Waste Management Outlook for Mountain Regions

53% ORGANIC WASTE 34%

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOSITION

28% OTHER WASTE TYPES 19%

LOW INCOME COUNTRIES vs. HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES

H I G H I N C O M E C O U N T R I E S

2% METALS 5%

L O W I N C O M E C O U N T R I E S

%

%

2% TEXTILES 1%

2% GLASS 6%

7% PLASTIC 11%

6% PAPER 24%

Source: UNEP & ISWA (2015) Global Waste Management Outlook .

AVERAGE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATION - ACCORDING TO COUNTRY INCOME LEVEL, 2010

HIGH INCOME UPPER MIDDLE INCOME LOWER MIDDLE INCOME LOW INCOME 0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

2.2

kg/capita/day

AVERAGE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION EFFICENCY - ACCORDING TO COUNTRY INCOME LEVEL, 2010

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

HIGH INCOME UPPER MIDDLE INCOME LOWER MIDDLE INCOME LOW INCOME

%

Source: Hoornweg D. & Bhada-Tata P. (2012) What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management , World Bank.

The UNEP methodology 'Sustainable Assessment of Technology' 4 (SAT) provides guidance on how to identify and select the best possible technology options, through an informed and participatory decision making process. The SAT Methodology can be adapted to country-specific needs and parameters. It integrates social, economic and environmental considerations.

in number and variety, odour generation is not as immediate as in cities with warmer climates and the generation of leachate is relatively more controllable than in other cities at lower altitudes, because levels of rainfall are generally lower. These conditions allow private or public operators to collect waste less frequently with a consequent reduction in collection costs, because inhabitants can store waste for longer in their homes. This also means that community containers can be used to store waste in densely populated residential areas – depending on the frequency of collection services (Scheinberg,Wilson and Rodic-Wiersma, 2010). On the other hand, biological decomposition processes differ at higher altitudes. Lower temperatures can affect the decomposition of organic matter in composting processes (Cooperband, 2002). Despite this, biological treatment of organic solid waste (including composting or vermiculture) is still an option in some mountain cities (Coffey and Coad, 2010), providing care is taken to maintain temperatures suitable for the microorganisms responsible for generating compost or humus (which can then be used as a soil enricher).

Effects of altitude on solid waste and its management

The types of waste management at high altitudes are influenced by climatic and atmospheric conditions and soil characteristics, particularly the scheduling of street sweeping and collection services, the types of refuse collection vehicles used and the application of biological treatment of organic of waste. The slower rate of decomposition and fermentation in weather conditions associated with high altitudes reduces the impact of waste on public health, the environment and aesthetics in mountain cities, particularly where there are deficiencies in urban cleaning services. Vector-borne diseases are more limited

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