WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

PROPOSAL FOR REFUGEES CAMPS

AND SMALL POPULATIONS

LUCILA HIERRO

FOR ISWA/APESB/AEEA

BEACON CONFERENCE

LUANDA-ANGOLA

IASWMC_APRIL 2014

This Waste Management System proposal

was designed by an Environmental Sciences graduate

for Refugees Camps as described in ACNUR’s Handbook

in order to be the Chapter dedicated to Waste

in the "The Best Environmental Practices Guide for Refugees Camps”, which wrote as Final Project for her Master “International Cooperation and Humanitarian

Aid” course at KALÚ Studies Centre in 2012.

Lucila H. Fernández

Environmental Management Master’s Degree

It can be implemented at:

new construction Sites for Emergency Situations

Sites that were settled for a specific situation but have lasted longer than expected

Small local Communities, where the Issue of Waste was never regarded and Disposal is being done in an Uncontrolled way

and may be modified to get adapted to the different

concrete situations and working conditions

The System is divided into different SPACES:

• FIRST COLLECTION AREAS

• THE CLASSIFICATION STOREHOUSE

• THE RECYCLING WORKSHOP

• BIOTREATMENTS

• THE INCINERATOR

• INERTIZATION&HAZARDOUS DISPOSAL

• COMPACTION & LANDFILL

COLLECTION PRINCIPLES • A more effective, cost efficient collection system can be

obtained if implemented regarding this general principles – ASAP SEPARATION: Separation should always be done As

Soon as Possible, to avoid damage caused to materials if put together with the rest.

– ASAP RECOVERY: some Reuse & Recycling processes can be done at Households if people are explained how to do so, (e.g nutrients from Food Wastages can be recovered in backyard gardens through easy composting processes)

• for Households to cooperate, information

campaigns to population are necessary

“IF GENERATED APART, KEPT APART” from specific activities directly to Treatments

• Certain amounts of waste that are to be GENERATED APART at specific activities should be KEPT APART and taken directly to Treatments in special streams • A principle of NOT MIXING, will prevent the

costs of later Separation & Cleaning so that Reuse/Recycle possibilities will be enhanced

COLLECTION AREAS

• FIRST COLLECTION AREAS is where

waste is to be left by:

– the Inhabitants of the community,

– the Collectors (specialised or not)

• and thus must the issue of ACCESIBILITY

be prioritized in their design, considering the

different Ways of Transport available

COLLECTION AREAS

• Consist on Spaces identified by different COLOURS to receive the different TYPES of waste, and will count on: – UNDERSTANDABLE SIGNALS

explaining what to dispose at which space – EASY ACCESS for collectors or those

willing to leave their waste themselves – Environmental Measures

COLLECTION AREAS • Depending on Location and Community Size,

RECEIVAL AREA could be designed utilizing one of the OUTER WALLS of The Storehouse, – making separated “ROOMS” for each type of Waste

using PANNELS – Measures, such as TOP COVER from rain and

GROUND IMPERMEABILIZATION, are necessary to Protect the Litters and the Environment and from degrading each other.

• or simply using CONTAINERS of different colours, placed near generation sites that will later be emptied by specialised Collectors.

FIRST COLLECTION AREAS

• PAPER & CARDBOARD • PACKAGES, PLASTICS & METALS • GLASS & TEXTILE • ORGANICS & OTHERS • SPECIALS &DANGEROUS • INERTS,TYRES & ASHES

PAPER & CARDBOARD

• Paper & cardboard bags, boxes & containers may be employed for Collection purposes

• If properly classified, Paper & Cardboard RECYCLING can be easily achieved and result in many useful new products.

• Some amounts GENERATED APART at places where administrative work is being done or general Stationary is being used (SCHOOLS, OFFICES) to be KEPT APART.

PAPER & CARDBOARD

• Cardboard Boxes Reuse & Recycling possibilities will vary depending on the condition they are in, from reuse at distribution processes of goods at the camp, to pre-disposal waste Compaction.

• Preferably NOT added to Composting processes due to presence of Ecotoxic components in coloured INKS

PACKAGES, PLASTICS & METALS

• Can become useful materials if properly managed but environmentally- damaging if disposed in an uncontrolled way:

– PET BOTTLES, TETRABRICKS & other PACKAGES

– CANS, PIPES & PIECES OF METAL

– BIG PLASTIC LAYERS & CARRIER BAGS

GLASS & TEXTILE

• TEXTILE could also enter the system • through ORGANICS, • through INERTS or • be collected APART, but

• combined collection of this two types of material can have

many Advantages and doesn’t seem to present big problems: – amounts generated in the Camp are likely to be Reduced – Separation from one another can easily be performed – Textile will prevent glass from breaking, thus reducing the

risk of damage to the people around (e.g. barefoot children) – Soiled Textiles can be used to soften lorries, carriages and

spaces utilised for Glass Collection or be turned into big Glass Collection Bags, after Disinfection process.

ORGANICS & OTHERS • Regarding OTHER types of waste materials the mixing up with

organics usually means DIRT • Separation & Cleaning, when they are possible, are still better

options than be taken to Landfill

• Vegetative rests and Wooden leftovers GENERATED APART at Forestry

and Agriculture Activities or Cattle manure from Farming activities, should

all be KEPT APART for better management, and go directly to

Biotreatments.

• Food Wastages will have their better options if SEPARATED before leaving

Kitchens, Food Shops or Restaurants, as they can only be used to feed

animals, including fish, if NOT mixed up with other types of waste.

• ASAP RECOVERY and ASAP Separation ought to be encouraged

ORGANICS & OTHERS

• The Separation of OTHER materials (e.g. paper, textile) FROM Organics after mixing up has happened can be from complicated to impossible and make materials recovery no longer worth being performed,

• While the presence of Other materials integrated with Organics (e.g.oils, plastics) can make nutrients recovery at Biotreatments no longer feasible (for being ecotoxic or non Biodegradable)

• The presence of Biodegradable Organic Matter inside Waste Masses causes Problems at Landfill.

SPECIAL & DANGEROUS • Some waste materials are considered Hazardous

because they contain Heavy Metals among their Components (Be, Vn, Cr Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba, Hg, Pb)

• If disposed in an uncontrolled way, this molecules enter ecosystems reaching higher concentrations as they climb the trophic chain

• Also PCB’s and PCT’s (found in glues , paints and coatings) have the same effect

• Production and Infiltration of Leachate has to be SPECIALLY prevented to avoid this molecules from reaching underground Water Bodies

SPECIAL & DANGEROUS

• Collection areas should REALLY be covered from rain and the ground impermeabilised

• A Specific Area in which MOST STRICT measures are to be taken must also be designed at Landfill

• Other waste materials will be considered SPECIAL for their UNIQUE or UNNORMAL characteristics and the resulting need to be collected and treated apart

DANGEROUS

• If carefully mantained, BATTERIES may be Reused as Energy Accumulators

• ELECTRIC APPLIANCES and CAR COMPONENTS (Engines, Belt-Drives, Dinamos, Wires..) – IF properly preserved from breaking and shredding,

can become a source of REUSABLE pieces to build RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPTATION DEVICES

– They just need to be valorised by our Waste System. • IF NOT, they should ALL be given to “specialised

recyclers” or taken to INERTIZATION before HAZARDOUS DISPOSAL (as they contain amounts of Pb, Hg, Cd, Ni, S)

SPECIALS: OILS

OILS are SPECIAL because they are Liquids – They shouldn’t reach the Water Sanitation System

as they can be very harmful to Aquatic Ecosystems and RUIN Water Depuration Biological processes,

– Barrels (soiled or not) for Separate Collection should be placed at key points and People’s Cooperation required through Information Campaigns

– Treatment possibilities are different depending on their origin (kitchens or cars), but are usually easy to perform (Esterification Unit)

SPECIALS: DIAPERS

• Are special because they are composed by two materials of very different nature: • COVERS are usually made of Plastics or Syntethics

(non organic- non Biodegradable) • Fillings are made of SAP, which is a Biodegradable

substance, that presents interesting Characteristics and Applications

• Treatment possibilities require previous Separation of different components – LONG HYDRATION in Disinfectant Liquid can be a way

to make the covers collapse, but may present disadvantages

SAP’s Applications • SAP’s (Super Absorbent Polymers) , is employed to fill Diapers and

hygiene towels because it can RETAIN LIQUIDS and substances in its molecular structure

• That’s why it can also be employed at Spills Control as a new material, when it is still DRY

• In Agriculture, it is a way to get a SLOW Nutrients/Water/Fertilizers RELEASE

• Plants can grow from BARE ROOT in this substance, once hydrated • or it can be ADDED directly to the ground as an improvement to

SOIL Quality or as a way of RESTORATION • it will enhance Land Water Retaining Properties • doesn’t leave any toxic remains, as it will later get degraded and

become part of the Ecosystem • it can also be COMPOSTED or BIODIGESTED before addition to soils,

this will kill Pathogens, although some of the special properties will get lost.

SPECIALS: DIAPERS

• The possible presence of Pathogens makes management and materials recovery a bit complicated: – Boiling is energy-costly and makes the Molecule

lose its interesting properties – Chemical Disinfection could make it go Eco-toxic

and damage Bio treatments – A special Composter or Biodigester could be built

for this specific purpose – Plastics Extraction can be done Before or After

BIOTreatment

SPECIAL & DANGEROUS

• BIOMEDICAL & INFECTIOUS – All the things that have been in touch with Ill Patients can

be considered infectious and the Prevention of Disease Spread is to be prioritised before other Chriteria

– It is to be managed in a special stream coming from Health Centre and taken DIRECTLY to a small INCINERATOR, there included corpses resulting from epidemic disease episodes

– Laboratory material to be reused will normally be sterilized by Medical Staff at Health Centre using Heat

– The option of incineration is only considered at this special case and Emissions are to be minimised

SPECIAL & DANGEROUS

• AMIANT – Is considered Dangerous for the hazards to human

health it represents at production processes, BUT: – If handled carefully can behave as an INERT and

result in a FIRE PROOF Construction Material, to be employed at the Camp, to build The Incinerator or at Landfill as cover layer

INERTS

• STONES, Soiled Cements, Bricks, Clays, ASHES… • From Demolition processes or Building Collapses

that happen at Natural Disasters or Conflicts • will have better chances to be REUSED as

Construction Materials if properly separated & classified, some will be sellable to “specialized recyclers” (wires, pipes..)

• Mixed with Hazardous at INERTIZATION Processes or Disposed at Landfill as Cover Layers

TYRES • Should enter the System through INERTS • Can Become an unpleasant PROBLEM or a Useful Input for

many Activities • Are made of RUBBER and should NEVER be burnt. • Rubber Recovery depends on Shredding and can be COSTLY,

it can also be added to Cements. • Most interesting uses can be given to ENTIRE pieces as

Construction Materials, at Waste System Spaces Conditioning, Collection and Disposal Areas Separation, DRAINAGES, DOCKS building, Bases for OUTDOOR/INDOOR Emergency Furniture, Plant/ Tree POTS and Protectors, Installations for Children, etc.

CLASSIFICATION PROCESS • DECISSIONS will have to be taken on which Destination should be

given to each piece of waste entering the system at Waste Storehouse

• STAFF should be aware of the different Treatment Options available and their TRAINING Enough to Enable them to choose the BEST DECISSION regarding a series of PRIORITIES

• Depending on its Nature, Condition and the Needs detected at Treatment or Recovery Areas

• COMMUNICATION among the different levels will then be necessary will make the system more efficient and realistic

• Soiled materials can be taken to one of the processes first and then to another (e.g. from “Disinfection& Cleaning “ to “Recycling Workshop”)

• Disposal at Landfill will be MINIMISED or at least its Volume reduced regarding the costs of the Conditioning of the Area and the earns of efficiency that other options mean.

• Dangerous Separation is Fundamental.

CLASSIFICATION PRIORITIES

• REUSE & RECYCLE will be prioritised over other alternatives for being the most efficient options

• The TREATMENTS are the next best option (At Camp or by specialised teams outside of it)

• COMPACTION or some way of Volume Reduction will always be performed before going to Landfill

• and INERTIZATION before Hazardous Disposal at Special Areas

CLASSIFICATION PROCESS

• KEEP THEM CLEAN to save Cleaning & Disinfection Efforts and have them directly at The Reusable Materials Area from which they can also be taken to The Recycling Workshop

• OR depending on their nature, To Be Reused at SPACES CONDITIONING: – Plastic Layers, Textiles & Compacted Soil are ways to

prevent Leachate Infiltration, while Soiled Tyres or other INERTS can be disposed to separate one Area from another

• DIRTY but CLEANABLE taken to Disinfection Area • Those TOO DIRTY to be cleaned can still have better

options than Disposal at COMPACTION Processes, (e.g. bags & boxes to be refilled)

CLASSIFICATION PROCESS

• FLEXIBILITY will be appropriate in order not to compromise the efficiency of the system through encouraging the FLOW of materials from one Spaces to others, if an amount is not useful in one place it should be MOVED to a better destination

• EVOLUTION is likely to occur and must thus be regarded as processes are being experienced and results obtained

• Everything has to be permanently MONITORED

Amounts Entering and Amounts Leaving the System may be weighed or measured by Non- Conventional Units (Numbers of Carriages, Bags, Containers or similar) as long as they can be used to COUNT, Register and Study the changes happening

TREATMENT PROCESSES • It’s necessary to define and condition SPACES for

each Treatment or Storage option • Some can be inside the Warehouse or not, depending on

possibilities available, “The Cleaning Area” may be placed INDOORS but Composting Processes be performed better OUTDOORS.

• A Final Destination can be a Clean STORAGE Area, where materials are left to be sold, reused or employed to improve the system itself, separated or not from those ready to be taken to “The Recycling Workshop”

• The conditioning of the different spaces will be performed regarding the nature of the materials that are to be placed in them avoiding degradation (e.g. cover from rain) and preventing pollution (e.g. ground waterproofing)

TREATMENT AREAS

• Cleaning & HIGIENIZATION Area • “To be Reused”, “Construction Materials” and • Materials for “The Recycling Workshop” • “The Recycling Workshop” • BIOTREATMENTS:

– “The Composter”, – “The Biodigester” – “The Fish Factory”

• THE INCINERATOR • INERTIZATION before Hazardous Disposal • COMPACTION before Landfill

CLEANING & DISINFECTION AREA

• NOT clean enough to be Recycled or Reused directly,

but CLEANABLE materials will have been taken to this area by WasteStorehouse Staff.

• Disinfection requires Heat AND/OR a Cleaning Agent.

• Boiling can be costly in terms of energy, and the burning of gardening leftovers can be better seized at stoves for the people at other activities (e.g. cooking, depending on the availability and the needs)

CLEANING & HIGIENIZATION AREA

• ASHES from cellulosic materials combustion, if available, can be easily turned into DETERGENT, to be produced in big quantities with a minimal cost. – Just let stand for 48h and then make it pass through a

piece of cloth, among other methods. • The use of Chlorine solutions must be done carefully

when handling and dumping • The use of this ASHPOT BLEACH can be extended to the

cleaning of other big Areas at the Camp, including Waste Management Spaces and water Sanitation while its production performed at Disinfection Area

CLEANING & HIGIENIZATION AREA

• Together with Ashpot Bleach production, Activated Charcoal can be obtained in this Area too.

• Charcoal activation consists on making a Flow of Steam

pass through amounts of burnt Coconut shells or similar burnt materials

• It can be employed to build Water & Air FILTERS, to use at Water Sanitation Treatments and Incinerator.

REUSABLE MATERIALS

• Some can be taken here directly or come from the

Disinfection Area • This should be a CLEAN enough Area where recovered

materials are being stored in an ORGANISED way, ready to be employed at final activities

• USELESS Acumulations of materials have to be prevented Somehow

• Regarding the nature of the ITEMS being stored, this Area can be divided into others:

REUSABLE MATERIALS

• MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED AT THE CAMP – Clean unbroken boxes, disinfected bottles, soiled-but-still-useful

batteries, etc – Can also come from/go to The recycling Workshop

• CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS – Stones ,Cements, wooden/amiant /fiber Pannels, Tyres,(can also be

employed at Spaces Conditioning) – Crossbars, steel girders, fences, metal sheets – Pipelines, Wires , electrical components

• MATERIALS FOR THE RECYCLING WORKSHOP – classified for their characteristics because they have possibilities to be

recycled (cardboard, PET bottles) • MATERIALS TO BE SOLD to “specialised recyclers”

– when we cannot perform the recovery process “ourselves”, other TEAMS may appreciate it as a raw imput as long as it’s properly separated (usually glasses and metals)

REUSABLE MATERIALS

• Classification Staff should be in communication with those in charge of The Recycling Workshop and other parts of the system in order to take their NEEDS and CAPACITY into consideration adapting to Results from recent Experiences

• The Aim is to choose the Best Option Available and NOT to deliver excessive amounts if they cannot be properly treated

THE RECYCLING WORKSHOP

• TO RECYCLE means to Recover the Materials contained in a piece or an amount of waste

• but it also means: – a Reduction on the Impact due to Disposal,

• including the dicrease of Room at Landfill (and costs related) • Environmental Impact means an Economic Losses for all Society

– A material EXTRA for the activities being performed at the Emergency Camp, (souldn’t affect usual procurement) or a Raw Imput (total or partial) for other processes

– the production of new goods & products • and thus some material savings, but which shouldn’t be taken into account as

supplies for the Camp (when making the shopping list) unless STEADY results have been monitored

– JOBS for the Inhabitants of the Camp • and thus a Positive Impact to their Self-Steems and MORAL.

– An Economic but Sustainable activity, • if the goods produced have been perfected enough to be sold • at small Street markets or larger distribution processes

THE RECYCLING WORKSHOP

This very cost- effective activity just needs

TO BE PERFORMED IN AN

ORGANIZED & PLANIFIED WAY

• and get allocated MEANS like:

SPACE (warehouse & treatments)

STAFF (time, effort, training, compensation)

THE RECYCLING WORKSHOP

• More than one recycling process can be performed in the same PLANT if properly organized by those in charge of it

• Interesting products at cheap prices can be obtained, but – Population Needs at Camp ought to be prioritized

• Attendance has to be ENCOURAGED

somehow – e.g. participants actually bring useful things to their homes

• It shouldn’t become a “SWEATSHOP”!!

THE RECYCLING WORKSHOP

• Some INPUTS needed at Waste Management (Ashpot Bleach and Activated Carbon ) can be produced here if not elsewhere and others for Recycling Processes obtained ad hoc (e.g.BIOGLUE for Papier Mâché)

• PAPER PASTE can be turned into different products, from RECIPIENTS to FURNITURE – and will get hardened if added the appropriate substances

(e.g. cements or ashes)

• SOAP of different flavours, just by mixing the adequate amounts of Kitchen OILS with a sosa solution or bleach, and new FUEL from Car ones.

BIOTREATMENTS

• Organic matter disposed at Landfill is the cause of a series of PROBLEMS due to spontaneous degradation of components – presence of insects and other beings – production of gases and odors – sudden Volume Losses

• and would BETTER BE REMOVED from waste stream at earliest stages (ASAP Separation)

BIOTREATMENTS • NUTRIENTS RECOVERY processes available will vary

depending on: – Nature (e.g. Leafs & Branches or Food Wastages) – Condition (Degradation can be more or less advanced) – Mixing level (Separation worth being performed

proceeding to or not) • of Organic Wastes, and Staff at Classification posts:

– should know how treatments work and be aware of the inconveniences related,

– to take the best and most efficient DECISIONS on which amount should be taken to which Destination

THE FISH FACTORY

• ANIMAL FEEDING (including fish) may be considered a

REUSE option and should be prioritized, but depends

strongly on EARLY SEPARATION to be feasible.

• Just by Using a TANK or A Barrel where water can be

filtered, the experience of “Aquaculture as a Biotreatment”

is probably worth being developed.

THE COMPOSTER • The COMPOSTER can be easily built:

– at Full Community level – for smaller groups – at activity sites (e.g. forestry) where organic waste is being

generated • Trained Personnel in charge of Maintenance (Temperature,

Humidity, Ventilation) has to be appointed • LISTS of non-compostable materials must be clearly stated,

as the adding of “wrong ones” may ruin the rest of them

• COMPOST can be employed not only at agricultural activities, but also for Soil Estructuring and Land Restoration to Fight Against Desertification (“OASIFICATION”)

• A special composter should have to be designed for Diapers Composting due to their special characteristics.

THE BIODIGESTER

• A BIODIGESTER may be useful when amounts of manure are being generated, usually when/where Cattle activities are being done

• The mixing with water confers the Anoxic Conditions needed for Fermentation to happen

• Biogas and Fertilizer will be obtained, – seized or not, the excrement will have been degraded &

STERILIZED – small ones can be manufactured “ad hoc” to clean certain

accumulations not worth being transported – SAP’s Biodigestion could also be experimented and

developed

THE INCINERATOR

• Emissions to the air are the biggest problem incineration presents, they can be a cause of ACID RAIN and should always be prevented

• Yet only Biomedical Waste, coming from Health Center, and Infectious, including corpses resulting from Epidemic episodes, are to be treated this way

• No incineration processes can be done out of

The Incinerator, or without Emissions Control, specially NO plastics nor OILS burning

THE INCINERATOR • A SMALL Incinerator can be easily built, using locally

available materials: – Fireproof ones, like STONES, FiberCement or CLAY – at Walls and Bottom of a deep enough HOLE in the ground – containing a FILTER made of tougher & finer LAYERS

including one of Activated Charcoal to retain Heavy Metals – but it can also be internationally purchased

• to be placed APART, – far enough from inhabitants

• to prevent pollution damage to the people – but near enough from The Health Center

• to avoid transportation costs

THE SHREDDER

• Although Shredding is a good Way of Compaction before Landfill Disposal, this option has not been regarded for several reasons: – It’s a Small Population normally not generating such

amounts – A shredder may not be available in an Emergency Situation – other more efficient options wanted to be enhanced and

will preferably be prioritized

• BUT Shredding is a necessary STEP for many recycling processes, and – the acquisition could be considered in order to treat plastics,

textiles, paper, Tyres, Furniture, etc. – OR it could be included as a property of the “specialised

recyclers teams” to which our Community may SELL properly separated amounts of soiled materials

INERTIZATION • Solid Waste can be hazardous due to the presence of

certain components in them • This active pollutants, usually HEAVY METALS,

shouldn’t be available to enter Ecosytems, • That’s why they have to be INMOBILISED before

Diposal, even if other measures are to be taken at Landfill – MIX with cements or INERTS is a way to do it , but

• External Teams can give better solutions than

those available with means inside Camp, specialy when it’s about TOXIC components that we may not know how to handle ourselves.

HAZARDOUS DISPOSAL

• AT LEAST one Area at Landfill must be designed for this purpose, where STRICT measures MUST be taken, if not for the Full Installation

• COVER from Rain to prevent Dangerous Leachate Generation and Waterproof BASE against its later Infiltration, are Minimal Compulsory Requirements

• DRAINAGE, Leachate Collection & TREATMENT, are specialy important in this case, and we’d better count on External Teams & Installations to MAKE SURE Toxic components don’t reach the Environment

• Polluted Waters Arrival to Underground Water bodies must be definetly prevented or Aquifers and Ecosystems can be DAMAGED at Long Term

COMPACTION

• It is not like Waste Generation REDUCTION at Purchase levels, but:

• an EFFORT to minimize the VOLUME going to Landfill so that it won’t take up such big amounts of Space in it.

If not better options available, Volume minimization is a cost-Effective Measure

regarding Space Conditioning Efforts that are being done at Landfill

• CONDITIONED ROOM NEEDS TO BE SAVED

COMPACTION • At small scales, REFILLING ones with others at

Waste Storehouse is a way to organize those pieces that cannot be Classified for better Destinations

• SHREDDING & SMASHING are other ways to do this, usually with machines at bigger scales, but they need some energy to work and amounts of materials that could have been recovered will get lost forever in the process.

THE LANDFILL • The most adequate area has to be chosen DURING CAMP

PLANIFICATION STAGES: Geological Characteristics of Soil and Aquifer Presence must be regarded Beforehand

• The LEAST PERMEABLE Ground Material and the FURTHEST from Underground Water Bodies will be the Best Option

• SLOPE determines Direction of the FLOW of waters, including that of Polluted ones (LEACHATE)

• Leachate Conduction to Treatment Point can be obtained by using GRAVITY, the existing Slope can be seized or a convinient one be CREATED to favorise Drainage

• Filters made of SAND & Activated Charcoal can be useful for DECONTAMINATION, specially necessary if coming from Hazardous Area.

THE LANDFILL

• TRENCH or ESCALATED are the most usual ways to prepare the place

• EXCAVATION Materials are to be KEPT APART and seized for other purposes, such as Final Closure.

• Many Soiled Materials, if properly Classified, can be employed at Area Conditioning

• The Disposal can be organized CELL by CELL and different LAYER by LAYER each one to be covered by INERTS

OTHER IDEAS

• ARTISTIC USES shouldn’t be dismissed as ways to recycle, Decorations & the use of different COLOURS can be a good way to strengthen the moral of the inhabitants, and give “a job” to those willing to join the Workshops

• Could be coordinated with The SCHOOL so that the Children can also learn & enjoy the activity of recycling

OTHER IDEAS:TEXTILES

• Syntethic textiles are PERMEABLE but Non Biodegradable thus useful AT LANDFILL CONDITIONING

• DISINFECTION & DEDYING can be done at the same time using Ashpot Bleach or other similar agents, as a Pre-Treatment before other recovery activities

• Any CLEAN & DRY, disinfected shredded INERT(Non-Biodegradable Nor dangerous material) can become a good REFILL and used TO STUFF CUSHIONS (smaller or bigger) and funny TOYS.

OTHER IDEAS: PET BOTTLES

• from Flower Pots to BASE for Bowls made of PAPER PASTE Bottles made of PET can have many uses

• They can be turned into STRIPS which can then be BRAIDED and used as FABRICS for different purposes (CARPETS, BASKETS) or even as FILLINGS

• putting the adequate materials inside, they can become FILTERS to clean not only water but against Emissions to the Air.

• fulfilled by CLEAN&DRY plastic carrier bags PET BOTTLES become hard ECOBRICKS bricks to build real walls

• “ISANG LITRONG LIWANAG” BULBS capable of illuminating small rooms if installed at ceilings are PET Bottles filled with Water.

OTHER IDEAS: Tetrabricks

• after cleaning, TETRABRICK Packs mean a very particular material, but Separation, Collection, Cleaning and recycling process must be done in an ORGANIZED way.

• as they may be first cut into strips and then BRAIDED to manufacture useful goods, like dustbins.

• SEEDLINGS can grow or be distributed in them but, – as they contain some plastics, are NOT to be put into soil

• If carefully collected & separated beforehand, proceed through strong disinfection process, and can easily become small improvised Distribution TRAYS, Tupperware, or Liquid containers At Emergency situations – (simply CUT&cleaned&closed-back for better conservation)

OTHER IDEAS: BARRELS

• BARRELS are very interesting too, as they can be be turned into: – WASTEBINS to be placed all throughout The Camp – CONTAINERS for Special Collection like that of OILS – single-familly Backyard COMPOSTERS – “Washing machines” at DISINFECTION AREA – Acuaculture Tanks for “Fish Factories” – Stoves and Ovens (if made of Fireproof material) – Biodigesters “ad hoc” for Excrement

Accumulations not worth being transported

OTHER IDEAS: ENERGY

• for RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVICES Construction: – Any Transparent Surfaces let light pass through in, but

(once the energy has been transformed into heat by Black Surfaces) they don’t let it leave back, so that energy gets accumulated.

– Metal Sheets, Wooden Boards & Textiles too can

be used at the construction of MILL Helixes – CD’S & GLASS reflection properties can also be

seized at the building of Solar Thermal Energy-Captation Devices, such as OVENS, DRIERS OR DISTILLERS

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES

• From the point of view of Environmental Measures & Actions The concept SUSTAINABILITY means to take into consideration the needs of the population affected, so that the measures actually prosper thanks to being in Harmony with the interests of the Local Inhabitants too and not only the Natural Environment.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES • Any of the Recycling Activities described before can be

developed until it becomes a means of living to the people who perform it.

• Depending on Evolution “The Recycling Workshop”, it can GROW until some lines will one day become Independent through the Foundation of new more “Specialised Recycling Workshops and Teams”

• The value of the product will be in the PERFECTING of the technique that is being used until sellable items can be offered at Small Street Markets

• The issue of Property and RIGHTS should be determined Beforehand with the most possible JUSTICE considering the EFFORTS each of the parts is investing in the Activity.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES

• Environmental Services and Products can be offered to other Communities if they have been properly DEVELOPED at Camp. – PRODUCTS such as FILTERS and Energy Captation Devices – SERVICES like Pre-Disposal Areas Conditioning and Post-

Closure Restoration of Degraded Spaces

• Inputs such as Seedlings and Fertilizers for this activities can be obtained from waste too,

• Plant Protectors and Land Preparation Structures can be manufactured e.g. from hardened recycled paper paste and tyres.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES • The production of Seedlings and Land Soil improvers

(Compost, SAP and fertilizers) can be focused towards BioEnergy CROPS, (like Jatropha) and the production of other Useful Local Species,

• TO BE HARVESTED by the Community and employed in other processes (e.g. production of Biofuel, Essences Extraction, etc.) or activities still to be developed and experienced.

• Sustainability will be enhanced in this case if this two different kind of species (Bioenergetic&Local) are both COMBINED in the same Agricultural Project and the ISSUE of Ground Structure Conservation and Soil Restoration regarded not to compromise future Fertility.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES

• ACUACULTURE is the artificial obtaining of Fish that can be eaten or distributed,

• will be feasible on small investment – employing Food Wastages that have been properly

SEPARATED and collected – using FILTERS to Clean the Water that has to come in and

out of the FISH TANK – a special FEEDER that prevents floating feed from

spreading and lets the rest simply sink, while fish can access in and out

• Note that the MUD at the bottom gets automatically

digested and becomes a good Fertilizer too

JUSTIFICATION • If Environmental Practices are implemented at Camp, Host

States and Local Populations will be more keen to accept the Presence of Refugees in their Territory, as their negative Impact will have been minimised.

• International Organisations dedicated to the Problem of Refugees and Displaced Populations, like ACNUR, recognise the importance of Environmental Issues and consider that it’s necessary to promote the Use of New and Existing Ecological Technologies as a necessary improvement at Humanitarian Aid.

• This is one Response to the Global call that was launched to Request the creation of the necessary means to do this.

TO ALL • The System can be implemented at any kind of smaller

or bigger population, temporary or not, and the Technologies proposed may be developed and experimented by all those willing to do so, REGARDLESS their Ethnic origin, Gender, Economic situation, level of Education and Age, AS LONG AS they don’t endanger their own Healths and consider the Global Commitment for a Greener World.

• Some permanent SLUMS of Nowadays are Temporary Settlements that lasted longer than expected and this Waste Management System, including ALL the activities and ideas described, can of course be adapted to them.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Not all, but some of the ideas presented have been

gathered from documents that were hung on INTERNET, so that further explanations and details can be found there. The intention was to include all those single efforts

made by teams and individuals worldwide into One Meaningful Strategy of Waste Management,

and put it at the Service of SUSTAINABILITY in the African Continent of today.

• All references have been kept and are listed at the end of The Best Environmental Practices Guide on which

this presentation is based and any comments might be addressed to the Author:ylaluz11@yahoo.es