Capacity building for post disaster waste management : construction and demolition waste
Though increasing nature of impacts from disasters has made post disaster management asignificant area of concern, management of disaster waste is identified as an area of leastconcern. It presents momentous challenges for those with inadequate capacities due tolarge volumes and hazardous constituents created, particularly in developing countries.This is equally applicable to Sri Lanka which was severely affected by the Indian OceanTsunami in 2004 and from three decades of civil war. In this context, it is vital to explorecapacities which need to be enhanced for post disaster waste management. Accordingly,this study focuses on identification of existing capacities of post disaster wastemanagement with special emphasise on Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste atnational level entities in Sri Lanka. Disaster C&D waste comprises of waste such asdebris generated from totally or partially damaged buildings and infrastructure as a directimpact of disasters or from demolished buildings and infrastructure at rehabilitation orearly recovery stages. Literature revealed that after the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004,collected disaster waste containing a considerable proportion of C&D waste was notrecycled or reused at its optimum capacity in Sri Lanka, instead disposing it at landfillsites.Initially, a literature review and document survey was conducted on capacity buildingwith special emphasise on post disaster waste management to identify capacity buildingprinciples, strategies, evaluation measures and challenges, if there are any. Pilotinterviews were conducted to identify current post disaster waste management practicesin Sri Lanka. Multiple case studies and expert interviews were subsequently conducted togather primary data on existing capacities of post disaster waste management in SriLanka. Three case studies which included fourteen individuals and seven expertsrepresenting government and non governmental organisations and other sector entitieswere selected for data collection. Semi-structured interviews were conducted as the maindata collection method and code based analysis and cognitive mapping were used toanalyse collected data.Results revealed existing capacities, capacity gaps and factors affecting capacity buildingfor post disaster waste management including: skills and confidence building, links and collaborations, continuity and sustainability, research and development, communicationand coordination, organisational implementations and investments in infrastructure.Approaches for enhancing capacities in post disaster waste management were identified.They include establishment of a regulatory body and enforceable rules and regulations,promotion of holistic approaches for training and development focussing on indigenousand sustainable methods, development of formal and transparent procedures to establishlinkages and collaborations, create awareness on sustainable, environmentally friendlyand culturally supportive techniques on disaster waste management. These approacheswere identified with the aim to contribute towards achieving sustainable post disasterC&D waste management.
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