Vital Waste Graphics 3

DISASTERS ANDWASTE DISASTERS AND CRIME

The terrifying pictures of entire villages being washed away in Japan by the March 2011 tsunami fol- lowing the biggest earthquake ever registered give an idea of the tremendous amount of debris left behind after such an event. 22 While volume is the essential challenge, a significantly more complex dimension is added by the potentially hazardous nature of chemicals present in modern society.

When disasters strike, exposure to hazardous substances is dramati- cally increased. Electronic equipment, cleaning products, medical and indus- trial waste all contain hazardous com- ponents that may affect human health and the environment. Waste management is a crucial part of reconstruction in the aftermath of a disaster. Yet aid agencies present in post-disaster areas are specialized in

humanitarian and medical aid, emer- gency food and shelter logistics, sel- dom in waste disposal. After the Haiti earthquake in 2010, large amounts of debris obstructed the rapid progress of reconstruction efforts. Moreover, whereas food packaging just added to the volume of waste in general, 15–20 per cent of the waste produced as a re- sult of the provision of first aid to the 300 000 people injured had hazardous characteristics (drugs, chlorinated hy-

drocarbons and other chemicals and bacteria). Together with out-of-date or inappropriate medicine received as part of unwanted donations, medical- waste management was a major chal- lenge. The local infrastructure, already inadequate for handling waste before the tragedy, could not cope with such hazards. Fortunately several hospitals were equipped with incinerators, which reduced the amount of medical waste dumped or burned on open ground. This example shows that without well- designed post-disaster waste-manage- ment schemes, disaster wastes are likely to cause major challenges that will ex- acerbate the dramatic consequences of the catastrophe itself. On the other hand, the re-use and recycling of debris can become a valuable resource for the rebuilding process, with a positive effect on social and economic recovery.

Sorting things out in the remains

Typical disaster waste streams

SOIL, MUD, SAND, ROCK

PLANT DEBRIS

DEMOLITION WASTE (DAMAGED BUILDINGS)

OTHER DEBRIS FROM DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADS, PIPES, ETC.)

INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING WASTE (RESHUFFLED)

Debris Million tonnes

DAMAGED GOODS

HAITI EARTHQUAKE, 2010

DISASTER- DISTURBED LANDFILL WASTE

WHITE GOODS ELECTRONICS FURNITURE, ETC.

60

High estimate

55

DAMAGED VEHICLES, VESSELS AND MACHINERY

50

FUEL PRODUCTS

Quantities too big for landfill

45

TOXIC CHEMICALS

OTHER FERMENTABLE WASTE (PAPER, CARDBOARD, ETC.) FOOD WASTE

40

35

SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE CHINA, 2008

30

The height of bars does not represent an exact number (this is a conceptual diagram). (POTENTIALLY) HAZARDOUS SHARE

KOBE EARTHQUAKE, JAPAN, 1995

25

DEAD BODIES / ANIMAL CARCASSES

Low

20

MARMARA EARTHQUAKE TURKEY, 1999

Waste generated indirectly after the event +

15

10

HEALTH CARE WASTE

L’AQUILA EARTHQUAKE ITALY, 2009

UNWANTED DONATIONS

5

Low High

ADDITIONAL FOOD WASTE DUE TO POWER OUTAGES

0

Source: Charlotte Brown et al., Disaster waste management: A review , International Journal of Integrated Waste Management, Science and Technology, February 2011.

EMERGENCY RELIEF FOOD PACKAGING

Sources: Modified from Charlotte Brown et al., 2011; US Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007.

VITAL WASTE GRAPHICS 3 34