Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
delegated to a private company. Such an arrangement at local level would require a
nation wide policy and support on recycling of waste materials and the creation of a
conducive environment to encourage and regulate activities on solid waste generation,
collection, recycling and treatment.
5.2
The community and the general public
5.2.1
Education and information needs
In general, the public is well aware of the health risks associated with an inadequate solid
waste management practice and pollution of water resources, especially concerning the
link between water borne diseases and polluted water sources. However, the fact that
polluted runoff could also be a public health threat is not well understood even at higher
levels of management. In most cases, typical for the countries in the region, it is a well-
known fact that people living in low-income residential areas and informal settlements
experience acute water and sanitation problems and the generated solid waste is spread
over the area and in the surroundings. Such conditions are accepted to be part of the
development of the country and people living in a better environment try to isolate
themselves and to leave the problems to the managing authorities. The vast majority of
the public is usually not aware and informed that the polluted runoff and untreated
sewage from such areas reach the natural streams and pollute the water sources and
recreational areas, which they are using on a daily basis. Also, they are not aware about
the increased costs involved to treat a polluted water source. Thus, the pollution
generated by low-income residential areas affects the urban environment as a whole, and
should not be regarded as an isolated issue, but requires the attention and efforts of the
whole urban community in order to solve the problems.
When dealing with educational or public awareness programs, it is important to define
who is the public, or to which specific part of the public the program will be orientated,
and based on this, to choose suitable educational and information activities. Different
sectors or segments of the public will be interested in different issues:
• The low-income community in general will be interested in the regulatory and financial
aspects and thefollowing questions might arise:
Who is going to support financially a program for diffuse pollution abatement?
What could be the possible fees and charges as a result of the implementation of
such a program?
What are the forms of involvement of community members in the implementation
of the program?
• School children need to be educated properly with respect to the health risks associated
with pollutionand littering. Also, schools are the centers to provide the background
towards a proper behavior in respect to littering and protection of water resources.
• The general public will be interested in utilities fees and charges;
• The commercial and industrial sectors would be interested in regulatory aspects and
charges with respectto storm water discharges;
