Waste Management (for both domestic and industrial wastes) is a primary issue of our time due to its significant contribution to global warming and to some extent to extreme flooding in towns and cities. Due to improper collection, treatment and disposal of this waste, it brought a lot of environmental and health implications which affected the lives of thousands of people and cost billions of money in legal remediation around the world. But over the years, there is a dramatic change in waste management - from the 'end-of-pipe approach' to a comprehensive system, the 'cradle-to-grave approach'.THREE YEARS AGO, I did a research on how to identify potential sites as location for the final resting place of our wastes which we commonly known as 'landfill' or land surface disposal area. Upon completion of my research, I found out that there are three major groups of people that influence in the development of a disposal site or landfill. These groups have 'power' in providing directions towards successful management of our wastes, consequently in addressing global warming.
For the suceeding paragraphs I will try to illustrate these existing attitudes or norms among these groups, namely: the public (you and I), the industries/businesses (companies that provide our basic needs), and the elected political leaders (the politicians who decide how much we pay for our taxes) and find out their 'true colours' in managing our wastes.
THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE: NOT IN MY BACKYARD' or NIMBY syndrome
What is really our true attitude in dealing with our wastes? Majority of us blame our government for not addressing the issue and finding a cost-effective solution. In other words, we always defend ourselves by saying that we pay our taxes and it is the responsibility of the government to deliver the services in protecting our health and the environment we live in. But most of us are blind or unaware that 'we' are the main contributory factor to the problem, by not only segregating our wastes or do 'recycling' but not allowing the government to set a facility near our community. This is a perennial attitude among us as waste generators, due to the fact that having such facility (landfill) besides our homes may cause environmental, safety and environmental risks.
What is this attitude called? It is commonly known as 'NOT IN MY BACKYARD' or NIMBY syndrome. Several documented reports worldwide that the residents are difficult to please and are the one opposing the project for having a treatment and disposal facility in the area. It is important that we, as one of the major producers of wastes will be aware and will actively involve ourselves in the managing the wastes in our localities (councils) to minimise this NIMBY attitude. To get away from this social disease, we should cooperate by 'trusting' our legislators, experts and local governments to plan and implement effective waste management projects, and also be 'pro-active' on those projects through 'volunteerism' and set as an example in the community.
THE INDUSTRY/BUSINESS ATTITUDE: -HIDE-IT-FREELY-FOR-YEARS or 'WHIFFY'
This segment of the society has always been tagged as the 'polluters' or the culprits of our waste problems. Based from previous studies, land contamination and other environmental damages are due to the poor management of the industries, particularly the illegal dumping of hazardous, toxic and harmful untreated wastes in environmentally-sensitive areas.
This attitude among the business/industry sector is 'WE-HIDE-IT-FREELY-FOR-YEARS or 'WHIFFY' Attitude. If you check the term, whiffy in the dictionary, it means 'unpleasant or foul' smell which is appropriate to describe the outcome of this attitude among the industries concern. To some extent, these illegal dumping leads to the massive increase of contaminated sites which always becomes a media headline. Allowing this attitude to prevail, industries are able to evade from environmental costs - handling, storage, treatment, disposal/discharge or even generation charges.
This attitude of the generators is almost tolerated and being taken for granted by the populace because it requires a thorough site investigation and the necessary funds from both the government and the industry concerned to establish any claims, and that the occupying industry is fully responsible for any consequences which clean-up and rehabilitation necessitates. In some extent, this whiffy attitude is being tolerated by the residents and the government due to the lengthy legal process or litigation to prove the misconduct of a particular firm. However, it is fully encouraged for people to be vigilant and be brave enough to report such illegal practices.
THE POLITICAL LEADERS/POLITICAN: 'NOT IN MY TERM OF OFFICE' or NIMTOO
I think everyone is aware that our government plays a central important role in the protection of the environment and our health and safety. This is the reason why we have numerous legislations, policies and guidelines to safeguard our health and the environment which is a challenging to do from the government. That is also the reason why, we and the industries have to support our political leaders through fair and democratic way in passing various environmental policies.
Proper waste disposal necessitates infrastructure (like landfill) and other support facilities (incinerators). Having this infrastructure requires endorsement from the community which needs political will. In some extreme scenario, our political leaders are facing a hard time to get an affirmative response from the community due to various reasons, including the opposition reaction from the local and international voluntary environmental groups. There is a dilemma among politicians to be identified with a controversial waste management project that could effect their long term political career or candidacy for higher positions in the next electoral.
Facing this pressure, politicians tend to adopt the so called 'NOT IN MY TERM OF OFFICE' or NIMTOO attitude not to jeopardize their political image. In other words, NIMTOO attitude is a manifestation among politicians of their high regard of not compromising their political careers. It is suicidal for any political leader to engage in a strong endorsement of environmentally-sensitive projects. Endorsement and approval of any project within the tenure of their office is critical, to some extent, it is as used as a political battle ground among opposing political groups to gain popularity from the public.
From the public's point of view, endorsement of a project from any political leader indicates a "hidden agenda", wherein politicians are represented or motivated by groups of individuals and big businesses' vested interests. Because of this it is very hard for other politicians with good political platforms to convince their constituents to take risks of having the project near their backyards.
IN SUMMARY, THE SUCCESS in combating waste disposal problem is through proper participatory approach - allowing the community (people), industries, and the government to come together, making the decision making process effective and brings positive results in solving the problem.
Recognising the involvement of the community and interested groups is an effective way to increase public awareness and acceptance for any land disposal project. Consequently, public and private/business participation serves a conduit in establishing 'trust and assurance for such environmentally-sensitive undertaking such as a 'landfill' or surface disposal site.
Minimising or eliminating these three attitudes: NIMBY (not in my backyard), NIMTOO (not in my term of office) and WHIFFY (we hide it freely for years) will dramatically improve the way we manage our wastes which brings positive impact to the society. Proper disposal of wastes needs utmost attention rather than focusing to a bigger picture - the global warming.
