Sunday, 29 January 2012

Waste Management Strategy

Consequences of poor waste management
Pollution --> affect Public health and safety

      Particulate matter – smoke, ash, dust; due to open burning
      Air pollution (e.g. SOx, HCl, HF - acids, NOx, dioxins/furans)
      Toxic leachates (e.g. organics, Pb, Cd, Hg - heavy metals); electronic waste left at open dumping, when raining, cause leachates to leech into the environment
      Pathogens and Pests; raise of rat, cockroach, mosquitoes
      Fire Hazard (from litter accumulation or methane gases)
      Sharps; broken glass
Low efficiency and high cost
Don’t have a proper on-site waste storage system, lead to more problems (aftermath) accumulate within the city. More problem à more solution needed à more cost involved
Nuisance - Hurts tourism
Tourism affect with odor, smell; less income for the country

Singapore - manage its waste (waste management system) - Introduce legislation and enforcement framework
       Environmental Public Health Act, Chap 95, Part III regulates
      Storage
      Collection –  requiring dustbins, labeling and transporting hazardous waste, frequency, only by licensed collectors
      Maintenance – e.g. of refuse lifts/chutes
      Disposal – only at authorised and licensed locations
       Environmental Protection and Management Act regulates
      Source control – e.g. controls sales and imports of hazardous waste
      Pollution control
       Enforcement
      Financial penalties of up to $5000 for 1st offense, $10000 for 2nd offense or imprisonment (Environmental Public Health Act, Chap 95, Section 103)

Singapore - manage its waste (waste management system) – Proper planning (see below for more)
Proper planning (factors)
Rationale
By considering the constraints of the country such as space,  climate, population density
This help to determine the waste collection frequency, collection routes, waste generation rate, other necessary information in help for waste management system
Of waste treatment and waste disposal lifespan and locations
(NIMBY = Not In My BackYard)
Help to determine it type of treatment, resources and energy recovery, waste on-site storage system; No to open dumping to land and water bodies
Of strategies to minimize waste generated
allow all stakeholder to understand that waste can be reduce ; Prevention à Reuse à Recycling à Energy recovering à Disposal
Of cost-effective disposal options
Find way to reduce cost yet waste management system  is still as effective as before; including shortening the waste collection routes, reduce fuel usage, other (mostly focus on area of improvement of the system, in term of $$$)

Singapore - manage its waste (waste management system) – involves of all stakeholder
stakeholder
People 
Public
Private
Example
Citizen; resident ; waste contributor
Government Ministries and Agencies;
National Environmental Agency (NEA); Ministry of Health (MOH); Singapore Environmental Institute (SEI) provides training; Land Transport Authority (LTA)
businesses and industries

800 Super; Sembcorp; Veolia Environmental Services

contribution to effective and sustainable waste management
educated and active in reducing waste generation volume, recovering resources, and preventing health risks

Clear which government agency is in charge of each aspect;
Enforcement/penalties are imposed;
Cost-effective sustainable solutions
Higher quality of service;
Labor force;
Market driven à lower costs

Licensing
-Ensures adequate standard of operation, training and workplace safety
-Increases contractor’s credibility and accountability
roles and responsibilities
-increase awareness by education and training
-active participation in waste reduction habits

-Clear allocation of responsible to all government agencies in charge for different aspects
-Enforcement and penalties are imposed
-cost-effective sustainable solutions
-forms information network, initiatives and incentives for high quality services
-offers recognition and shares best practices for waste management and recycling
-labour force
-motivation for low cost products and technology as for market demand





Planning of waste management strategy considers
Proper planning (factors)
Rationale
The constraints of the country such as available land space and climate
Help to determine the waste collection frequency, collection routes
Consumer’s habit and population density
waste generation rate, whether is it high or low
Waste treatment options (cost and technological requirement)
available waste treatment within the country –consider cost and advancement in technological
Life span and location of waste disposal facilities
the amount of time it can digest the waste; e.g. the time when landfill is full for Singapore
Strategies to minimize waste generation
allow all stakeholder to understand that waste can be reduce ; Prevention à Reuse à Recycling à Energy recovering à Disposal
Cost-effective disposal options
Find way to reduce cost yet waste management system  is still as effective as before; including shortening the waste collection routes, reduce fuel usage, other (mostly focus on area of improvement of the system, in term of $$$)

Waste management challenges vary from developing to developed country
management challenges in developing country
management challenges in developed country
  • Education
  • Waste disposing habit
  • Poverty
  • Technologic feasibility and cost
  • Corruption
  • Rummagers
  • Weaker economy so less money for solid waste management
  • High consumption
  • High quantity of services
  • Not immediate disposal of waste in the backyard
  • Mature (advanced) facilities need to be provided

Objective for Waste Management Strategy
-          cause and consequences of poor waste management and control
-          Waste management system in Singapore comprise of legislation and enforcement framework, contribution from all stakeholder (public, people, private) and consider to undertake when planning for waste management system.
-          waste management strategy varies in developing to developed countries according to consumers lifestyle, economic conditions and technological affordability, as both country has different waste management challenges