De mange hjælpeorganisationer i Haiti har produceret enorme mængder affald og ofte er der ingen planer for, hvad der skal ske med det. Affaldshåndtering kan være dyrt men det kan også være med til at skabe goodwill i befolkningerne.
Addressing the environmental impact, and more specifically the issue of waste generated by humanitarian action is a recurrent issue which aid actors are confronted with.
In a report released in August 2014, UNEP and OCHA highlighted the need for international organizations to mainstream environmental issues into the programming and implementation of humanitarian operations in order to enhance the quality and efficiency of aid.
Aid actors generate waste in their operations as well in their programs, and this can be harmful to the environment if it is not managed appropriately.
Store affaldsproblemer i Haiti
At the instigation of the Humanitarian Environmental Network (Réseau Environnement Humanitaire), Groupe URD and CEFREPADE, developed a project proposal aimed at supporting aid organizations and carried out pilot research into the solid waste management practices of international organizations in Haiti, where a large number of aid actors are still present.
In the transition context between emergency relief and development, URD’s Observatory in Haiti identified solid waste as a topic of research for 2014.
Haiti’s waste management system is characterized by a lack of treatment, poor collection methods and a weak legal framework. Haiti’s largest landfill site (Truitier) is a serious environmental concern: located less than 100 meters from the sea, the facility is not lined to prevent leachate infiltration.
In terms of the environmental and health risks associated with this waste management system (risk of flooding, water borne diseases, air water and soil pollution, contribution to climate change etc.), aid actors need to be accountable for minimizing the quantity of waste that they generate and for managing their waste in an environmentally conscious way.
Stigende bevidsthed om problemet
This study shows that the issue of waste management is not sufficiently taken into account in aid actors’ operations and programs.
Aid actors are generally not aware of the types and the quantity of waste that they generate, nor the way that it is being managed beyond having a contract with a collection company.
In addition to this, they are generally poorly equipped to develop strategies to reduce waste or improve waste management.
However, the study also highlights the fact that there is growing recognition of the importance of this issue amongst aid actors.
Aid actors need to question the extent of their responsibility in relation to the waste that they generate beyond what is visible to them: waste oil from vehicles or waste from kit packaging distributed to beneficiaries for instance.
The use of expanded polystyrene (e.g. for “boites mangers”- packaging in which food is served) by international organisations and their employees also raises an ethical issue as this is prohibited by Haitian law.
Accountability og transparency
Implementing appropriate prevention and waste management systems can nevertheless imply additional costs and a reorganization of the logistical mechanisms around collecting and transport of waste.
Indeed, “green” materials (e.g. paper or other biodegradable materials vs. plastic) may cost more and transporting recyclable waste to recycling firms can prove difficult.
However, taking this issue into account from the planning to the implementation stage is an accountability and transparency issue that can have an impact on the quality of aid programs and on their level of acceptance in communities.
Solutions must be developed and adapted to local contexts, but must also be designed at an institutional level in order to allow sustainable changes in practice.
Genbrug kan også være skadeligt
Despite a chaotic waste management situation, there are interesting recycling opportunities for aid organizations in Haiti.
A wide range of non-hazardous and hazardous waste can indeed be recycled throughout the country: organic waste, paper and cardboard, aluminum, metal, glass, tires, plastic, electronic waste, car oil and batteries.
It should be noted that some recycling activities can however have a negative impact on the environment (e.g. air, soil and water pollution) as a result of the dismantling of waste. (for instance, the acid contained in batteries might be discharged into the soil).
A mapping of all recycling opportunities by types of waste is included at the end of this report.
Læs hele rapporten ”LA GESTION DES DECHETS DES ACTEURS DE L’AIDE – Etude de cas: Haïti” (på fransk) (PDF, 44 sider)
Læs engelsk resume af rapporten (PDF, 16 sider)
