UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Date:___________________ I, _________________________________________________________, hereby submit this work as part of the requirements for the degree of: in: It is entitled: This work and its defense approved by: Chair: _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK OF BEST PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN SMALL TOURIST ISLANDS A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of MASTER OF COMMUNITY PLANNING In The School of Planning College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning 2004 By Jaya Dhindaw Master of City Planning, Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur, India 2001 Bachelor of Architecture, Pune University, India 1999 Committee Chair : Carla Chifos Faculty Member : David Edelman Reader : Karen Luken ABSTRACT Keywords: Islands, Insular eco-systems, Sustainable, Solid Waste, Waste Management Practices, Strategies Framework, Environment, Tourism The United Nations Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development in Rio in 1992 reaffirmed that environmentally sound practices for the management of waste is one of the major issues that needs to be addressed for maintaining the quality of Earth’s environment and for achieving sustainable development. One of the most vulnerable and insular eco-systems that needs attention in this respect is the small tourist island. Very small settlements have historically required little or no waste management. In areas of low population densities, the volume of waste generated is low and of a different composition than in large cities. This type of waste is relatively easier to dispose of. Small islands are one such case in hand. However, when these islands become hubs of tourist activities the entire scenario changes. The human activities start producing more waste as the economy generators try to constantly meet the demands of the tourists so as to attract them in larger numbers. This change often comes about so gradually that it is hardly noticed until the problem is already serious. The rapid increase in the density of human population in previously virgin lands for the purpose of leisure and tourism is making the collection, treatment and disposal of waste an insurmountable problem. This is turn is having serious sociological, ecological and economic implications in these select areas as there are usually no norms and guidelines in place to cushion the effect of this unprecedented pressure on the often minimal infrastructure. The limited size of the territory, combined with population trends and seasonal fluctuations, are factors which imply a frequently difficult cohabitation between man and nature and can generate conflicts of interest and management difficulties. Faced with the increased production of waste, islands suffer a dual constraint, both economic and ecological which needs to be dealt with. This study attempts to address the problem of solid waste management (SWM) in an integrated fashion for these islands so as to formulate a tool to enable island states to devise a comprehensive strategy for an environmentally sound and sustainable management of solid waste. It looks at cases where there have been timely policy responses and the menace has been averted. The objective is to derive positive and sustainable SWM practices from these cases which take into account the unique and diverse social, economic and environmental characteristics of these islands. The inferences drawn from these studies form the basis of formulating the framework of strategies or a range of solutions that would be location/region specific and would work. The study aims at devising a tool to aid local decision makers (planners and administrators) in small islands. It would help them in determining appropriate practices that could be employed to alleviate the problem of solid waste management so as to promote the convenience, health, comfort, safety and welfare of the citizens as well as that of the incoming tourist population in their area through previously tried and tested methods. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS No research work can be completed without the assistance and guidance of people who have profound knowledge in their respective fields. I would like to thank numerous people who supported my endeavor to complete this study. I sincerely acknowledge my heartfelt gratitude to my mentor Dr. Carla Chifos, who inspired me to take up this topic in the first place and then kept me on track by guiding and encouraging me throughout. I express my gratitude to Dr. David Edelman and Karen Luken for sharing their valuable time and knowledge, providing constructive criticism and above all taking keen interest in my work. I am grateful to Ayesagul Idikut (IHS), Dr. Michael Romanos (SOP), Dr. Jaydip Barman (IIT-Kharagpur, India), Keith Thomas (1st year MCP) and Susan Bush (R W Beck) for providing me with information that I found particularly useful. I extend my appreciation to the faculty and staff at the School of Planning for helping out in various capacities. Last but not the least I would like to thank my family and my friend Kirti for their love and motivation. Thank you very much. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 9 1.1 Background & Rationale 1.1.1 Small Island Characteristics and Trends 1.2 Problem Statement 1.3 Goals and Objectives 1.4 Scope and Limitations 1.5 Thesis Structure 2. The Best Practices Framework (Methodology) 18 2.1 Methodology Outline 2.2 Methodology Flowchart 3. Understanding Solid Waste Management 29 3.1 What is Waste? 3.2 Generation of Solid Wastes- Sources and Types 3.2.1 Sources of Waste 3.2.2 Types and Characteristics of Solid Waste 3.3 Concerns over Waste 3.4 Effects of Technological Advances 3.5 Evolution of Solid Waste Management 3.6 Functional Elements of a Solid Waste Management System 3.6.1 Waste Generation 3.6.2 Onsite Handling, Storage and Processing 3.6.3 Collection 3.6.4 Transfer and Transport 3.6.5 Processing and Recovery 3.6.6 Disposal 3.6.7 Other Practical Aspects Associated With Solid Waste Management Systems 3.7 Summary and Conclusions 4. Solid waste management basic technologies 41 4.1 Landfill 4.1.1 Compaction and Choice of Landfill Site Machines 1 4.1.2 Landfill Science 4.1.3 Landfill Siting 4.1.4 Cost Factor 4.2 Collection 4.2.1 Types of Collection Systems and Equipments 4.3 Transfer or Treatment Prior to Landfill 4.3.1. Transfer and Treatment Plant 4.3.2 Cost Factor 4.3.3 Treatment of Waste 4.4 Incineration 4.4.1 Incineration Techniques 4.4.2 Cost Factor 4.5 Physical Separation of Waste 4.5.1 Methods for Separation of Organic and Inorganic Fractions 4.5.2 Recovery of Paper 4.5.3 Recovery of Metals 4.6 Refuse Derived Fuels 4.6.1 Pulverized Waste as Fuel 4.6.2 Paper Based RDF 4.6.3 Powder RDF (Eco-Fuel2) 4.6.4 Upgrading an RDF 4.7 Pyrolysis and Other Thermal Processes 4.7.1 Combustion 4.7.2 Pyrolysis 4.7.3 Gasification 4.7.4 Steam Reforming 4.7.5 Hydrogasification and Hydrogenation 4.7.6 Wet Oxidation 4.7.7 Commercial Pyrolysis Processes 4.8 Biological Processes 4.8.1 Composting 4.8.2 Hydrolysis 4.8.3 Annelidic Recycling 4.8.4 Anaerobic Digestion 2 5. Integrated Solid Waste Management System 63 5.1 Advantages of a Holistic Approach 5.2 Sustainable Solid Waste Management 5.3 Characteristics of Sustainable Solid Waste Management 5.3.1 Market Orientation 5.3.2 Flexibility 5.3.3 Social Acceptability 6. Tourism in Islands and Solid Waste Management 67 6.1 Effects of Tourism on Island Ecosystems 6.1.1 Tourist’s Perception 6.1.2 Impact of Tourism on the Natural Resources of Islands 6.2 For Sustainable Tourism 7. Documentation of Case Studies 74 7.1 Olongapo City (Philippines) 7.1.1 Problem 7.1.2 Context 7.1.3 Program 7.1.4 Implementation 7.1.5 Results 7.2 Bustos (Philippines) 7.2.1 Problem 7.2.2 Context 7.2.3 Program 7.2.4 Implementation 7.2.5 Results 7.3 Dumaguete City (Philippines) 7.3.1 Problem 7.3.2 Context 7.3.3 Project 7.3.4 Implementation 7.3.5 Results 3 7.4 Santa Maria (Philippines) 7.4.1 Problem 7.4.2 Context 7.4.3 Program 7.4.4 Implementation 7.4.5 Results 7.5 Odiongan (Philippines) 7.5.1 Problem 7.5.2 Context 7.5.3 Former Solid Waste Management 7.5.4 Program 7.5.5 Implementation 7.5.6 Results 7.6 Tongatapu (Pacific Islands) 7.6.1 Problem 7.6.2 Context 7.6.3 Former Solid Waste Management 7.6.4 Program 7.6.5 Implementation 7.6.6 Results 7.7 New Providence (Bahamas) 7.7.1 Problem 7.7.2 Context 7.7.3 Program 7.7.4 Implementation 7.7.5 Results 7.8 Galapagos (Ecuador) 7.8.1 Problem 7.8.2 Context 7.8.3 Program 7.8.4 Implementation 7.8.5 Results 7.9 Isle of Wight (England) 7.9.1 Problem 4 7.9.2 Context 7.9.3 Program 7.9.4 Implementation 7.9.5 Results 7.10 Male (Republic of Maldives) 7.10.1 Problem 7.10.2 Context 7.10.3 Program 7.10.4 Implementation 7.10.5 Results 7.11 Mauritius (Africa) 7.11.1 Problem 7.11.2 Context 7.11.3 Program 7.11.4 Implementation 7.11.5 Results 7.12 Saipan (Pacific Islands) 7.12.1 Problem 7.12.2 Context 7.12.3 Program 7.12.4 Implementation 7.12.5 Results 7.13 Seychelles (Africa) 7.13.1 Problem 7.13.2 Context 7.13.3 Program 7.13.4 Implementation 7.13.5 Results 7.14 La Palma (Spain) 7.14.1 Problem 7.14.2 Context 7.14.3 Program 7.14.4 Implementation 7.14.5 Results 5 7.15 Jamaica (Jamaica) 7.15.1 Problem 715.2 Context 7.15.3 Program 7.15.4 Implementation 7.15.5 Results 8.