Solid Waste Management in Small Island …
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3 Waste Management: A Cross-Cutting Issue
Waste management is an issue that cuts across several disciplines including environment and climate change, health, renewable energy and agriculture. On the one
hand, improper management of solid wastes may result in the release of methane
gas, the generation of leachate and contamination of groundwater supply, spreading of vector-borne diseases and subsequent impacts on the ecology and human
health (Karak et al. 2012; UNEP 1999). The release of methane gas contributes
to global warming and climate change, while the spread of vector-borne diseases
such as dengue and chikungunya impacts on human health. On the other hand, safe
storage, transport and sound disposal ensure that the health and environmental risks
are mitigated; proper management of the organic fraction of solid wastes through
the composting process produces a compost material that enriches the soil quality;
anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of solid wastes produces a biogas that can
be combusted for production of renewable electricity, while recycling of the recyclable components of solid wastes ensures the preservation of virgin raw materials.
Besides, proper management of solid wastes ascertains that these are not illegally
dumped on roadsides, creating an eyesore and impacting on the tourism industry in
SIDS (Agamuthu and Herat 2014).
4 Priority Wastes and Issues
While MSW represents the major fraction of total solid wastes generated in SIDS,
other waste streams are also generated and these include hazardous and nonhazardous industrial wastes, construction and demolition wastes, electrical and electronic wastes (e-wastes), amongst others. All these waste streams represent significant environmental nuisances if left untreated. Considering that nearly 50% of the
MSW generated in SIDS is organics (Mohee et al. 2015), treatment of this fraction
should be seen as a priority to manage a considerable amount of solid wastes in
these small developing economies. With regards to emerging waste streams such
as e-wastes and hazardous wastes, their negative impacts on the environment and
human health should be a driver for ensuring the sound management of these waste
streams.
5 Barriers and Challenges
The main barriers and challenges for an effective, efficient and integrated solid waste
management system in SIDS include the lack of financial and technical resources
and land scarcity (Morrison and Munro 1999). Considering that land availability is a
major issue in most SIDS, developing appropriate waste management options such as
167
3 Waste Management: A Cross-Cutting Issue
Waste management is an issue that cuts across several disciplines including environment and climate change, health, renewable energy and agriculture. On the one
hand, improper management of solid wastes may result in the release of methane
gas, the generation of leachate and contamination of groundwater supply, spreading of vector-borne diseases and subsequent impacts on the ecology and human
health (Karak et al. 2012; UNEP 1999). The release of methane gas contributes
to global warming and climate change, while the spread of vector-borne diseases
such as dengue and chikungunya impacts on human health. On the other hand, safe
storage, transport and sound disposal ensure that the health and environmental risks
are mitigated; proper management of the organic fraction of solid wastes through
the composting process produces a compost material that enriches the soil quality;
anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of solid wastes produces a biogas that can
be combusted for production of renewable electricity, while recycling of the recyclable components of solid wastes ensures the preservation of virgin raw materials.
Besides, proper management of solid wastes ascertains that these are not illegally
dumped on roadsides, creating an eyesore and impacting on the tourism industry in
SIDS (Agamuthu and Herat 2014).
4 Priority Wastes and Issues
While MSW represents the major fraction of total solid wastes generated in SIDS,
other waste streams are also generated and these include hazardous and nonhazardous industrial wastes, construction and demolition wastes, electrical and electronic wastes (e-wastes), amongst others. All these waste streams represent significant environmental nuisances if left untreated. Considering that nearly 50% of the
MSW generated in SIDS is organics (Mohee et al. 2015), treatment of this fraction
should be seen as a priority to manage a considerable amount of solid wastes in
these small developing economies. With regards to emerging waste streams such
as e-wastes and hazardous wastes, their negative impacts on the environment and
human health should be a driver for ensuring the sound management of these waste
streams.
5 Barriers and Challenges
The main barriers and challenges for an effective, efficient and integrated solid waste
management system in SIDS include the lack of financial and technical resources
and land scarcity (Morrison and Munro 1999). Considering that land availability is a
major issue in most SIDS, developing appropriate waste management options such as