Virginia Maclaren

A comparison of two waste stream quantification and characterization methodologies

This paper compares a traditional engineering approach (direct waste analysis) for collecting waste quantity and waste composition data to a social science approach (questionnaire surveys) for dealing with the same problem. The advantages and disadvantages of these two methodologies are discussed, and a comparison made of the results obtained from applying these methodologies to a case study of the industrial-commercial-institutional waste stream in Metropolitan Toronto. The study shows that while the two approaches produce fairly similar waste quantity estimates, their waste composition estimates are not as close and vary considerably by material.

The Contribution of Social Capital to Household Welfare in a Paper-Recycling Craft Village in Vietnam

This study examined whether the contribution of social capital to household economic outputs was greater than that of other types of capital, whether different dimensions of social capital contribute equally to household income, and whether the role of social capital varies among different categories of households. We developed a reduced-form model of the household production function, in which social capital is treated as a production factor similar to other conventional factors such as physical capital, labor, and human capital, with household income and expenditure as dependent variables. The results show that social capital has a strong and positive contribution to household income, and the positive contribution of social capital to the general (the poor) house-hold’s income is greater than that of the paper-recycling (the rich) household’s income. In contrast to other studies, the number of memberships in associations does not have an impact on household income.

Household, hotel and market waste audits for composting in Vietnam and Laos

In Da Nang and Ha Long, Vietnam and in Vientiane, Laos, there was interest by local authorities in separating and composting waste in order to reduce environmental and health problems at the local landfills and to produce a soil conditioner for local agricultural use. To assist in the planning of composting projects, three studies were carried out to estimate waste quantities and composition. 1. A 9-day audit of waste from 45 vendors in a market in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The total quantity of waste and the quantity in each of nine categories were estimated for each of six different types of vendors. 2. A 7-day audit of waste disposed by three hotels in the tourist area of Ha Long, Vietnam. Waste quantities were estimated in total, on a per guest basis, and in three main categories: compostables, recyclables and miscellaneous. 3. A 7-day audit of waste collected from 74 households in Da Nang, the fourth largest city in Vietnam. Waste from each household was separated into compostable and non-compostable waste. Over 60% of each waste source comprised compostable waste and this was considered significant enough to warrant further planning of composting operations.

Community concerns about landfills: A case study of Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract This paper examines the nature of community concerns about a landfill in Hanoi, Vietnam and compares these concerns to those found in studies of North American landfills. Based on a survey of 174 households living near Hanois landfill, it was found that concerns were uniformly high within the study area. Although the community initially believed the proponents claims that the landfill would not pollute the environment, their faith in those claims disappeared once the landfill opened and began to produce numerous negative impacts on the community. Residents called for a variety of technical, management and economic measures to mitigate these impacts.

The role of public involvement in environmental impact assessment in Vietnam: towards a more culturally sensitive approach

This paper explores the extent to which Western approaches to public involvement in environmental impact assessment (EIA) have been transferred to Vietnam, constraints on their use, and their appropriateness for the Vietnamese context. The research is based on an analysis of the public involvement content found in 26 EIA reports from development banks and interviews with 26 key informants. The study found that public involvement in Vietnam is generally technocratic, expert-driven and non-transparent, similar to the early days of EIA in the West and emerging economies. Public involvement usually occurs through authorised state channels such as commune leaders, mass organisations and professional organisations. The lack of a participatory culture for EIA, the nascent nature of grassroots democracy in the country, and Vietnamese cultural norms regarding respect for authority provide a challenging context for involving the public in EIA. The paper concludes by offering a number of suggestions for culturally appropriate public involvement at a time when Vietnam has just introduced mandatory public consultation for EIAs.

Budget sheets and buy-in: financing community-based waste management in Siem Reap, Cambodia

This paper details some of the difficulties in financing a community-based waste management (CBWM) project for the collection of waste in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It presents a series of financing scenarios based on several potential logistical arrangements. The financial variables investigated include labour costs and honorariums, collection fees, charges for secondary collection, land and equipment costs, and educational programmes. The case study illustrates how the loss of a political champion and a lack of cooperation by a private waste collection company derailed the financing of a CBWM project despite the presence of other favourable conditions for its success. The waste collection companys participation was fundamental to ensuring the affordability of secondary waste collection, and this one financial element greatly affected the feasibility of the entire system. The paper concludes that without buy-in and financial cooperation from all stakeholders, the best laid plans for CBWM (and the accompanying budget sheets) are rendered irrelevant.

Solid Waste Recycling Behavior of Industrial-Commercial -Institutional Establishments

This paper develops a model of the relationship between the solid waste recycling activities of industrial-commercial-institutional (ICI) firms and two sets of explanatory variables: characteristics of the firm and characteristics of the waste materials. The model is tested for six types of waste material (paper, paperboard, plastic, glass, wood, and metal) using logistic regression analysis and drawing on waste quantity and composition data collected from a sample of over 400 ICI firms in metropolitan Toronto. The percentage of firms recycling materials ranged from a high of 46 percent for paperboard to a low of 8 percent for plastics. In all of the models tested, quantity of waste material produced was found to be a significant explanatory variable in determining whether a firm will recycle that material. Other variables which were found to be significant in explaining recycling of some, but not all, material types were floor space of the firm, and type of economic activity. Despite theoretical support for its inclusion, employment was not found to be significant in any of the models.