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Approaches

Solutions to waste management problems can be found using different approaches and methods. The WASTE approach to the design and implementation of waste management systems is based upon two important observations:

People are at the heart of the waste management problem. People generate waste and without their active cooperation and participation it is not possible to implement sustainable integrated waste management systems.
Waste management is an income-generating activity offering both large and small scale enterprises, as well as thousands of waste pickers, the opportunity to make a living from the collection, recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal of waste.

These two observations form the starting point for the WASTE approach to waste management problems and have led to the development and use of a series of tools and methodologies listed below. Information on these tools and methodologies can be found on these web pages.

Integrated Sustainable Waste Management
Participatory Approaches
Linkages
Source Separation
Informal Sector and Scavenging

ISWM is based upon the principles of equity, effectiveness and efficiency.

It combines three components to produce sustainable solutions to waste management problems.

The different elements of the whole waste trajectory from waste generation to final disposal are mapped out.
Not only the technical and financial aspects of the system are analysed, but also environmental, social, health, legal, political, institutional and economic aspects. This approach ensures that all the local issues affecting waste management in a specific area are taken into consideration.
All of the stakeholders involved and/or affected by the waste management trajectory are identified and encouraged to participate in the ISWM assessment and subsequent planning and implementation phases of projects as a means of creating consensus and ensuring commitment to the final ISWM solution.

Under this heading you can find information on:

The ISWM Concept
How to conduct and ISWM assessment
How to use ISWM in strategic MSWM planning
Useful ISWM publications
Other related links

Separation at Source

The ISWM approach includes the development of recovery, re-use and recycling activities as part of the waste trajectory. Waste material can either be recovered at source i.e. where it is generated as a separate waste stream or it can be recovered from a mixed waste stream. Recovering materials from mixed waste can result in a lower quality material for recycling and can increase the occupational risks to waste workers. Source separation and separate collection are therefore often preferred. This section considers what level of separation is practical and acceptable to householders and for waste workers. It looks at the advantages and disadvantages of different levels of separation and discusses how source separation can be promoted at local community level.
Under this heading you can find information on:

Source Separation
Practical Examples of Source Separation Schemes
Useful Publications
Other Related links.

Material Cycles

There are two main ways of planning for waste management. You can consider the system from the point when the material in question becomes waste. In this case no attempt is made to reduce the amount of waste generated and the system is designed to deal with that waste regardless of the amount. The alternative is to consider the entire material cycle from the production of the material to its final disposal. In this case measures can be taken to reduce the amount of waste generated by any product by ensuring that its production is energy and resource efficient. The actors involved in the material cycle approach will therefore include material suppliers, manufacturers, consumers as well as public and private waste managers.

Under this heading you can find information on:

Material cycles
Useful Publications
Other Related links

Waste Picking

The ISWM approach considers all the actors involved in waste management activities in a city. The informal sector and especially waste pickers or “scavengers” are a group that is very active in waste management but is rarely officially recognised as contributing to that system. Their activities vary from providing informal street sweeping and/or household waste collection services, to recovering recyclable materials from different points in the waste trajectory from households to the final disposal site. Acknowledging the work of this group when planning and implementing waste management improvements is desirable. This group’s experience can assist in solving waste problems and by incorporating the group in the waste management system it is possible to help them increase their income generating possibilities and improve their working conditions.

Under this heading you can find information on:

Informal Sector
Waste pickers or “scavengers”
Child Labour in Informal Sector Activities
Occupational Health, Privatisation and the Informal Sector
Useful Publications
Other Related Links

Mixed Solutions

Community Involvement

Recognising the importance of community participation in waste management projects and programmes is a key factor for their success. Community involvement in the planning and implementation of projects or programmes is a complex proposition. However, the benefits of wide stakeholder involvement include a clear impression of the problem to be tackled, a clear idea of the possible solutions including perspectives on affordability and desirability and finally the possibility of generating both public consensus and commitment to the project.

The participatory approaches used by WASTE include an awareness of the importance of gender in project planning and implementation. Given their different socio-cultural roles in the generation, collection and disposal of waste, men and women are found to have different perspectives when it comes to its management. It is very important that these differences are considered in the planning and implementation of waste management projects.

Under this heading you can find information:

Participatory Approaches
Community Involvement
Gender and Waste
Useful Publications
Other Related links

An integrated sustainable waste management system depends upon the linkages connecting each of the stakeholders active in the whole waste trajectory. Each actor has his/her waste management roles and responsibilities and can influence the performance of the system and its sustainability to varying degrees depending upon these roles and responsibilities.
The collaboration between different actors can also influence the success of the ISWM system. Traditionally, some actors already work closely together. Some of these working relationships are based upon socio-economic dependency but can be strongly influenced by family, ethnic and religious ties e.g. waste-picker relationship with waste dealers. Other relationships are purely contractual e.g. municipal government with private waste collection companies. This section looks at different alliances to demonstrate their importance in the sustainability of the ISWM system.

Under this heading you can find information on:

Linkages
Useful Publications
Other Related links