effective waste management should be appreciated as a public good from which benefits such as opportunities for employment, resource recovery, safe disposal of hazardous waste, reduced pollution and community development projects can spring.

Following rapid economic growth and industrialization in China, environmental problems from waste batteries are rising as a consequence. There is an urgent environmental demand to establish a waste battery management system in China. With the purpose to contribute to the development of waste battery policy in China, this study presents the environmental problems from waste batteries in China and evaluates the environmental policies of waste batteries using an analysis framework. The framework is divided into two levels: Principle of Environmental Policy and Performance Criteria of Environmental Policy. According to the newly released the Technical Guide on Waste Battery Management, the future waste battery management system is described and analyzed, leading to the findings of its strength and weakness. Some possible policies are also discussed, including a common label, bar code, collection approaches, environmental taxes/charges, deposit refund system, environmental education and public information. Finally, the study arrives at the conclusion that the general status of waste battery management in China is not good. It must be a long-term task for China to set up an effective waste battery management system and drive battery industry toward sustainable development.

Many municipalities have examined composting as an alternative to landfilling for the management of organic solid waste materials. Ultimately these materials will be land-applied and therefore some knowledge of nutrient availability will be necessary to optimize crop yield and minimize environmental risk. Field studies were conducted in 1993 and 1994 on a silt loam and a loamy sand soil in Wisconsin to determine the effect of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) on corn (Zea mays L.) yield, plant nutrient concentration, and soil nitrate N content. Municipal solid waste composts with ages of 7, 36, and 270 d were applied at rates of 22.5, 45, and 90 Mg ha⁻¹ to small plots. Rates of commercial nitrogen (N) fertilizer, ranging from 0 to 179 kg N ha⁻¹, were applied to separate plots to determine the N availability from the MSWC. Treatments were applied in the spring and incorporated before planting corn. The 270-d MSWC increased corn whole-plant dry matter and grain yield at each location in both years above the 7- and 36-d MSWC. Rate of MSWC only affected grain yield at the loamy sand site in 1994. Municipal solid waste compost had minimal effect on the levels of plant nutrients in the whole-plant tissue measured at physiological maturity. Nitrate N measured in the top 90 cm of soil was higher throughout the growing season in treatments receiving recommended N fertilizer when compared with any of the MSWC treatments. It was estimated that 6 to 17% of the total N in the 270-d MSWC became available in the first year. The land-application of mature MSWC at the tested rates would be an agronomically and environmentally admissible practice.

Participatory ecological solid waste management planning for Don Bosco College Incorporated (DBCI), Calamba City was conducted. This study had five phases: (1) formation of a technical working group (TWG); (2) round-table discussions on ISWM [integrated solid waste management]; (3) symposium on solid waste management [SWM]; (4) baseline information gathering; and (5) strategic SWM training workshop. The development of SWM was assessed using key informant interview, survey questionaire and waste appraisal. The entire process of developing a participatory ecological solid waste management (PESWM) program for DBCI was documented. The technology of participation (TOP) techniques was used to draw the strategic action plan. Source reduction strategies alone (Option 1) and combination of source reduction and recycling strategies (Option 2) were evaluated. Extended benefit cost analysis of the current and alternative options of waste management scheme was done. The major sources of solid wastes in DBCI are the Pavillion (canteen), the kitchen area, and the parks. The least waste generator is the electrical shop. Seventy-two percent of the solid wastes generated are biodegradable. Eight percent of the solid waste are sold to junkshop operators as recyclable wastes, while the rest are hauled to dumpsites as residual wastes. Per capita waste generation of students and employees is 166 g of waste daily while the entire school produces a total of 141 kg solid wastes in a day. Option 1 and Option 2 schemes could reduce the projected wastes generation by as much as 15%. These could reduce annual waste generation by as much as 5 tons. With Option 1 alone, a little more than 3 tons of waste would still be hauled to the municipal dumpsite. If source reduction and recycling strategies are implemented, none will be brought to the municipal dumpsite. The current waste management scheme and the Option 1 scheme are not economically viable. The former has a profitability index of only 0.18, while the latter only has 0.07. Option 2 has positive economic benefits of PhP246,841 in five years. It has 7 times more benefits than costs compared to the other alternatives. It also has an internal rate of return of 162% which is way beyond the discount rate of 12%. This indicates that the Option 2 scheme is the only viable scheme

Directive 1994/62 concerning packaging and packaging waste and Directive 1999/31 related to waste disposal will substantially modify the management and treatment of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Europe. In this study, a life cycle analysis has been carried out of the different possibilities of managing Municipal Solid Waste in Asturias. The “Integrated Waste Management” (IWM-1) model was employed, analysing the different alternatives for collection and treatment of MSW. This model predicts overall environmental burdens of MSW management systems and includes a parallel economical model. The sources of costs in the different systems of collection and treatment of MSW were considered in the economical analysis, as well as the sources of resource gathering that may be obtained via the sale of recovered materials. What emerges from this study is the soundness of management strategies based on biological treatment technologies in comparison with thermal treatments, together with the need to increase the level of collection at source.

The chapter deals with strategies and selected technologies of integrated waste management schemes. Waste is separated at source and yields organic waste as well as inorganic residues that can be supplied directly to recycling industries. In Addis Ababa, about 60% of the waste is organic material. If uncontaminated with toxic substances, this waste can be used as raw material for products such as energy and fertilizers. Decentralized management schemes reduce collection and transport costs and enable city dwellers and farmers to use or market the products. New technologies permit on-site processing and yield useful and marketable products. The technologies should be adapted local conditions and combined in integrated waste management schemes. Sludge from biogas digesters and ashes from incinerators, as well as urine, bones, horns, claws and feathers, can be converted into useful organic fertilizers. Wastewater can be biologically treated in ponds occupied by water plants. The cleaned water may serve for irrigation purposes, while the water plants can be used as animal feed and an energy and plant nutrient source.

A method of decision-making on livestock wastes management in areas with nutrient surplus due to high livestock density is applied in Catalonia (NE Spain). Nutrient balance is made considering soil nitrogen application as the limiting factor. Special attention is paid to the centralized treatment option. The method presented consists of: 1. minimizing livestock waste generation (at farm scale) as a step previous to any other, both in amount and limiting components, 2. applying the nitrogen balance method at regional and municipal scale and providing enough storage capacity in order to apply wastes in an agronomically correct way, 3. spatially refining the results of the nitrogen balance by a proposed method that allows precisely pinpointing the hotspots of livestock waste generation, where centralized treatment might be an interesting option, and 4. deciding on the waste treatment objectives, provided that treatments be necessary. Knowledge about the wastes, meeting the interests and merging the efforts of the various actors, as well as an adequate budget are necessary ingredients for the success of any waste management plan. | We wish to thank all the municipalities, farmer associations, individuals and students who helped identifying the UTM co-ordinates of the farms, J. Areny for his collaboration, and the Catalan Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and that of Environment for funding (University of Lleida, CTT project K0011) and facilitating data on livestock numbers and crops.