Environmentally Sustainable Recycling System for Vanuatu Communities - Case Study Example

Waste Management Report Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 List of figures 3 1.0 Waste recycling project 4 1.1 Professional EA Review 4 1.2 Project overview 4 1.3 Design strategy 5 1.3.1 Recycling shed 5 Figure 1: Proposed design of the recycling shed 6 Figure 2: Expected completed outlook of the recycling shed 6 1.3.2 Education Campaign 8 1.3.3 Impact of climate change 8 1.3.3.1 Region 8 1.3.3.2 Design 9 1.3.3.3 Sustainability measures for climate change 9 1.3.3.4 Overall evaluation of advantages and limitations 9 1.4 Practical implementation 10 1.5 Conclusion 10 References 11 Appendices 12 List of figures Table of Contents 2 List of figures 3 1.0 Waste recycling project 4 1.1 Professional EA Review 4 1.2 Project overview 4 1.3 Design strategy 5 1.3.1 Recycling shed 5 Figure 1: Proposed design of the recycling shed 6 Figure 2: Expected completed outlook of the recycling shed 6 1.3.2 Education Campaign 8 1.3.3 Impact of climate change 8 1.3.3.1 Region 8 1.3.3.2 Design 9 1.3.3.3 Sustainability measures for climate change 9 1.3.3.4 Overall evaluation of advantages and limitations 9 1.4 Practical implementation 10 1.5 Conclusion 10 References 11 Appendices 12 1.0 Waste recycling project Title: Design project of socially, economically and environmentally sustainable recycling system for Vanuatu communities. 1.1 Professional EA Review An effective team member is one who understands the basics of leadership and team dynamics. I think one has to be accommodative of diversity, earn trust and confidence of colleagues and takes initiative. I believe that the member should be professional, consultative and be able to recognize divergence opinions and views. I have learned to work with cross-cultural teams, cope in a high pressure environment and complete tasks with high levels of quality and expectations. I brought interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills and good communication skills. Up to date, the team has been cohesive and regularly communicates to compare notes. At first, I was not aware of my contribution and roles but with the experience of the team, I have known how to multitask and document project risks. I brought cohesiveness, time management and determination to the team. I evaluated my resources using a personal log and time logs. A professional engineer needs to develop team skills to cultivate leadership, increase levels of trust and commitment of all project members. Excellent team skills ensure the project achieves its deliverables and milestones within the desired quality, schedule and technical performance. 1.2 Project overview This project uses economically, socially and environmentally sound recycling systems to reduce wastes generated by Vanuatu households. The project has two deliverables; developing a recycling shed and running an educational campaign targeting the 10 East Santo villages of Vanuatu. Santo has a population of 40,000 (2009 Census) people in an area of 3955.5 km2 and is located in the Sanma province of Vanuatu (SPC 2009). These communities are vulnerable to widespread dumping of garbage on roads and backyards. In response to this problem, this project will reduce waste through new and innovative solutions of up-cycling and transforming of wastes to useful products. The recycling process will involve; receiving wastes, separation and sorting, transforming and packaging. On the other hand, the element of education campaigns will involve awareness creation on innovative ways of waste recycling, overcoming of barriers and campaign promotion channels. Potential limitations and risks will be captured in the design strategy section. 1.3 Design strategy The choice of the design was based on the fulfillment of the following requirements; 1.3.1 Recycling shed The project intends to reduce rubbish dump on waste sites by setting up a recycling shed. The location of the recycling shed is to be in an area where everyone within the community can access and use. The shed will be equipped with tools and machinery to turn waste into useful objects. Figure 1: Proposed design of the recycling shed Figure 2: Expected completed outlook of the recycling shed Construction: Locally treated wood, nails, hinges and sheet metal will be the key materials used in the construction of the recycling shed. They will be made offsite and transported to the site so as to reduce the impact on the environment. This project is expected to take 3 months with an estimated $3,000. Standard dimensions for the construction of recycling sheds will be used. Location: In reducing the amount of dumped and burnt waste, this recycling shed will be located in place for everyone to bring their waste and for anyone in the community to then use this waste to up-cycle. The sheds will have all necessary tools that would be needed to turn waste into useful objects (Lane 2014). Collection: As the waste is dumped onto the side of the road in a pile, the recycling shed will be made approximately large enough for 5 sorting nets constructed out of the waste left by the villagers would be appropriate. Each sorting net would hold a different waste material, for example, plastic water bottles, tin cans, dead batteries, cardboards and other waste (EPC 2015). Above each sorting net, an image of the wastes that will go into that particular net will be provided so the villagers know what wastes go where. Recycling process: Locals will bring in waste upon which they are separated and sorted. The waste sorting instruction will adhere to the waste management regulations of East Santo. The wastes will be separated into the following groups; Recyclable waste; Paper, cardboard, glass, small metal objects Other household waste; electrical equipment, large and heavy objects, large metal objects, wood, twigs and brushwood, garden waste, Hazardous waste; batteries, industrial solvents, oils, motor fluids and paints Garden waste; food waste, kitchen rolls, wood chips Energy waste; plastic products, clothes, foam plastics and tarpaulins The recycling process is expected to be efficient and effective to command confidence and trust of the local communities. Recycling outputs: On this imaged list, this project will reign on the following recycling ideas; Recycling tin cans into metal sheets by removing the lid and base and flattening into a sheet to reinforce walls and houses Turning a plastic bottle into plastic string using an easy to use device consisting of a washer, blade and a board Turning plastic bottles into lights for houses by filling them with water and a fluorescent chemical Take hazardous waste to special collection points or staffed reception points. Locals are advised to bring the original packaging if possible. Deliverables: Recycling shed, sorting nets, location points 1.3.2 Education Campaign An awareness campaign is expected to be conducted to ensure the project results are sustainable and continued after the completion of the recycling sheds. Along with this recycling shed we will run an education campaign for locals, to show innovative ways they can reuse objects like bottles and tin cans. Apart from conducting road shows, posters and billboards will be placed at roadsides to create the most effective reach. Running the campaign: The awareness campaign will be run after the recycling sheds have been completed and erected. A caravan and a number of local people will be picked to run this campaign. This campaign will mostly be picture based to overcome the difficulties of language and will include many examples of objects we can make with recycled materials. The campaign aims to achieve the following; Show innovative ways to reuse waste Picture based campaign to overcome language barriers Ideas and samples will be in shed and printed on wall. Increase the contribution of locals in waste management and disposal In this education campaign to up-cycle and reuse waste products, on one of the walls inside the recycling shed, a list, consisting of images and diagrams similarly to a construction booklet will be provided. 1.3.3 Impact of climate change 1.3.3.1 Region Floods: Continued effects of global warming and emissions are likely to increase cases of typhoons and floods within the Melanesian region Destruction: Floods destroy and damage the waste recycling systems Diseases: Wastes are strewn all over in case of strong winds and floods causing endemic spread of waterborne diseases Social and environmental pressure: Increased heat stress, pest activity and changes in rainfall in Vanuatu 1.3.3.2 Design Vulnerability: Destruction of recycling sheds by floods and storms Exposure: Increased pest activity likely to attack the wooden construction framework Operations: Increased rainfall inhibits the waste collection and recycling process Maintenance challenges: Strong winds and presence of typhoons in the long term will make repair of recycling shed expensive Change and expectations: Other future alternatives may arise to substitute the simple recycling structures 1.3.3.3 Sustainability measures for climate change Social-cultural awareness: All members of the community to be enlightened on waste disposal and climate change Economic empowerment: Involving unemployed members of the community in waste disposal for wages Environmental conservation: Recycling of garden waste and water and use of solar panels will save on the environment 1.3.3.4 Overall evaluation of advantages and limitations This project will benefit the East Santo community in waste management. Residents will be safe and protected from waste related diseases. Wastes will be recycled and put into useful use once again by turning rubbish into income. The projects are inexpensive and easy to design and implement. However, the design requires use of wood which leads to cutting down of trees (Bartlett and Prasad 2012). Furthermore, intensive awareness campaigns will not change waste disposal attitudes and behavior immediately. 1.4 Practical implementation The project will require $3,000 to be implemented within a period of 3 months. The project will require carpenters, community, volunteers and town planners to work as a team. 1.5 Conclusion This detailed analysis of the design of waste management system in Santo, Vanuatu has shown that local resources such as knowledge, materials and labor can be integrated to help the community solve its waste recycling problem. The project is a simple recycling shed for all the waste types apart from hazardous wastes. Using fewer funds and human labor, this project will be expected to be completed within 3 months. On completion of this project, road shows and posters awareness campaign will be conducted to make the project sustainable. Residents observe better waste disposal methods, safer from diseases and earn money. However, the project uses wood which is susceptible to global warming. As a solution, treated wood will be used in construction. The results of this project will bring social, economic and environmental benefits to the Santo community; therefore, it is worth implementing. References Bartlett, Chale, & Prahasad, Vinesh. 2012. Adapting to climate change in Vanuatu. Accessed on July 17, 2012. https://lrd.spc.int/focus-areas/climate-change/34/adapting-to-climate-change-in-vanuatu Environmental Policy Bureau 2015. Acceptable ways to separate and dispose of garbage and recyclables. Accessed February 10, 2015. http://kyoto-kogomi.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/gg-eng.pdf Lane, Verlene. 2014. Japan’s garbage disposal systems explained. Accessed October 5, 2014. https://www.tofugu.com/japan/garbage-in-japan/ SPC [Secretariat of the Pacific Community], 2009. Vanuatu Country Profile. Weaver, S, Hewitt, T, O'Sullivan, R, 2007, “Carbon Credits from Biofuels in Electricity Generation in Vanuatu”. Research Report 26, School of Geography, Environment, and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Appendices TEAM CHARTER Our objectives To design and implement a project design in waste management To adhere to effective team membership and leadership principles To generate a high quality report within the specified timelines Members involved Group members Volunteers Technical designers Municipality planners Community Our goals Deliverables Milestones Emphasis on quality Time management Teamwork Who will do what Designers: Engineering skills for design and construction of recycling sheds Team members: Allocate activities and define individual roles Community: To support the project in sustainable waste management Town planners: Provide locations and planning for effective waste management Carpenters: Design and construct the recycling sheds offsite Volunteers: To educate the Santo community on sustainable waste disposal Our milestones Waste design project completed Awareness of waste disposal completed Project monitoring and closure completed Our expectations A matrix communication structure Horizontal flow of information Regular reporting of work in progress Decision making on consultative and cooperation basis Performance based on divided work roles and responsibilities Time and scheduling of work to consider risks and resources Timely completion of deliverables and milestones Signed: Read More