Based on your observation of the HOPE exhibition :

1. Can you identify the problem of solid wastes management in

refugee camps?

Solid waste disposal is a serious issue in the Gaza Strip due to thirty years of military
occupation of the region. The lack of social development and legislation caused by the
long stint of military occupation lead to insufficient waste collection programs in the
Gaza Strip. When the Palestinian National Authority was established in 1994 some
changes were made in waste management though solid waste still remains a matter of
serious concern.With a population of approximately 1.75 million consistently
generating about 1300 tons of solid waste per day, waste poses a huge threat. The
daily solid waste generation across Gaza is more than 1300 tons which is
characterized by per capita waste generation of 0.35 to 1.0 kg.

Open dump disposal of hazardous wastes. The majority of solid waste is produced
domestically, containing not only household waste, but also industrial and hazardous
materials. Not only is the massive amount of waste an issue, but also for years the
Israeli Occupational Forces have had a continuing blockade and Israeli’s deliberate
damage to Gaza’s sewage infrastructure. 

Insufficient number of sanitary landfill. There are three legal landfills in the Gaza
Strip and many illegal dump sites. Unfortunately, these illegal sites lack the
infrastructure and safety precautions, leading to more hazardous waste and a higher
threat to human health, while the three legal sites lack to provide sufficient space for
waste disposal. On top of that, waste is often dumped near cities or unregulated and
burned causing soil, water, and air-born toxins. 

Lack of necessary machinery to collect and transport solid wastes by some of

municipalities. In the Gaza Strip, much of the population is taken care of by a short-
term collection system. In many areas waste is collected either in a door-to-door
manner or with large communal containers. Recently the burning of solid waste has
again become a popular occurrence. The burning of waste without proper precautions
imposes severe health risks for those living nearby.
2. Based on your problems identification,suggest ways and methods
that can reduce and solve the solid waste problems.

Sanitary landfill. It is true that open dumps are usually environmental disasters- they
cause water and air pollution and spoil the land they occupy for future use. But a well-
designed, well-constructed and well-operated sanitary landfill can be acceptable from
an environmental viewpoint, and is usually the most economical method of
satisfactory disposal. There is a very large difference between an open dump and a
well managed engineered sanitary landfill, but often decision-makers and the public
are not aware of this. It is often the case that the key to success in sanitary landfilling
is the person in charge of operating the site. Good engineers must be encouraged to
develop experience in this field and to train and supervise their site managers so that
the highest possible standards are maintained.

Incineration (Combustion). Incineration often seems to the best solution - it is

modern, apparently clean, is very costly, both in terms of capital cost and operating
cost. The importance of such cost should not be underrated, but a more important
factor opposing the use of incineration is the nature of the wastes, particularly the
content of water and inert material. Experiences in a number of places in developing
countries, for example Beirut, have shown that incinerators cannot be used for all
types of waste.

Composting is the best solution for waste that has a high proportion of food waste is
excellent for the environment, This is undoubtedly true from an environmental
perspective. A well-managed composting operation produces virtually no pollution
(the main pollution results from the disposal of material that can’t be composted) and
the resulting product is of benefit to any kind of soil - whether clay or sand.

Recycling of solid waste is most economical where large quantities of recyclable

materials are available within a small area (such as in a large city) because transport
of these materials is expensive and has a big influence on the economy of the
operation. Palestinian cities are not large, and the time taken to travel between them is
sometimes long because of security restrictions, so the cost of transport may prove to
be a serious restraint on recycling. It is also necessary that there be a demand for the
separated materials (in the cleanliness and purity in which they are provided) and that
the prices paid are stable. The recycling sector in Palestine will probably grow quite
slowly because there is no established pattern to follow.This System works best when
the general public is well informed and concerned about environmental issues.
 ASSIGNMENT
BASED ON HOPE EXHIBITION

ECB 4123
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING

NAME : LATHAVIKNESWARI A/P SITHAN

METRIC : 2150496
LECTURER : PROF FAKHRU’L-RAZI
DATE : 22 OCTOBER 2018