Local Management of Hazardous Wastes From Small-Scale and Cottage Industries

Abstract

This paper reviews, documents and discusses the hazardous waste problems associated with small-scale and cottage industries (SSIs) in developing countries. It aims at achieving a better understanding of the characteristics of SSIs, helps to identify those industries that contribute significantly to environmental pollution and occupational exposure, and focuses attention on local management options. Four case studies confirm that the troublesome SSIs are highly concentrated in urban areas and give rise to local impacts primarily. Priorities for action will almost certainly include some combination of information and educational campaigns for SSI owners and workers, accompanied by policies and incentives to promote good housekeeping and the adaption of low-waste, efficient production technologies, and by some form of collective waste handling—possibly through industrial relocation, but more likely by local waste collection and treatment systems whether municipal or private. To succeed, coordinated actions are needed by national and local officials, local training and technology transfer centers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industrial associations. International technical and financial assistance can help promote and support such local actions. © 1997 ISWA

The benefits and costs of informal sector pollution control: Mexican brick kilns

“…In developing countries, urban clusters of manufacturers which are "informal"-smallscale, unlicensed and virtually unregulated-can have severe environmental impacts (Bartone and Benavides 1997). There are a number of reasons.…”

Industries’ Location as Jeopardy for Sustainable Urban Development in Asia: A Review of the Bangladesh Leather Processing Industry Relocation Plan

“…Source: Bartone and Benavides, 1997;Blackman, 2000;Kennedy, 1999. In addition, the failure of imposing the Pigovian tax and extremely high hedonic prices of the alternatives of the tannery industries in Hazaribagh also claim the project's failure from the economic aspect of the sustainability. In a nutshell, the comparison of the options-relocation and not relocation in Figure 10 adds weight to the latter.…”

“…There have been several studies conducted on the disastrous impacts of the leather processing activities in Hazaribagh on the Dhaka city's environment and environmental sustainability (Hossain et al, 2007;Ilias et al, 2011;Zahid et al, 2006). It is evidenced in the literature that in similar contexts, attempts have also been made by governments to implement top-bottom leather processing industry relocation projects, like in Tamil Nadu, India (Kennedy, 1999); Cairo, Egypt (Bartone and Benavides, 1997) and in Mexico (Blackman, 2000), but all of them have failed. The reasoning of this failure goes back to the classical concept of environmental sustainability for urban development proposed by Goodland (2005).…”

Pollution and Waste Production in Home-Based Enterprises in Developing Countries: Perceptions and Realities

“…small-scale industries cause local nuisance (including occupational health problems) due to their dispersed and residential location. (Bartone & Benavides, 1993, cited by Frijns & Van Vliet, 1999 In development control planners' nightmares, home-based enterprises (HBEs) indiscriminately use hazardous and inflammable substances, such as dyes, disinfectants and detergents, turning benign residential areas into unpleasant places replete with dangers and shedding pollution into the urban environment. In the context of a study focusing on spatial impacts of HBEs, this paper examines to what 276 G. Tipple extent the reality supports the idea that HBEs are seriously harmful to residential environments.…”