Inspiration

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Wise usage of resources

Answering inspiration phase questions. Some questions we’d like you to answer:


• What does “clean” mean to you?


A clean place is not just about pleasing our senses (i.e. avoid bad odours and visual impact) but also assuring pathogenic microorganism control. For instance, after going to the toilet our hands might not seem dirty, though in developed countries we were all educated to wash them with soap after going to the toilet. “Clean” relies on individual’s perception and cultural issues. Thus, to address both of them, surveys need to be undertaken.


• What innovations have you seen in waste-management and sanitation in developed nations or emerging markets?


Personally I believe that the best sanitation “innovation” is dry toilets. Firstly, a precious resource (often even more precious in developing countries) is saved. Secondly, the compost can be used latter on in farming. Finally, in terms of hygiene is far better from conventional toilets. The latter provide water, the only missing factor necessary to microorganisms’ growth (as environment temperature is warm and from faeces and urine are provide them nutrients). Thus, removing water from the sanitation system is already a big step in water born diseases while using wisely natural resources. Nevertheless, cultural surveys need to be conducted first, in order to understand communities’ technology acceptance and ways of achieving that acceptance.
Industrial Symbioses (IS) is a waste management innovation with a huge potential. Basically, is it consists in using industrial waste and as a resource in another industry (within the same sector or different sectors). One IS constrain in the developed countries is the existing geographical distance between industries. Thus, as developing countries are still growing, an efficient industry planning bearing IS in mind would be an added value.


• What analogous situations can we think about as we explore this space? Can we find inspiration in the way waste is managed at construction sites, campgrounds, hotels, or even on cruise ships?


There are plenty of solutions concerning waste management and sanitation in both developing and developed world. The key to those solutions relies on one simple word “willingness”. For instance, concerning cleaning products, I often use warm water and vinegar to clean my fridge as it destroys undesirable microorganisms.


There are plenty of solutions for each particular case, which rely on local resources and cultural issues. According to Ghana’s production FAO stats, plantains were the 3rd most produced commodity in 2008. For instance, the leaves of these trees could be used to build solid waste bags (as long as sustainably harvested and/or collected). Also, within the existing waste, several objects might be re-used for emergency-kit waste bags, for instance cereal bags (raphia) might be used for that purpose.


The skin of plantains can be used to produce tinder due to its combusting properties. Using them for this purpose would help to protect forests and could also become a small local business.


Everywhere in the world waste must be seen as “a resource in the wrong place”. There is the need to re-educate people starting both in developed and developing countries. Such re-education process should start at the very begging, i.e. before considering something as “waste”. So, each household needs to be educated to think about the potential usefulness of each piece of waste? Each piece of waste can be used for several purposes before being considered waste. Each person has a different creative thinking process, so imagine the combinations we can get out of a community. Also, what might start as an efficient household waste management can lead later on to a small family business.


Hotels and ship cruises can be play a crucial role in the overall waste management process through efficient waste screening systems. Part of the screened waste could be forwarded for instance to the household handicraft small businesses resulting in a “win-win opportunity” as companies would reduce waste management costs (disposal and treatment), entrepreneurs would easily access their materials, the need for raw materials would be reduced and it would help to reduce inappropriate waste disposal issues.


Ship cruises companies could also think about CR strategies that include waste transport among countries in their routes, as some of them might have proper equipment to treat specific kinds of waste.


Concerning construction sites, Bedzed might an inspiration as its walls were build with several construction waste materials. There other construction techniques already being used in some developing countries, which combine local resources (e.g. clay) and waste (e.g. plastic or glass bottles).


• What effective business or service models related to cleaning, waste removal, or sanitation are you aware of?


Curitiba’s municipal waste management system, in Brazil, is a very good example. Not only in the way environmental issues are addressed but also in the way social issues are addressed. Poor people living in the slums are included the waste collection process, i.e. they are employees in this waste collection system.

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