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1. Definition
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Name
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RECYCLED
WASTE
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|
Brief
definition
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Percentage
of solid waste recycled. The volume of waste which
is recycled based on the volume actually generated
at source per capita.
|
|
Unit
of measure
|
%
Percentage of solid waste recycled (tonnes per inhabitants,
m3 per inhabitants, % of disposal type)
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2.
Position within the logical framework DPSIR
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Type
of Indicator
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Response
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3.
Target and political pertinence
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Objective
|
This
ratio provides an indication of the effort made by
local municipalities to reduce the amount in the waste
stream by encouraging recycling.
|
|
Importance
with respect to desertification
|
The
waste management show the sensibility of the local
community with respect to environmental problems and
the capacity of local institutions to manage and govern
environmental issues. Encouraging organic recycling
practices, like composting, is an effective measure
to mitigate land degradation. In fact composting offers
several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and
soil health, thereby increasing agricultural productivity,
improving soil biodiversity, and reducing ecological
risks for a better environment.
|
|
International
Conventions and agreements
|
The
UNCCD encourages an integrated and coordinated approach
to combating land degradation.
|
|
Secondary
objectives of the indicator
|
Evaluation
of local capability to adopt a integrated approach
with respect to environmental issues.
|
4.
Methodological description and basic definitions
|
Definitions
and basic concepts
|
The
sorting of solid wastes means recycling and reducing
the amount of the wastes contaminating landfill sites.
Recycling means an efficient use of material and a
decrease in pressures to the environment. Under the
conditions of compact landfills, if left unseparated,
the waste rots and generates environmentally hazardous
gases. The recycling categories may be: a) paper,
b) glass, c) aluminium d) plastic and e) mixed disposal.
|
|
Benchmarks
Indication of the values/ranges of value
|
Local
Agenda 21
|
|
Methods
of measurement
|
Amount
of waste fraction as % of waste recycled per fraction
(% of fractions)
|
|
Limits
of the indicator
|
The
indicator should be expressed in terms of particular
components to be useful in determining the actual
recycling rate. If all components are lumped together
on a weight or volume basis the indicator is not particularly
useful. Some recycling, for example of waste oils
and solvents, is not captured by this solid waste
indicator.
|
|
Linkages
with other indicators
|
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5.
Evaluation of data needs and availability
|
Data
required to calculate the indicator
|
If
the amount (in tonnes or m3) of waste fraction
(paper, glass, aluminium, plastic and mixed waste)
is known, the result can be shown as a percentage
of the waste recycled per fraction.
|
|
Data
sources
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At
the international level, specialised research surveys
have been conducted by the Settlement Infrastructure
and Environment Programme of the United Nations Centre
for Human Settlements (UNCHS or Habitat). Within countries,
data sources can include national and local agencies
responsible for urban affairs and the environment.
|
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Availability
of data from national and international sources
|
Generally,
there is little problem in obtaining the data from
municipal or industrial records. However, data can
be scattered and time consuming to compile for indicator
purposes. Some informal sector industries are reluctant
to declare their activities and data collection from
them could be difficult.
|
6.
Institutions that have participated in developing the indicator
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Main
institutions responsible
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University
of Basilicata, Italy
|
|
Other
contributing organizations
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Universities
of Lisbon, Murcia, Athens
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7.
Additional information
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Bibliography
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http://esl.jrc.it/envind/un_meths/UN_ME123.htm
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Other
references
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OECD,
1997. Better Understanding Our Cities: The Role of
Urban Indicators, EEA Indicator Set. UNESCO Division
of Statistics
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Contacts
Name and address
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University
of Basilicata
Prof Giovanni Quaranta
email: quaranta@unibas.it
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