Optional Sectoral Module SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT In a resilient city, the solid waste system offers affordable collection services to all residents, irrespective of their tenure status (inclusive). Regulations for waste collection, disposal and treatment, especially of hazardous waste, are enforced to protect human health and safety, and the environment (robust). Performance of waste facilities and collection services are regularly evaluated and the recorded (and potential future) vulnerabilities during shocks and stresses inform maintenance and upgrading decisions (reflective). After a disaster event, the city has resources and procedures for dealing with large quantities of debris and/or cleanup of hazardous waste (redundant and coordinated). APPLICABLE RELATIONSHIP TO RESILIENCE TOPIC GUIDING QUESTION RESILIENCE QUALITY QUALITY Institutional Who manages the waste Coordinated Close coordination among solid Capacity collection services in the waste service providers facilitates city, including municipal, planning for future demand, and industrial, electronic, and accelerates re-routing and treatment construction waste? If there of excess or hazardous waste after a are several agencies, are they disaster event. well-coordinated in terms of management, planning, and emergency response? 1 Revised 2018 Finance What are the funding sources Robust Waste management systems that for waste collection, treatment strive for complete coverage and and storage, and to what extent continuous operation require does each mode achieve cost sustained and reliable funding. recovery? Cost recovery within the solid waste sector implies sustainable management, where revenues from waste collection (ie. user fees), treatment (ie. composting revenue), and disposal (ie. tipping fees) recover operational expenses, at the very minimum. Finance Does the city have funds set Redundant A contingency fund covers aside to cover waste collection unexpected disruptions in the and disposal in the event of a solid waste management system, disaster? accommodates sudden demand increases and changes in regular financing flow. Waste contingency funds are also used for cleanup of hazardous waste after industrial accidents, and damage to solid waste facilities Planning Do current waste management Inclusive An equitable waste management systems cover all areas of the system is characterized by coverage city, including informal and low to all residential areas of the city income neighborhoods, in an (irrespective of formality), as well equitable manner? If no, are as service quality and affordability. there plans for expanding solid Extending waste collection services waste services for all segments to all residents, irrespective of of the urban population? their tenure status, is an important element of environmental protection. Planning Does the city monitor and gather Reflective Monitoring the city’s current and data on the performance of the estimated growth, both formal solid waste system? Are informal and informal, allows for improved settlements incorporated into capacity management and targeted demand estimates? collection in new development areas. Recognition of informal settlements during solid waste demand estimates allows for more inclusive and accurate planning of services. 2 Planning Are any waste facilities located Robust; Monitoring performance of key in high risk areas? How have Reflective waste facilities during previous the facilities been impacted disaster events allows the city to by past disasters? Have identify vulnerabilities and make previous disruptions informed necessary maintenance/upgrading improvements and substantial investments to improve the overall changes in the system? robustness of the city’s waste management system. High risk sites (such as dumpsites that are unmonitored and could result in an explosion or landslide/collapse) should be managed and/or closed. demand estimates allows for more inclusive and accurate planning of services. Capacity Does the current capacity of the Robust Being able to manage current waste system meet existing and and projected quantities of waste projected demand? is essential for avoiding the environmental consequences of non-collection and inappropriate disposal. Capacity Does the city have a waste Robust Successful waste reduction at reduction strategy and both the household and industry implementation system? level can lessen the pressure on Does the city promote waste the waste system and reduce reduction at the household the public resources that go into and industry level by means of managing waste. Waste reduction formal education, community is particularly important in face of training/awareness raising growing population and economic campaigns and government activity. incentives? Does the city promote incentives for diversion and/ or productive use of waste (ie. composting, anaerobic digestion) in addition to waste reduction? 3 Capacity If a processing/disposal facility Robust; The ability of the city’s waste fails, how long can the collection Redundant management system to absorb continue without waste piling regular waste production despite up on the collection points? failure in one processing/disposal facility is indicative of the systems robustness or need for alternative facilities. Capacity In the event of exceeded Redundant A city which has identified capacity or disaster, are alternative waste service providers alternative service providers and contracting processes in place with adequate equipment and for outsourcing waste management trained staff readily available? activities is effectively able to handle If needed, does the city have a sudden increases in service demand. process in place to accelerate If waste accumulates in the streets, the contracting process with there is also a risk of an infectious private entities to undertake disease epidemic. waste collection and disposal of large quantities of waste? Safety & Does the city have a fire Robust Because waste can be combustible, Health management plan for its waste collection and disposal sites collection and disposal sites? should have procedures for reducing Does the city require leachate risk of fires and containing potential and landfill gas collection and fire impacts. Collection and treatment systems to screen appropriate handling of leachate for hazardous waste and be and landfill gas prevents landfill constructed with explosion explosions and contamination of proof-equipment? groundwater with toxic chemicals. Safety & Does the city have regulations Robust Regulations for treatment and Health for treatment and disposal of disposal of hazardous waste are hazardous industrial waste? Are necessary for protection of human the regulations enforced? health and the environment. Enforcement of protective regulations ensures that the responsibility of safe treatment and disposal hazardous waste lies with industries that produce such waste. 4 Safety & Does the city have a separate Robust In order to limit exposure to Health collection and treatment system contaminants and infectious for medical and infectious diseases medical waste must be waste? Is the waste disposed managed according to rigorous in a sanitary waste disposal public safety regulations. This facility (sanitary landfill or a requires the city to enforce its own waste to energy facility) that is medical waste regulations and to operational? Are the regulations have an operational sanitary waste for separation of medical waste disposal facility for appropriate enforced? treatment of medical waste. Safety & Does the city have programs to Reflective; Waste pickers face many risks to Health improve safety and health of Inclusive their health and safety to their waste workers and waste pickers exposure to heavy and sharp (i.e. education about hazardous materials, hazardous and infectious and explosive waste, provision waste and smoke from dump sites. of protection equipment etc.)? Awareness regarding these risks and access to protective equipment helps reduce injuries and infections among waste pickers. System Is the collection system able to Robust Extreme weather can disrupt waste Continuity continue to operate in event of collection. Ability to continue extreme weather (e.g. heavy collecting waste during severe snow, storm/flooding, heavy weather events depends on the winds)? Are the transfer stations design of collection trucks, ability to and treatment/disposal facilities use main roads and/or re-route when able to continue to operate in necessary. the event of extreme weather? Is accessibility on major roads maintained? Are the collection trucks enclosed? System Does the waste management Redundant Emergency fuel storage can support Continuity department have emergency continued waste management fuel storage to handle extended during extended power shortages. shortages? Are the waste Backup generators can keep critical facilities equipped with backup waste equipment in service to avoid generators to keep critical leachate and gas spills during power equipment in service during outage. power outage (ie: leachate pumps, gas collection systems)? 5 System Does the city have an emergency Redundant Disaster events can leave large Continuity disposal site (or otherwise amounts of debris and waste behind. an agreement with a nearby Approved sites allow the city to facility) to dispose all excessive quickly dispose of excess waste after amounts of waste that its a disaster. system cannot handle? Connectivity Does the city ensure that solid Robust The city can help prevent waste does not block drainage, waste blocking drainage and and contaminate waterways contaminating the environment or wetlands? Are major storm by providing affordable collection drains across the city equipped services to all areas of the with trash removal grates? city and penalizing those that inappropriately dispose waste. Grated stormwater drains allow for easy removal of debris that would otherwise clog drains. Documents and Tools Informing the Guiding Questions: • Environmental Services Association UK, Reducing Fire Risks at Waste Management Sites. Draft fire control guidance (2014) • UNEP, Health and Safety Guidelines for Waste Pickers in South Sudan (2013) • US Environmental Protection Agency, Incident Waste Decision Support Tool (I-WA 6