Disaster waste is all the solid and liquid waste generated during and after a natural disaster or conflict, including waste produced during the emergency response and recovery phases. It is characterised by large waste volumes, a mixture of waste types and a highly intertwined and complex ‘waste matrix’ (options for the handling and management of the multiple waste streams typical in and after a disaster). Waste produced by a disaster depends on the type of disaster but can include all kinds of mobile and immobile elements of destroyed residential, institutional, economic, transport and industrial infrastructure. The waste of destroyed infrastructure can further be contaminated by dead bodies, unattached body parts, unmanaged human excreta and released hazardous substances or ordnance. In addition to waste from humanity, this waste matrix might be mixed with elements of the natural environment such as vegetation, rock scree or soil sediment. In the aftermath of disasters, an increase in unsegregated waste due to interrupted SWM services and the influx of relief waste can exacerbate the complexity of waste management.

Disaster waste can be categorised as follows:

Debris from damaged buildings and infrastructure such as asphalt and concrete, metal, wood, clay, tar, insulation, shingles and other building materials (including asbestos roof sheets and pipes and insulation material), electrical poles, wire, electrical equipment or transformers.

Vehicles such as destroyed cars, trucks, buses or ships (cargo ships, boats, yachts). Vehicle batteries, oil and fuel are potential hazardous substances which can contaminate the area surrounding vehicle wrecks W.2.

Natural and vegetative debris such as trees, branches, bushes, rock scree, soil sediments, mud and ash.

Hazardous substances originating from storage, workshops or industrial sites W.2, including fuel and oil, heavy metals, chemicals and chemical products (dyes, varnishes, solvents, pesticides, fertilisers etc.). Hazardous substances, such as asbestos, may be contained in construction materials; some can escape from contaminated sites and waste storage.

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) W.7 from households, institutions and industrial sites can contain toxic substances and must be considered hazardous waste. Depending on the community’s lifestyle, a big fraction of WEEE may be ‘white goods’ - fridges, freezers and other household appliances. Their systems are often damaged, leaking refrigerants into the environment.

Medical waste W.1 from medical facilities (clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, depots) or laboratories. Overloaded healthcare systems disrupted by disasters are more likely to mix healthcare waste with debris and non-hazardous general waste, endangering public health. Destroyed healthcare facilities can release medical waste, chemicals, medication and medical material into the environment. 

Domestic solid waste is generated by the destruction of residential buildings and their furnishings and the accumulation of waste from interrupted SWM services. Domestic solid waste includes waste produced by relief efforts such as food assistance or temporary shelter materials like tarpaulins or tents W.5. Domestic solid waste may also be mixed with household chemicals (e.g. cleaning agents, solvents, pesticides etc.) which contaminate the waste and can leak into the environment.

If there is a potential presence of unexploded ordnance or human remains, relief workers need clearance from appropriate experts before handling any debris or waste. Neither subject is covered in the SWM Compendium due to their specialised nature; the Compendium’s audience is also unlikely to be undertaking this work.

The characteristics and quantities of disaster waste vary substantially and depend on the type and scale of a disaster, the level of development, the composition of typical buildings and structures in the area and whether the disaster is in a rural or urban setting.

An efficient Disaster Waste Management (DWM) system will build on these characteristics along with information about the local context (including social and economic factors), the area of geographical damage and the political and waste management systems before the event. Ideally, a DWM system will include systematic waste segregation, planned and safe temporary storage or final disposal sites and the recovery of valuable and useful materials. Successful DWM has been linked directly to economic recovery where recycling initiatives feed directly into the communities' economy. Ad-hoc and unplanned dumping only relocates the debris or postpones its management, increasing the risks and costs; it should be prevented whenever possible. The highest priority for DWM is the identification and safe management of hazardous substances. 

During the recovery and reconstruction phases or the planning of a new settlement, a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) approach should be taken, incorporating DWM planning for healthcare and waste management facilities, including domestic or municipal solid waste, hazardous waste and industrial waste.

Challenges in Disaster Waste Management 

Disaster waste can be a significant risk to public health and the environment, directly and indirectly. The accumulation of open waste and the presence of hazardous materials risks exposure and direct contact; waste can contaminate soil, air and water bodies. Hazardous substances incorporated in building materials, such as asbestos or heavy metals, can be released into the environment. Unmanaged waste acts as a breeding ground for disease vectors such as rodents, blocks drains and reduces water flow, creating stagnant water with the corresponding risk of water-borne diseases.

Disaster waste debris can limit humanitarian access by blocking streets and access corridors, considerably impeding life-saving actions. Roads may be damaged and access corridors must first be created. The movement of large debris requires heavy-duty machinery and this is usually done by national armed forces, national civil protection or contracted local construction companies. The priority is immediate humanitarian assistance and ensuring access to hospitals. The first 24 to 48 hours are critical for this humanitarian assistance; waste and debris segregation are likely to be postponed to a later stage.  

Existing SWM services may collapse or be overwhelmed by a disaster, leading to an accumulation of waste in disaster-affected zones. As well as clearing waste directly caused by the disaster, it is essential to revive SWM services and ensure that waste generated in the disaster’s aftermath is also safely managed and disposed of. The sheer size and volume of disaster waste can impede longer-term rehabilitation activities. Emergency access roads are usually swiftly cleared for life-saving access but the remaining management and clearance of disaster waste may be slower and more time-consuming. Special care must be taken when searching for survivors and the deceased. The ownership of destroyed buildings, rubble and scattered properties must first be clarified and agreed upon with all involved stakeholders and requires relevant approval from the authorities and the consent of the affected population.

Whenever possible, DWM should recover usable and valuable materials. This limits the required space for waste deposits and frees up resources. Common recyclables, such as metals or glass, can be fed into regular recycling streams. Building debris, if free from asbestos and other hazardous materials, can be reused for construction, for instance, to produce recycled concrete U.4. Recovering usable and valuable materials from disaster waste might be more complex due to the intertwined waste matrix and the potential presence of hazardous materials.   

Short-Term Measures

Disaster Waste Management usually starts once life-saving interventions (such as search and rescue, the static inspection of damaged buildings or piled debris, or the identification and removal of unexploded ordnance) are completed. DWM’s first and highest priority is the identification of potentially released or unsafely contained hazardous substances and their safe containment. Potential sources of hazardous materials are hospitals, fuel storages, industrial sites, harbours, contaminated construction materials and vehicle fleets and their cargo. Due to the complexity of this task, DWM teams typically include designated and qualified hazardous materials specialists. As well as preventing public health risks, a DWM priority is to ensure the occupational safety of its personnel X.4. Work usually starts with an initial rapid assessment. The data gathered at this stage does not have to be precise but should be enough for initial decision making and to prioritise interventions. The data could include the geographic area, the types, quantities and composition of disaster waste streams and the classification of the waste according to its properties and risks, enabling the identification of appropriate handling and disposal methods. The initial assessment is usually done through available secondary data gathered from, for example, satellite imagery, local agencies or governmental sources. Common tools include a waste map of the affected area, hazard ranking, waste needs assessments or a waste handling matrix (see the Joint Environmental Unit publication in the further reading section). Some specialised organisations and agencies now support initial assessments with emerging technologies such as modelling and special drones; their results for the volume, type and distribution of waste are increasingly precise. The initial assessment should also gather information about the available equipment and transport, local capacities, the authority’s ability to manage the situation or the potential need for further international assistance. 

The main disaster waste management activities in the acute phase include the identification of accessible, environmentally compliant permanent disposal sites. Where no disposal sites exist, temporary disposal options should be identified and established; this requires authorisation from relevant authorities.  

It is also essential in the short term to support the local economy and ensure communities can meet their basic needs. After a disaster, individuals might be traumatised and deeply affected psychologically. One option to help communities recover quickly and efficiently is through income generation or cash for work from sorting their waste. In recent years, several initiatives by local agencies and government have provided financial benefits, capacity building and food security. 

In most disaster-affected contexts companies exist that have the equipment and skills to move and manage waste. It is important to identify and locate them and help them overcome any barriers to operations (e.g. rubble crushing machinery, or access to roads).

Medium and Longer-Term Measures

More detailed assessments can take place during the stabilisation and recovery phase. Depending on the context, this typically entails additional disaster waste information (locations, type of waste); a better understanding of the regulations; assessing locations for medium-term temporary disposal and waste separation sites for unsorted rubble; municipal waste and other potential waste management facilities in or near the disaster-affected area and assessing the potential for upgrades or improvements to current dumpsites into engineered landfills. It also includes assessing local capacities for addressing disaster waste and identifying gaps and needs for additional assistance.

Key activities at this stage include establishing temporary storage sites for debris and regular waste, initiating or expanding the collection and transportation of waste and debris and preparing practical advice and guidance for local authorities on interim solutions to minimise the environmental and health impacts of disaster waste. All activities must be coordinated with the local authorities and relevant national or international coordination mechanisms. Disaster waste management must follow local/regional/national legal regulations X.1. If inexistent, local and international agencies can support their development, led by the national government.

The affected communities should be actively engaged at an early stage and consulted on public health, waste, livelihoods and environmental issues X.2. Exit strategies and hand-over options for disaster management (e.g. to local authorities or private sector partners) should be planned early on, in close collaboration with the local authorities and communities. Considerations include financial capacity (fees, public sector funds), technical capabilities, and the availability of experienced personnel and their corresponding capacity development needs. DWM runs in parallel with DRR - the aim of all planning and strategy is to reduce damage and casualties in the next disaster.

Disaster waste management must be continuously monitored and evaluated to ensure all disaster waste is addressed, either through appropriate disposal options, incineration where needed and reuse or recycling where possible.