2. Contents
• What is Waste Management?
• Categories of Waste
• Waste Management in Jamaica
• Environmental Implications
• Waste Management in Developed
Countries
• Suggestions for Improved Waste
Management in Jamaica
• References
3. What is Waste
Management?
• The activities and actions required to
oversee waste from its inception to its
final disposal.
• This includes the collection, transport,
treatment and disposal of waste,
together with monitoring and
regulation of the waste management
process.
4. Categories of
Waste – Solid
Waste
• Non-hazardous, industrial, commercial
and domestic refuse including
household organic trash, street
sweepings, hospital and institutional
garbage, and construction wastes.
5. Categories of
Waste –
Hazardous Waste
• Waste that is hazardous has properties
that make it dangerous or potentially
harmful to human health or the
environment.
• Hazardous waste can be liquids, solids,
contained gases, or sludges or by-products
of manufacturing processes or simply
discarded commercial products like
cleaning fluids or pesticides
10. National Solid
Waste
Management
Authority
• Established in 2001 and has the sole
jurisdiction for solid waste
management in Jamaica.
• The NSWMA is regulated by the
National Environmental Planning
Agency.
• The NSWMA was given its legal
mandate with the enactment of the
National Solid Waste Management
Policy and the National Solid Waste
Management Act (2002).
11. National Solid
Waste
Management
Authority
• The National Resource Conservation
Authority Act (1991) has the primary
responsibility for the protection and
management of the natural resources
and the controlling of pollution.
• Solid waste is also governed under the
Environmental Permit and License
System with responsibility to ensure
requirement standards.
12. National Solid
Waste
Management
Authority
• The NSWMA currently collects, treats
and disposes of domestic solid waste
while simultaneously regulating the
sector.
• This has proven to be difficult in light of
the inadequate capacity of the NSWMA.
• Hence, the NSWMA is transitioning to a
regulatory mode while outsourcing
collection, treatment and disposal
services.
13. National Solid
Waste
Management
Authority
• The NSWMA is not responsible for the
collection, treatment and disposal of
commercial, agricultural, industrial or
hazardous waste; however, most non-
domestic wastes end up at the disposal
sites operated by the NSWMA.
14. A Summary of
Hazardous
Waste
Management in
Jamaica
• In Jamaica, medical waste is
incinerated.
• Incinerators are poorly designed, poorly
operated and maintained inadequately
and irregularly.
• Hazardous waste often ends up at
dump sites with other solid waste
materials.
• Due to the absence of a hazardous waste
dump facility in the country.
17. • About 10,000 tonnes of hazardous wastes are produced annually with
waste engine oil comprising as much as 80%.
• The Ministry of Local Government and Environment (MLGE) estimates
that about 500,000 lead acid batteries are generated annually with
only about 30% being collected and exported for recycling.
• The increasing generation of waste oil and lead acid batteries are
directly related to the increased importation of motor vehicles into
the island.
18. • The absence of facilities for the treatment and disposal of hazardous
waste means that most hazardous waste is deposited in the normal
waste stream ending up at landfills or in the sea.
• For instance, chemicals, waste paints and waste oil are usually poured
down drains, gullies and in some cases just thrown on land.
• Inadequate regulation of garages has made this problem worse with
the inappropriate disposal of waste oil and other toxic substances.
• Some of these garages are found close to residences.
19. • In a period of 10 years, Jamaica imported 210 460 motor vehicles at
an average rate of 26 308 per year.
• In a period of 10 years, over five million lead acid batteries were
imported into Jamaica.
• More often than not, these items end up as the waste stream at the
end of their usefulness.
• Post-use tyres are often discarded in normal garbage and end up at
the dumpsites where they are often burnt.
20. • Furthermore, routine garbage collections throughout the island does
not do any sorting prior to disposal.
• Issues with fires, hazardous material disposal, as well as unlimited
access to the sites by unauthorized personnel continue to plague
Jamaica’s waste management efforts.
• Also, the government has failed to successfully implement policies
and execute the requisite legislative framework necessary to operate
a landfill or waste-shed according to best practices.
21. The Bauxite
Industry
• Primarily composed of the insoluble fraction of the
bauxite ore that remains after extraction of the
aluminium-containing components.
• Initially, the residue is washed, to extract as much
valuable caustic soda and dissolved alumina as
possible.
• The caustic soda is recycled back into the
digestion process, reducing production costs and
in turn lowering the alkalinity of the residue.
• The pH level of the residue is generally up to 13
or higher in some cases, due to the presence of
alkaline sodium compounds, such as sodium
carbonate and sodium hydroxide.
22. The Bauxite
Industry
• Bauxite can contain trace quantities of metals such
as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead,
manganese, mercury, nickel and naturally-occurring
radioactive materials, such as thorium and uranium.
• Most of these trace elements remain with the
residue after extraction of the alumina.
• After washing, the residue is contained in special
facilities known as Bauxite Residue Disposal Areas
23. The Bauxite
Industry
• In Jamaica:
• Mud/Dry stacking
• The residue is thickened to a high density
slurry.
• Deposited and allowed to consolidate and
dry before successive layers are deposited.
• This forms a slope on the deposit, allowing
rainwater to run off and minimising liquid
stored in the disposal area; lowering risk of
leakage and improving structural integrity.
24. The Bauxite
Industry
• The water reclaimed from the surface
is pumped back to the plant to
recover and recycle the soluble
sodium salts.
• Mud/Dry stacked residue is often
“under-drained” to improve the
consolidation of the residue and
recover further water for re-use in the
refinery.
• The combination of dry stacking and a
well drained deposits leads to a very
stable deposit of residue.
26. • The improper disposal of lead acid
batteries increases exposure (especially
children) to lead contamination.
• Burning of tyres releases carcinogenic
toxins in the atmosphere.
• End of life vehicles and tyres pose
social and environmental risks mainly
through storage of water which causes
generation of pathogens (such as
bacteria, viruses, mosquitoes).
• For example, solid waste capable of storing
water (such as ELVs and tyres) was
believed to have contributed to the recent
outbreak of malaria in Jamaica.
27. • Pollution of the soil, ground and
surface water and air by leachate.
• Already over 60 per cent of the
groundwater in the KMA is contaminated
by high nitrate concentrations.
• Many types of hazardous wastes such
as asbestos are carcinogenic and the
general public is often exposed to such
types of wastes, especially with the
destruction of old buildings.
• The burning of hazardous wastes and
seemingly inert substances like plastics
releases compounds such as dioxins
and furans which are highly
carcinogenic.
28. • It is believed that the fish, for instance,
in Kingston Harbour are contaminated
with heavy metals.
• Jamaican soils exhibit high levels of a
number of heavy metals, especially
cadmium, considered to be a very toxic
substance and for which levels in some
of Jamaica’s major agricultural areas
are extraordinarily high.
• The improper disposal of plastic
containers serve as breeding grounds
for mosquitoes, and this increases the
likelihood of spreading vector-diseases
such as: Zika, Dengue, Malaria, and
Chikungunya.
30. Europe
1
Regeneration of
solvents,
mineral oils,
chromic baths,
fuels
2
Water recycling
3
Recovery of
metals by
pyrometallurgic
al and
hydrometallurgi
cal processes
4
Recovery of
other materials
(soils, plastics,
scrap metals, …)
5
Energy recovery
6
Physico-
chemical
treatments
7
Biological
treatments
8
Incineration
9
Management
and treatment
of
Polychlorinated
biphenyls
10
Landfill
32. • Switzerland has established a well-functioning waste
disposal system in which public and private waste disposal
companies work together.
• In 2016, approximately 2.3 million tons of hazardous waste
underwent special treatment in Switzerland or was
exported for environmentally sustainable disposal under
strictly monitored conditions (0.5 million tons).
• This hazardous waste mainly originates from the
remediation of contaminated sites, which must be
completed by 2025. Around one quarter of hazardous
waste is recycled.
35. Reception: Waste arrives by means of
trailer trucks. Verifications, labelling
and regulatory paperwork ensure
tracking of the disposal process.
Inspection and Pre-Treatment: The
waste is inspected, analyzed in
laboratory and/or pre-treated
(shredded, mixed, resized) before going
through the main processes.
Incineration: Organic wastes are
destroyed in the incinerator at
temperatures above 1922°F. This
achieves a Destructive Removal
Efficiency of at least 99.9999% of
hazardous organic compounds.
Neutralization: Inorganic liquids are
chemically and physically rendered
non-hazardous in the “Phys-Chem”
process, utilizing a combination of
acid/base and redox properties.
Stabilization: Fly ash is mixed with
cement, which constitutes one of the
many barriers against leaching of trace
amounts of heavy metals.
36. Post-Treatment: Flue gas scrubbing removes acids
and particulates while effluents are cleaned using
wastewater treatment techniques.
Landfill: Stabilized material is disposed in the on-
site Class 1 landfill. Cells are secured with clay,
geomembrane and are re-vegetated.
Deep Well: Treated liquid effluents are injected
into a deep well roughly 6,000 feet below the
surface into a stable geological formation.
Environmental Monitoring: Any potential impact of
the activities on the environment is closely
monitored. Surrounding wildlife, air emissions,
surface and ground waters, landfill and deep well
integrities are constantly studied in order to verify
that the prime goal of the facility is achieved:
protect the environment.
37. Japan
• The use of transfer stations where the waste is transferred from small or medium trucks
to larger fuel efficient vehicles.
• This results in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions being reduced significantly.
• Biomass utilization technologies are used to extract methane from high moisture content
and organic wastes for power generation.
1. Cooking oil with low moisture content is recycled and processed into biodegradable
fuel
2. Bio-digesters are used to process organic fertilizers and animal waste for power
generation purposes.
38. • Landfills in Japan are categorized as:
1. Controlled – the collection of non-harmful waste
2. Inert – plastics, rubber debris, metal, ceramic, and bricks
3. Isolated – heavy metals, and harmful waste
• These classifications also reduce the levels of harmful human exposure
as well as cross-contamination.
39. Singapore
• 83% of scrap tires recovered and 64% of the
wood waste generated are recycled.
• Waste is classified before incineration in one of
the four state owned waste-to-energy plants.
• Waste must be accompanied by a way-bill to
indicate the type and source of the waste.
41. • Recycling
• Increased investment in bioenergy
• Provision of proper facilities for collection, storage and disposal of
hazardous waste (including exporting such waste to other countries for
treatment)
• Promotion of product stewardship to engage each player within the
product life cycle (especially the manufacturer) in the management of
hazardous materials.
• Public awareness campaigns should seek to inform the public about
proper waste management, change consumption patterns and lifestyles,
and encourage participation in the management of wastes.
• There is a need for the strengthening of existing waste management
practices through policy changes and punitive measures for outright
disregard for legislation.
42. • Access to waste-shed should be limited to authorized personnel.
• This will immediately reduce the frequent occurrence of physical
injuries and/or deaths on the sites.
• Potential contamination and possible exposure to harmful contents
while on the landfills would also be reduced.
• The day to day activities on the dump should be carefully monitored
so that any irregular activities can be observed early and measures
taken to correct them.
• In the medium to long term, suitable sites should be sought for the
relocation of landfills in urban areas to isolated location, where
security and health concerns can be minimized.
43. References
• Advanced Disposal. (n.d.). Learn About Landfills. Retrieved February 01, 2019, from Advanced
Disposal: https://www.advanceddisposal.com/for-mother-earth/education-zone/learn-about-
landfills.aspx.
• European Environment Agency. (n.d.). Waste - State and impacts (Switzerland). Retrieved February
01, 2019, from European Environment Agency:
https://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/ch/waste-state-and-impacts-Switzerland.
• Federal Office for the Environment. (n.d.). Waste and raw materials: In brief. Retrieved February 01,
2019, from The Federal Council: Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and
Communications: https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home/topics/waste/in-brief.html#context-
sidebar.
44. References
• Hazardous Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved February 01, 2019, from United States Environmental
Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/hw/learn-basics-hazardous-waste#cradle.
• Hazardous Waste Europe. (n.d.). Activities and Process. Retrieved February 01, 2019, from
Hazardous Waste Europe: http://www.hazardouswasteeurope.eu/activities-process/.
• National Environmental Planning Agency. (1995). Jamaica: National Environmental Action
Plan. Kingston. Retrieved February 01, 2019, from National Environmental Planning Agency:
http://nepa.gov.jm/policies/neap/content.html.
45. References
• National Solid Waste Management Authority. (2015). Waste Characterization Studies - 2015.
Retrieved February 01, 2019, from http://www.nswma.gov.jm/resources/NSWMA%20-
%20Waste%20Characterization%20Studies%20-%202015.pdf.
• Planning Institute of Jamaica. (2007). Management of Hazardous & Solid Wastes in Jamaica.
Kingston: Sustainable Development and Regional Planning Division. Retrieved February 01, 2019,
from https://www.pioj.gov.jm/Portals/0/Sustainable_Development/Management_of_Wastes.pdf.
• SUEZ. (n.d.). Hazardous waste management. Retrieved February 01, 2019, from SUEZ:
https://www.suez-na.com/en-US/our-offering/Business/What-are-you-looking-for/Recovery-and-
Waste-Management/Hazardous-waste-management.
46. References
• Caribbean Policy Research Institute. (2018). Managing Urban Landfills: Emphasis on the Riverton
Dump. Retrieved February 1 from
http://www.capricaribbean.org/sites/default/files/public/documents/briefing_paper/managing_
urban_landfills_emphasis_on_the_riverton_dump.pdf.
• Patterson, C. (2016). Poor Waste Disposal Habits Linked to Diseases. Retrieved February 1 from
https://jis.gov.jm/poor-waste-disposal-habits-linked-diseases/.
Editor's Notes
Electronic waste (e-waste), for example used electronic and electrical appliances, consist of a variety of different parts made from hundreds of different substances including plastics, metals, glass as well as organic and inorganic compounds.
What is a landfill?
A landfill is a carefully designed structure built into or on top of the ground, in which trash is separated from the area around it.
Why are landfills important?
Landfills contain garbage and serve to prevent contamination between the waste and the surrounding environment, especially groundwater.
What happens to the trash in a landfill?
Landfills are not designed to break down trash, merely to bury it. That’s because they contain minimal amounts of oxygen and moisture, which prevents trash from breaking down rapidly. So landfills are carefully filled, monitored and maintained while they are active and for up to 30 years after they are closed.
What is the difference between a dump and a landfill?
A dump is an open hole in the ground where trash is buried and where animals often swarm. Dumps offer no environmental protection and are not regulated.
A landfill is a carefully designed and monitored structure that isolates trash from the surrounding environment (e.g., groundwater, air, rain). This isolation is accomplished with the use of a bottom liner and daily covering of soil.
The volume of hazardous waste generated bears some relationship to the level of industrialization in a country.
With modernization and diversification of the Jamaican economy and increasing mechanization of processes in sectors which were once driven manually (such as in agriculture), there has been a steady increase in the generation of hazardous wastes.
The whole matter of waste generation is influenced by government policy.
Often policies are formulated without addressing the management of waste.
The Motor Vehicle Liberalization Policy introduced in 1989 (revised in 2004) has caused a shift from public to private transportation.
The quantity of lead acid batteries, waste oil and tyres is increasing with the importation of motor vehicles.
Besides the hazardous waste resulting from production processes a considerable part is due to environmental protection measurement such as waste treatment or remediation of contaminated sites. Switzerland has registered around 4000 polluted sites which in the short or long term pose a hazard to human health and the environment through the release of harmful substances. The remediation of these sites must be completed by 2025. The waste excavated from these sites and treated in appropriate facilities strongly affects the generation of hazardous waste as it contributes more than 40 % of the total amount.
