| GENERATION OF
INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE |
| Environmental |
Chapter 21 |
Driving Force |
1. Indicator
(a) Name: Generation of industrial and
municipal solid waste.
(b) Brief Definition: The generation of industrial and municipal
solid waste is derived from the production of waste on a weight basis at
the point of production.
(c) Unit of Measurement: Tonnes per capita per annum.
2. Placement in the Framework
(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 21: Environmentally
Sound Management of Solid Wastes and Sewage-related Issues.
(b) Type of Indicator: Driving Force.
3. Significance (Policy Relevance)
(a) Purpose: The main purpose is to
represent the production of solid waste produced by all types of human
settlements activity.
(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable
Development: Generation of waste as an indicator is intimately linked
to the level of economic activity in a particular country. It is also an
indication of the patterns of consumption of raw materials. Wealthier
economies tend to produce more waste. In many developed countries a
reduction in the volume of waste generated is an indication of changes in
consumption patterns with respect to raw materials and increase in
recycling and reuse.
(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This
indicator is intimately linked to other socioeconomic and environmental
indicators especially those related to income-level and economic growth.
Those would include: rate of growth of urban population, Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) per capita, waste disposal, and waste recycling.
(d) Targets: Some countries have set
national targets for the reduction of solid waste within a specified time
frame.
(e) International Conventions and Agreements:
No international agreements exists for reduction in solid waste
production.
4. Methodological Description and Underlying
Definitions
(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The
precise definition of what constitutes solid waste is variable, but
principally it can be considered as that material which has no further
useful purpose and is discarded. It is, therefore, perceived to have no
commercial value to the producer. This does not, however, preclude it
being of value to some other party. Solid waste is generally produced in
three ways: through the production and consumption of goods and services;
through the processing of wastes from these services; and through
end-of-pipe control or treatment of emissions. Waste is generally reported
based on source under the following categories: mining and construction
wastes; energy production wastes; agricultural wastes; municipal wastes;
and industrial waste or sludge.
Industrial wastes can be expressed in terms of
tonnes per annum or in some cases related to the production volume of the
product being processed or manufactured. Municipal wastes are produced by
a variety of establishments in the urban environment in addition to
households, including institutions such as schools, government buildings,
commercial establishments such as hospitals and hotels, and some scattered
sources of hazardous wastes.
(b) Measurement Methods: Solid waste
production at source is difficult to measure for municipal wastes, except
by using intensive studies at the household level. It is highly dependent
on the mode of collection by the local authorities and whether or not the
waste is actually disposed of in the official system. For industrial
wastes the volume of waste can most easily be measured as the weight which
leaves the factory compound.
(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: This
indicator is a measure of the amount of solid waste produced by human
settlements activity. It represents a Driving Force in the DSR Framework.
(d) Limitations of the Indicator: Solid
waste production is expensive to measure at source; thus, consistent and
comparable statistics are difficult to obtain. The indicator does not
distinguish between toxic and hazardous wastes, and those more benign; nor
does it cover waste stored on site. It is often confused with the amount
of solid waste disposed, which is measured by recording the weight or
volume of waste disposed at the disposal or treatment site.
Volume of waste produced may be significantly
affected by the presence of particular wastes. For example, the inclusion
of construction wastes in domestic refuse will greatly affect the waste
density and hence the indicator. The actual method of storage of waste and
its moisture content will also affect the waste density. The volume of
waste produced is often affected by seasonal variations in the production
of various agricultural foodstuffs.
(e) Alternative Definitions: The use of
solid waste disposal, which is easier to measure, may be a suitable proxy
measure for this indicator in some countries.
5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from
International and National Sources
(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator:
The weight of waste produced by municipal and industrial sources; and
population.
(b) Data Availability: Generally, data is
scattered, may be difficult to obtain, and consist of only rough
estimates. Where it is available, data for municiple wastes can be
obtained from studies of representative cross-section of the population.
For industrial sources, data on the volume of waste is monitored by waste
collection contractors.
(c) Data Sources: At the international
level, specialised research surveys have been conducted by the Settlement
Infrastructure and Environment Programme of the United Nations Centre for
Human Settlements (UNCHS or Habitat). At the national level, data sources
would include ministries responsible for urban affairs and the
environment, and statistical agencies.
6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the
Indicator
(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). The contact point
is the Director, Programme Coordination, Habitat: fax no. (254 2) 624 266.
(b) Other Organizations: The United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, the World Health
Organization (WHO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), and Eurostat are involved in the development of this
indicator.
7. Further Information
Various publications from the Settlement
Infrastructure and Environment Programme, Habitat.
UNEP. Environmental Data Report. 1993-94.
OECD. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1995. OECD,
Paris, 1995.
Eurostat. Europe's Environment: Statistical
Compendium for the Dobris Assessment. 1995.
| HOUSEHOLD WASTE
DISPOSED PER CAPITA |
| Environmental |
Chapter 21 |
Driving Force |
1. Indicator
(a) Name: Household waste disposed per
capita.
(b) Brief Definition: The volume of waste disposed per capita is
derived from the actual volume of waste that is disposed of at a point
outside the producers premises. Some proportion may be disposed of by the
formal waste management system. The volume of waste disposed should be
considered as that which is either landfilled or incinerated not that
which is recycled or reused.
(c) Unit of Measurement: kg/capita/day.
2. Placement in the Framework
(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 21: Environmentally
Sound Management of Solid Wastes and Sewage-related Issues.
(b) Type of Indicator: Driving Force.
3. Significance (Policy Relevance)
(a) Purpose: The main purpose of this
indicator is to represent the amount of waste which is disposed of from
the household, some of which is disposed through the official waste
management system.
(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable
Development: An increase in waste disposal is clearly unsustainable in
the long term. The amount of waste reflects on society's production and
consumption patterns, and has potential impact on human health and the
environment. An indicator on the amount of waste generated is, therefore,
a first approximation of environmental pressure on air, water, and land
resources. The type of waste and waste handling facilities will, of
course, greatly influence the actual impact. A sustainable waste
management program will strive to minimize the amount of waste, maximize
the amount of reuse and recycling, and promote appropriate waste disposal
and treatment. This indicator is designed to be a measure of the waste
leaving the domestic unit as distinct from that produced. The difference
between waste generated and waste disposed provides an indication of the
amount reused or recycled at the household level.
(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: The
indicator is linked with those in the areas of human health, human
settlements, financial mechanisms, freshwater resources, land resources,
and the atmosphere. Closely associated indicators would include: access to
safe drinking water, rate of growth of urban population, environmental
protection expenditures, land condition change, and ambient concentrations
of pollutants in urban areas.
(d) Targets: No targets exist for this
indicator.
(e) International Conventions and Agreements:
No international agreements apply.
4. Methodological Description and Underlying
Definitions
(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The
quantity of waste produced per capita is directly related to an
individual's production and consumption patterns. The higher their income,
the higher the volume of waste they tend to produce. As their wealth
increases, they tend to purchase more consumables, including goods which
are contained in large amounts of packing material. For those who are not
so well off, or where public pressure is applied, communities will try to
recover and reuse as much as possible to reduce expenditure and the volume
of waste.
(b) Measurement Methods: This indicator will
be the result of specific surveys which measure the amount of waste on a
weight basis leaving the physical boundaries of the household.
(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: This
indicator is a measure of the amount of waste produced by households. As
such, it is a Driving Force indicator in the DSR Framework.
(d) Limitations of the Indicator: This
indicator is difficult to measure without planning a specific study and is
highly dependant on the sample households which are measured. There is a
large variation between the volumes of waste disposed of by high and
low-income residents. There is also the problem that when evaluated in a
particular study, people have been shown to modify their behaviour with
regard to what they discard. This indicator is closely related with the
volume disposed by waste management authorities. The indicator applies
primarily to urban areas only; rural data would be very difficult to
obtain.
(e) Alternative Definitions: The use of an
indicator measuring the generation of municipal waste may be adequate and
more appropriate for some countries.
5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from
International and National Sources
(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator:
The data required is the total volume of waste that leaves a household;
together with the number of householders.
(b) Data Availability: Data is not readily
available and must be the result of a specific study.
(c) Data Sources: At the international
level, specialised research surveys have been conducted by the Settlement
Infrastructure and Environment Programme of the United Nations Centre for
Human Settlements (UNCHS or Habitat). At the national level, data sources
would include ministries responsible for urban affairs and the
environment, and statistical agencies.
6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the
Indicator
(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). The contact point
is the Director, Programme Coordination, Habitat: fax no. (254 2) 624 266.
(b) Other Organizations: The United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, and the World Health
Organization (WHO) are involved in the development of this indicator.
7. Further Information
Various publications from the Settlement
Infrastructure and Environment Programme, Habitat.
| EXPENDITURE ON
WASTE MANAGEMENT |
| Environmental |
Chapter 21 |
Response |
1. Indicator
(a) Name: Expenditure on waste management.
(b) Brief Definition: This indicator relates to the amount of
municipal and/or private money spent on waste collection and treatment.
(c) Unit of Measurement: $US per unit of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP).
2. Placement in the Framework
(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 21: Environmentally
Sound Management of Solid Wastes and Sewage-related Issues.
(b) Type of Indicator: Response.
3. Significance (Policy Relevance)
(a) Purpose: The main purpose of this
indicator is to give an indication of the type and level of service that
the city authority provides for waste management and the relative
importance that it attaches to waste management in relation to other
services. It is also an indication of the efficiency of the waste
collection service when expressed per tonne of waste disposed and can be
used to compare relative efficiency within a country or region where the
overall costs are of the same order.
(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable
Development: Expenditure on waste management is an important factor in
determining the commitment to sustainable development. If waste is not
handled properly, there is a significant level of deterioration in the
health and living environment which results in a loss in productivity and
reduced economic output. There have been examples of poor waste management
leading to disease epidemics which have seriously affected human health,
tourism, and other industries.
(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: The
indicator is linked to other social, economic, and environmental
indicators, for example GDP per capita, Environmentally Adjusted Domestic
Product (EDP) per capita, environmental protection expenditures, and those
associated with the generation, disposal, and recycling of waste.
(d) Targets: No targets exist for this
indicator.
(e) International Conventions and Agreements:
No international agreements apply.
4. Methodological Description and Underlying
Definitions
(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The
expenditure on waste management is most usually the amount spent on the
provision of public and private services for waste management. It is
important that the indicator is derived from waste management data rather
that other forms of waste such as street cleansing or certain industrial
wastes. The budgeted figures should include both per capita expenditure,
and operation and maintenance budgets. The costs are usually composed of
capital equipment costs, amortised over the life of the equipment; and
operational costs such as staff, fuel and maintenance.
(b) Measurement Methods: The expenditure
exclusively used for waste management services can sometimes be difficult
to extract from financial records, as it may be combined with other public
health facilities. The indicator is derived from the ratio of total
expenditure to the total volume of waste collected by the waste management
authority or private contractors it has engaged. In some countries, it may
be possible that some of the operations for waste management are
undertaken on so-called community contracting schemes.
(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: The
indicator is an indication of the level and efficiency of municipal
service provision and a measure of their ability to respond to the
increasing problem of waste management. The indicator will also be a
measure of the level of cost recovery received for the provision of
services. It is clearly a Response indicator in the DSR Framework.
(d) Limitations of the Indicator: Where a
country receives a substantial level of donor support, care must be taken
to include these finances in the calculation of expenditure.
(e) Alternative Definitions: Not available.
5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from
International and National Sources
(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator:
The volume of waste disposed of per unit time.
The total expenditure on solid waste management per
unit of time. GDP levels.
(b) Data Availability: The data are
generally available from municipal records or from private contractors
where appropriate.
(c) Data Sources: Data are usually derived
from local authority records.
6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the
Indicator
(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). The contact point
is the Director, Programme Coordination, Habitat: fax no. (254 2) 624 266.
(b) Other Organizations: The United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Eurostat are involved in
the development of this indicator.
7. Further Information
Various publications from the World Bank and the
Settlement Infrastructure and Environment Programme, Habitat.
| WASTE RECYCLING
AND REUSE |
| Environmental |
Chapter 21 |
Response |
1. Indicator
(a) Name: Rate of waste recycling and reuse.
(b) Brief Definition: This is the volume of waste which is reused
or recycled based on the volume actually generated at source on a per
capita basis.
(c) Unit of Measurement: %.
2. Placement in the Framework
(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 21: Environmentally
Sound Management of Solid Wastes and Sewage-related Issues.
(b) Type of Indicator: Response.
3. Significance (Policy Relevance)
(a) Purpose: The purpose of this indicator
is to measure the proportion of waste which is reused or recycled.
(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable
Development: Solid waste recycling and reuse is an important component
of a sustainable approach for solid waste management. As communities
expand, the available sinks for waste disposal will become limited and
necessitate the transport of waste for greater distances. The ecological
footprint of urban areas will therefore be greatly increased. By
stimulating recycling and reuse, landfill capacity is conserved and
operational costs for solid waste management reduced. There is also the
benefit of increased income generation for the urban poor through
recycling schemes.
This indicator has a different relevance for
developed and developing countries. In developed countries it represents a
willingness on the part of national and local governments to consider
waste recycling as an environmentally sound policy option, whereas in
developing countries it represents the level of the informal sector waste
recycling industry, which is usually promoted for its income-generating
potential.
(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This
indicator is intimately linked to the other solid waste management
indicators for Chapter 21. It is also associated with some of the
indicators for human settlements and financial mechanisms, such as percent
of population in urban areas, and environmental protection expenditures.
(d) Targets: Some developed countries have
established voluntary targets for the proportion of waste recycled by year
2000.
(e) International Conventions and Agreements:
No international agreements apply.
4. Methodological Description and Underlying
Definitions
(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The
proportion of waste recycled requires accurate estimation of the
proportion of waste generated, as much waste is recycled or pre-sorted at
the household level before it reaches the formal waste management system.
For this purpose the measurement of the indicator is often completed by
means of a specialised survey. Generally the proportion of wastes recycled
is reported based on the type of recyclable components. For example,
metals, plastics, paper, glass, textiles, organic etc. It should be noted
that due to pre-separation of inorganic recyclables, organic waste often
constitutes 50% of the total volume of the waste from developing
countries.
In addition to recycling at the industrial and
household level, in many cities waste is recycled outside the producer's
premises, either on the street, by formal waste management employees, or
at the dumpsite. The indicator must consider all sources of recycling and
the additional methods combine to give a complex expression or the overall
percentage of recycling. The amount of recycling undertaken outside the
producer's premises has to be estimated from detailed surveys of all the
dealers in recycled material and requires an inventory of all small-scale
reprocessors who recycle wastes.
(b) Measurement Methods: The volumes of
waste produced and the percentage recycled at the industrial and household
levels are measured by simple weighing. At the municipal level the volume
recycled is best estimated by quantifying the output by the producers of
recycled products and the volume of waste that is disposed of by the
formal sector.
(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: The
indicator as a measure of recycling and reuse of waste, is a Response
indicator in the DSR Framework.
(d) Limitations of the Indicator: The
indicator should be expressed in terms of particular components to be
useful in determining the actual recycling rate. If all components are
lumped together on a weight or volume basis the indicator is not
particularly useful. Some recycling, for example waste oils and solvents,
is not captured by this solid waste indicator.
(e) Alternative Definitions: Sometimes it is
worthwhile to express the % recycled based on the useage of a particular
comodity, for example volume of aluminium recycled per volume produced.
This enables a better estimation of the level of resource conservation,
and for some industries, could be done on a national basis.
5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from
International and National Sources
(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator:
Weight of waste produced by component; weight of waste disposed or
discarded, by component; weight of waste recycled by the formal and
informal sectors, by component.
(b) Data Availability: Generally, there is
little problem in obtaining the data from municipal or industrial records.
However, data can be scattered and time consuming to compile for indicator
purposes. Some informal sector industries are reluctant to declare their
activities and data collection from them could be difficult.
(c) Data Sources: At the international
level, specialised research surveys have been conducted by the Settlement
Infrastructure and Environment Programme of the United Nations Centre for
Human Settlements (UNCHS or Habitat). Within countries, data sources would
include national and local agencies responsible for urban affairs and the
environment.
6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the
Indicator
(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). The contact point
is the Director, Programme Coordination, Habitat: fax no. (254 2) 624 266.
(b) Other Organizations: The United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and
industry associations would be interested in the development of this
indicator.
7. Further Information
Various publications from the Settlement
Infrastructure and Environment Programme, Habitat.
UNEP. Environmental Data Report. 1993-94.
| MUNICIPAL WASTE
DISPOSAL |
| Environmental |
Chapter 21 |
Response |
1. Indicator
(a) Name: Municipal waste disposal.
(b) Brief Definition: This indicator relates to the volume of waste
collected and disposed of by official means, either landfilling,
incineration, or other processing.
(c) Unit of Measurement: Tonnes per unit of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) per annum.
2. Placement in the Framework
(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 21: Environmentally
Sound Management of Solid Wastes and Sewage-related Issues.
(b) Type of Indicator: Response.
3. Significance (Policy Relevance)
(a) Purpose: The volume of waste disposed by
the municipal authority is an indicator which relates to the effficiency
of service provision for waste management. In addition, when compared to
the waste generation rate, it will give some indication of both the
amounts of waste that are dumped indiscriminately and that recycled and
reused by the formal and informal sectors.
(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable
Development: High waste levels result from consumption and production.
Policies and decision making with respect to waste are significant in
terms of budgets, potential human health, and environmental effects. Urban
authorities who attach little importance to waste management will have a
very low level of waste disposal, in relation to the volume produced,
unless recycling and reuse are extensive. Generally, adequate waste
management indicates that the authorities are aware of the preventative
nature and reduction of health and environmental risks.
(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: The
indicator is linked to other social, economic, and environmental
indicators, for example GDP per capita, environmental protection
expenditures, and those associated with the generation and recycling of
waste.
(d) Targets: No targets exist for this
indicator.
(e) International Conventions and Agreements:
No international agreements apply.
4. Methodological Description and Underlying
Definitions
(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: For
local authorities, the level of service provision for solid waste disposal
services is an important indicator of the maximum capacity of municipal
facilities for waste disposal. In many developing countries service
provision cannot keep up with demand and it can be assumed that there will
always be room for improvement. In more developed countries, there is not
so much of a problem with service provision and the indicator could be
viewed as the proportion of the waste from human settlements that is not
recycled or reused.
(b) Measurement Methods: The indicator is
most easily measured by extracting data from municipal records on the
number and loads of refuse vehicles used by the authority and any private
contractors which collect waste. Some waste disposal sites are equipped
with weigh-bridges to control unauthorised tipping and may also be used
for the purpose of data collection.
(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: The
indicator is a measure of the capacity of municipal authorities to collect
waste and may be used together with population data to estimate the level
of service coverage for waste management. It is a Driving Force indicator
in the DSR Framework.
(d) Limitations of the Indicator: The
indicator may not represent the level of service coverage if a large
proportion of the waste is recycled or reused by the informal sector or
private sector waste managers who are operating in an unregulated manner.
The waste disposed may not always include wastes that are incinerated or
disposed of by other means such as composting.
(e) Alternative Definitions: The generation
of municipal waste can be considered a proxy for this indicator.
5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from
International and National Sources
(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator:
Weight of waste being disposed of by the formal waste management authority
or under its direction.
(b) Data Availability: Generally, data is
available from municipal records for domestic wastes.
(c) Data Sources: The primary sources for
data are specialised research surveys and local authority records.
6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the
Indicator
(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). The contact point
is the Director, Programme Coordination, Habitat: fax no. (254 2) 624 266.
(b) Other Organizations: The United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Eurostat are involved in
the development of this indicator.
7. Further Information
Various publications from the Settlement
Infrastructure and Environment Programme, Habitat.
UNEP. Environmental Data Report. 1993-4.
Eurostat. Europe's Environment:Statistical
Compendium for the Dobris Assessment. 1995.
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