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Chapter 1.1 Introduction. Why raise hazardous waste management standards? . To reduce risks of inadequate controls on hazardous wastes including: Health impacts for those living near uncontrolled dumps, and for waste workers
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Chapter 1.1 Introduction TRP Chapter 1.1 1
Why raise hazardous waste management standards? • To reduce risks of inadequate controls on hazardous wastes including: • Health impacts for those living near uncontrolled dumps, and for waste workers • Environmental damage from dumped waste eg groundwater pollution, contaminated land • Operational problems at waste treatment facilities where incoming wastes are not controlled • Trend to ‘export’ waste to other regions or countries if proper facilities not available • For economic reasons TRP Chapter 1.1 2
ECONOMIC VOLUNTARY INSTRUMENTS APPROACH HOW TO CONTROL? INFORMATION COMMAND AND CONTROL DISSEMINATION AND USE REGULATION WASTE GENERATOR Institutional Arrangements TRANSPORT * FACILITIES LEGISLATION FACILITIES DEFINITION OR CLASSIFICATION OF WASTE SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ELEMENTS Stakeholders WHAT TO CONTROL? COMPONENTS OF THE OVERALL SYSTEM An integrated approach to hazardous waste management Source: David C Wilson 1999 TRP Chapter 1.1 3
The size of the waste problem • Wastes of all kinds are a significant problem worldwide • Waste volumes are increasing in many countries along with industrial and population growth • Slow uptake of Cleaner Production and waste minimisation • Slow growth in off-site treatment and disposal facilities • Hazardous waste increases as a result of, for example: • growth in trade in chemical products • increase in hazardous components in household waste • improving health care, generates more medical wastes • Waste from obsolete products can be as important as waste from processing TRP Chapter 1.1 4
The context: All countries generate hazardous waste TRP Chapter 1.1 5
Global Waste Survey: aim The overall objective of the Global Waste Survey was: To develop a plan of action for co-ordinating and assisting the efforts of international agencies and countries around the world to identify and implement environmentally sound waste management options to minimise and, where possible, avoid the generation of hazardous wastes and to eliminate the dumping of industrial waste at sea. TRP Chapter 1.1 6
Global Waste Survey: first task • Global Waste Inventory (GWI) was based on a questionnaire on industrial and hazardous wastes circulated to 153 countries • formed a unique worldwide database • provided pointers of future trends • identified: • countries with serious problems • countries with legislation in place • countries generating particular types of waste • countries with specific facilities • confirmed that all countries generate hazardous wastes TRP Chapter 1.1 7
Country Profiles TRP Chapter 1.1 8
International waste management • Some highly controversial incidents of waste export were recorded in the 1980s • Many countries wanted assistance, others to share experience • There was no international monitoring arrangement, no single classification system • No clear view of what environmentally sound management really was • Cairo Guidleines provided a broad set of principles but not implementation advice TRP Chapter 1.1 9
The Basel Convention • Came into force in 1992 • As of 2001, 146 parties to the Convention Key objectives: • To minimise quantity and hazard of wastes generated • To ensure environmentally sound management and adequate disposal facilities • To dispose of wastes as close as possible to their point of generation • To reduce transboundary movements • To prohibit exports from developed to developing countries • To provide support to Member States TRP Chapter 1.1 10
Evolution of hazardous waste management controls in developed countries • HWM systems go back only 30 years • Around 25 countries with well developed HWM systems • Maybe 20 more with systems under development • All national systems have many common features eg • regulatory controls introduced in stages • gradual facility development • administration and information systems • BUT no two national systems are identical TRP Chapter 1.1 11
Developed world experience • Hazardous waste management systems and controls evolved over a long period, in stages • Gradual tightening up of controls on air and water pollution, and solid waste, revealed pollution • Increasing costs of waste disposal led to interest in waste minimisation TRP Chapter 1.1 12
Developed world lessons • Hazardous waste management controls must be introduced in stages • Legislative and enforcement measures must be developed in parallel with establishment of facilities and support services • As controls on emissions to air, land and water are gradually tightened, areas of pollution can be identified and addressed • Public communication should begin at the outset • Waste minimisation should be addressed at an early stage - waste minimisation reduces the size (and hence cost) of treatment facilities needed TRP Chapter 1.1 13
Who is concerned about waste management? • Key stakeholders include: • waste generators • waste disposal workers including those handling and transporting waste • industrial development agencies and institutions • environmental protection agencies • neighbours of waste facilities • ordinary citizens everywhere TRP Chapter 1.1 14
How easy for my country? Advantages Learn from the experience of others Disadvantages Lack of infrastructure Lack of money Lack of skills TRP Chapter 1.1 15 Source: David C Wilson 1993
Transitional technologies TRP Chapter 1.1 16 Source: David C Wilson 1993
Examples of transitional technologyTreatment plant and storage sumps for textile dyeing waste water, Bangkok TRP Chapter 1.1 17 Source: David C Wilson
Difficulties • Need to fit the pieces together: • basic information • development • implementation • enforcement • communication and training TRP Chapter 1.1 18
Resources needed • Financial investment • Technical assistance • Training for personnel • Public information and communication with industry TRP Chapter 1.1 19
Links with GNP Revenue available per person Proportion of GNP spent on all environmental services* GNP per person Country A High income nation US$16,500 eg 2% US$330 Country B Middle income nation US$1,700 eg 4% US$68 * Includes water supply, sanitation, waste management, environmental health TRP Chapter 1.1 20
Overall objectives Parallel components of a national strategy include: • Build capacity to deal with hazardous wastes • Bring locally-generated hazardous waste under control • Control trans-national corporations • Implement the Basel Convention (control import and export) TRP Chapter 1.1 21
No two countries are the same • Developing economies vary widely • It may not be appropriate or possible for small countries to support a range of regulatory measures and treatment and disposal facilities • The chosen approach must reflect local circumstances TRP Chapter 1.1 22
Guiding principles • Do something now • Provide initial funding • Use carrot and stick • Communicate with major stakeholders TRP Chapter 1.1 23
Chapter 1.1 Summary • The need for higher hazardous waste management standards, for an integrated approach, and also for quantifying waste • Lessons from developed world experience • Setting overall objectives • The need for resources • Guiding principles TRP Chapter 1.1 24