The Project

Project description

The huge economic and industrial developments over the last decade in many Asian countries, combined with a rapid increase in urban populations, have put extreme pressure on their solid waste management systems. Even though much progress has been achieved, there is still work to do in order to identify and implement sustainable solutions for waste collection, recycling, treatment and disposal.  Experience over the last 30 years has shown that it is not enough to rely on technical solutions and that a more integrated approach is required.

The ISSOWAMA Coordination Action, funded by the European Commission under its FP7, aims to raise awareness of the Integrated and Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) approach. This focuses on all the elements in the waste management system from generation to final disposal; on all the aspects, - social, institutional, legal, financial, economic environmental and technical; and on involving all the stakeholders at different levels; in order to ensure the effective implementation of a sustainable system.

ISSOWAMA uses the case study approach. Good practice examples are being sought out and documented in all the project countries in South Asia (Bangladesh, India), the Greater Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Thailand, China) and South East Asia (Indonesia and Philippines). These case studies will be used both to demonstrate the ISWM method, to showcase the wide variety of alternative approaches that have been adopted in the region and to draw out the lessons learned, in order  to help countries and cities select the appropriate next steps in developing their own integrated and sustainable solid waste management system.

ISSOWAMA will promote international cooperation between research organisations, universities and social and governmental stakeholders in solid waste management in both Asia and Europe. The experts in the ISSOWAMA network will also propose directions for further research and local implementation.

ISSOWAMA objectives

The specific objectives of the ISSOWAMA project are to:

• Analyse the main constraints for implementing new concepts on solid waste management in Asia and identify common and urgent problems across the region.
• Raise awareness of Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) and build capacity for its widespread adoption in Asia.
• Build sustainable capacity to make decisions about what technologies and services are appropriate and cost-effective as part of a local ISWM system.
• Exemplify a wide range of suitable and feasible solutions for specific problems based on local case studies in Asian countries.
• Bring together relevant Asian and European stakeholders on SWM in order to establish a permanent cooperation strategy among them.

Integrated Sustinable Waste Management (ISWM)

ISWM is a systems approach which recognises three important dimensions, which ALL need to be addressed when developing or changing a solid waste management system, in order for the new system to be sustainable. The dimensions, shown in the Figure, correspond to three key questions:

1. The stakeholders – the people or organisations with a ‘stake’ or interest in solid waste management - who needs to be involved?
2. The elements – the technical components of a waste management system - what needs to be done?
3. The aspects which need to be considered as part of a sustainable solution – how to achieve the desired results?