194 Ecology and Applied Environmental Science
a city’s atmospheric pollutants will reach corresponding high percentages
even if the technology of catalytic converters is applied globally. Their use
is definitely beneficial but it is not enough to counterbalance the continuous
increase of cars circulating in a city.
Consequently, in addition to technological measures, measures for the
reduction of circulating cars are required. The first step in this direction is
for the city to acquire attractive, i.e. fast, comfortable and safe, means of
public transport. The subway, other track-guided transport vehicles (trams)
and separate fast lanes for buses increase the attractiveness of mass transport and have been successfully applied in many cities. As a complementary
measure, limitations to private car circulation can be enforced as well as
to other polluting activities. Interventions of a town-planning character for
better organization and management of the city are very effective as are the
organization of pedestrian street networks, controlled parking systems etc.
10.3 urban Solid waStE ManagEMEnt
Urban solid waste (USW) management requires a complete system that
includes temporary storing, collection, transportation, treatment and final
disposal. The inadequacy of the existing technological solutions sets off the
need for social participation in USW management.
A fictitious technological solution that could minimize social participation is represented by a hypothetical robotic mechanism. It would pick up
USW left by citizens in a bin without any sorting, and it would separate
them diligently and accurately into all the necessary categories so that their
full valorization could be possible. However, since this ideal robot—i.e. the
proper mature technology—does not exist, the active social participation
for the separation of USW at source is necessary for the serious environmental burden and the negative social attitude towards USW treatment
facilities and landfill sites to be avoided.
Proper design and the employment of land use policies contribute to the
complete organization of USW management. When urban centres grow
without appropriate planning, the siting for uses like spaces for USW sorting at source, recycling centres, final disposal facilities etc. is difficult. Also,
the formation of a tight urban fabric, with insufficient arterial routes, a
narrow road network, and circulation and parking difficulties, hinders the
activities related to USW management. The situation is aggravated by the
social reactions displayed by the residents of neighbouring areas against the
siting for USW treatment or disposal facilities. Those reactions are justified
to a great extent because of the serious nuisances created in an area by the
continuous passage of rubbish collection vehicles, the odours, the view of
landfills, the ill feeling created by the adjacency of rubbish, the concern
a city’s atmospheric pollutants will reach corresponding high percentages
even if the technology of catalytic converters is applied globally. Their use
is definitely beneficial but it is not enough to counterbalance the continuous
increase of cars circulating in a city.
Consequently, in addition to technological measures, measures for the
reduction of circulating cars are required. The first step in this direction is
for the city to acquire attractive, i.e. fast, comfortable and safe, means of
public transport. The subway, other track-guided transport vehicles (trams)
and separate fast lanes for buses increase the attractiveness of mass transport and have been successfully applied in many cities. As a complementary
measure, limitations to private car circulation can be enforced as well as
to other polluting activities. Interventions of a town-planning character for
better organization and management of the city are very effective as are the
organization of pedestrian street networks, controlled parking systems etc.
10.3 urban Solid waStE ManagEMEnt
Urban solid waste (USW) management requires a complete system that
includes temporary storing, collection, transportation, treatment and final
disposal. The inadequacy of the existing technological solutions sets off the
need for social participation in USW management.
A fictitious technological solution that could minimize social participation is represented by a hypothetical robotic mechanism. It would pick up
USW left by citizens in a bin without any sorting, and it would separate
them diligently and accurately into all the necessary categories so that their
full valorization could be possible. However, since this ideal robot—i.e. the
proper mature technology—does not exist, the active social participation
for the separation of USW at source is necessary for the serious environmental burden and the negative social attitude towards USW treatment
facilities and landfill sites to be avoided.
Proper design and the employment of land use policies contribute to the
complete organization of USW management. When urban centres grow
without appropriate planning, the siting for uses like spaces for USW sorting at source, recycling centres, final disposal facilities etc. is difficult. Also,
the formation of a tight urban fabric, with insufficient arterial routes, a
narrow road network, and circulation and parking difficulties, hinders the
activities related to USW management. The situation is aggravated by the
social reactions displayed by the residents of neighbouring areas against the
siting for USW treatment or disposal facilities. Those reactions are justified
to a great extent because of the serious nuisances created in an area by the
continuous passage of rubbish collection vehicles, the odours, the view of
landfills, the ill feeling created by the adjacency of rubbish, the concern