The good,the bad and the ugly – three approaches to management of human waste in a high-mountain environment

Each year, millions of mountaineers visit high-mountain areas. They generate tonnes of faeces and cubic hectometres of urine annually. Thus, proper disposal of human waste is important for the conservation and appropriate management of high-mountain areas. The management can address the issue in three ways: the good (complete/non-invasive); the bad (partial/superficial); and the ugly (invasive). With use of those categories, 20 selected summits from different parts of the world have been evaluated, separately in respect to faeces and urine. It was expected that correct or incorrect disposal of human waste would depend on the changing altitude and/or development level. Disappointingly, the correlation between selection criteria (better or worse solution) and the increase of altitude does not exist. Similarly, the increase of the development level does not play a significant role, especially when urine is taken under consideration. The problem is more global than was thought. The paper makes recommendations which could lead to reduction of this problem.     

Driving in neutral: Is it the way forward for housing policy?

The `libertarian' argument of PeterKing aims to put tenure neutrality and a negativeincome tax in place of current government supportfor housing. However, formulating rules for tenureneutrality is hard and the negative income tax mayrequire unacceptably high taxes. Real worldcomplexity makes such simple rules with regard tohousing difficult to achieve. Such complexity alsohelps to make a case for social housing.     

The improvement paradox in project contexts: A clue to the way forward?

This paper emerged as the authors struggled to make sense of a phenomenon observed during fieldwork. We had entered the field knowing a project-based organisation to be performing poorly and to be in need of improvement in its management of projects. We expected that the organisation would be actively trying to achieve the necessary improvement. We found that the organisation as a matter of course was not pursuing any improvement activities. It was only following a crisis with its major client that limited changes were introduced, and then business as usual resumed. This we have termed, the improvement paradox.     

Solid waste management in the tropics — a case study of the Nigerian urban environment

A study of solid municipal waste management in five conjested cities in the Eastern states of Nigeria was carried out. Random sampling of waste piles show that the percentage composition by weight of garbage range between 32–56%, rubbish 8–30%, Ash/Dust 15–35% and Miscellaneous wastes 4–12%. The wastes were of peculiar nature but varied only in quantity with each city. Interviews and questionnaire reports show that the Environmental Protection Agencies are still in an infant stage of operation and require improved funding by government and also private sector participation. A public enlightenment campaigns is recommended for proper education of the public on modern ways of garbage disposal. Poor composting of solid wastes in landfills located near highways is discouraged. Solid waste recycling and reclamation using an advanced tropical composter equipped with solar collectors or a continous flow digester are recommended.     

Experiences and lessons from the use of TBM in the Himalaya – A review

Tunnel boring machine (TBM), with its many advanced features, is being regularly planned now for the excavation of long tunnels in the difficult geology of the Himalayan region. The experience, so far, with the TBMs in three tunnels of Himalayas in India has not been encouraging. However, efforts are being made to overcome the problems and make the TBM a successful venture in the difficult grounds of Himalaya in India. The recent successful completion of 14.75 km long TBM portion of head race tunnel in Kishanganga hydroelectric project in J&K state has shown that the TBM can be used in the Himalayan tunnels as well.In the paper the experiences of TBM in four Himalayan tunnels are briefly highlighted. In case of Tapovan-Vishnugad head race tunnel, the variation of ground in terms of difficulty in managing the TBM thrust and penetration rate has also been highlighted. At the end, some issues have been presented which seems to be important for the success of TBM in the difficult grounds.     

Groundwork – a case study in landscape and amenity management

The Groundwork trusts have now been in operation for well over a decade and have implemented a wide range of projects across England and Wales. The origins and purposes of Groundwork are traced, and an overview of the types of project undertaken is presented. The relationship of the trusts to public and private sector funding, and the kinds of partnership involved, are examined. Many successes have been achieved in landscape renewal, although there have been some frictions with local authorities, and it is still difficult to make objective assessments of value for money or performance across a wide range of criteria. Nevertheless, the network of Groundwork trusts looks set to continue to offer a broad and flexible approach to environmental management.     

Microbial polymers in the aquatic environment—II: Isolation from biologically non-purified and purified municipal waste water and analysis

Soluble organic substances in primary and secondary effluents were concentrated by vacuum distillation and the polymers with molecular weights > 10,000 were isolated by dialysis and lyophilization. A concentrated solution of polymers from the secondary effluent was treated by ion-exchange and adsorption chromatography in order to fractionate the polymers into four groups: basic (7.6%), neutral (28.5%), light yellow acid (46.4%) and dark brown acid (14.2%). All isolated and fractionated polymers contained sugars, amino sugars, uronic acids and amino acids. The sum of these compounds, as determined photometrically amounted to 32.8–77.3% of the volatile fraction of the polymers. It has been found that both primary and secondary effluents contain microbial polymers originating in the sewer and in the aeration tank during the waste water purification. Biodegradability tests confirmed that the polymers are refractory having the BOD rate constant of 0.03 d⁻¹.     

Anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and FOG with sewage sludge – realising its potential in Ireland

The severe environmental pollution in many countries is caused by indiscriminate discharge of large quantities of food waste (FW), fat oil and grease (FOG) and sewage sludge (SS) to the environment. There are many possible treatment routes, but anaerobic digestion (AD) is now well accepted for treating several kinds of organic wastes. But AD of FW alone presents some operational challenges because of substrates and variability. Anaerobic co-digestion of two or more substrates is better than single substrate digestion. This can use a plant’s unused capacity, in line with the trend to renewable energy. Co-digestion technology, although well established in many European countries, is still in its infancy in Ireland. There are problems with different regulatory arrangements. They should be resolved. The paper reviews anaerobic co-digestion technology is reviewed, with special focus on possible application in Ireland.     

Is the human right to water sufficiently protected in Spain? Affordability and governance concerns

Most research on water poverty focuses on developing countries. However, research is also needed in developed countries, where water may be too expensive for some households. This paper examines the case of Spain, using data from 16 cities that combined are home to 35% of the Spanish population. We study both national and local systems of regulation and governance. The objective is to determine whether low-income families face a genuine threat of exclusion from water supply. To this end, we analysed whether the Spanish legal framework allows that water supply is cut off for non-payment of the bill. We also did different estimates of the percentage of the family income spent on the water bill, which in some cases can surpass 10%. The estimates account for tariff discounts, as well as assistance programmes available to those who are struggling to pay their water bill. Although there is no problem of affordability for an average Spanish family in general, we conclude that families at risk of poverty face a real threat of exclusion from water services because they are not able to pay for them and the institutional framework does not sufficiently protect them.     

Urban and semi‐urban planning in developing countries from a water and waste water treatment point of view

Several appropriate technology alternatives are suggested for water and wastewatei treatment in less developed countries. Large‐scale water supply systems employing conventional water treatment methods should be replaced by several small‐scale water treatment units utilizing appropriate water treatment methods.

Conventional sewerage systems should be replaced by low cost on‐site sanitation systems and several other low‐cost wastewater treatment methods such as oxidation ponds, aerated lagoons and anaerobic lagoons. Wastewater renovation and re‐use should be actively encouraged in view of dwindling water resources in these countries.     

The managerial turn and municipal land-use planning in Switzerland – evidence from practice

New Public Management (NPM) reforms are intended to increase efficiency and support a more managerial approach to public problems. This paper examines how NPM-type reforms have led to the growing influence of finance and real-estate departments in local level planning in Switzerland. Drawing on over 50 interviews, the paper maps the growing influence of flexible private-law or incentive-based instruments as complements to more binding instruments (typically zoning) in land-use planning practices. NPM reforms have prompted a renewed interest in public property, forcing municipalities to position themselves in relation to the necessity to sell or retain public land. The results show that NPM has affected practices of land-use planning in Switzerland, but the outcomes are more complex than a one-to-one takeover and there is variation across the country. The Swiss case study helps extend the wider international debate about NPM and planning. This paper highlights the complex impacts of managerialism on planning reform as well as ongoing tensions between increased efficiency in plan implementation and public scrutiny.     

What scope for integrating land management policies,land administration processes and data infrastructures for housing production in Nigeria?

Existing knowledge reveals that land as a resource is not currently managed efficiently and effectively in most countries of the world. One of the factors considered important in understanding the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness is the level of integration between agencies. The objective of this paper is to determine the level of this inefficiency in order to improve our understanding of the inter-relationship between agencies that perform land administration functions. The research methods include a synthesis of past studies and the use of case study approach. It uses as context, Lagos, in Nigeria. This approach involves a mixed method: interviews and online survey. The results revealed limited integration of processes and collaboration of agencies in the management of land for housing production. We conclude that policies are not sufficiently informed by data and there is a noticeable disconnection between agencies, and formulated policies.     

Landfill sites,solid waste management and people’s resistance: a study of two municipal corporations in Kerala

This paper examines some issues associated with the centralised waste management system and the ways in which urban local bodies tackled the resistance against centralised waste management. The study is based on a sample survey of 175 households located in the landfill sites connected with two Municipal Corporations, viz. Thrissur and Kochi. The study observed that the local government resists change in solid waste management. When the resistance is strong alternative methods like decentralised waste management are chosen; and where the resistance is weak there is a tendency to maintain the centralised waste management system.     

Housing and the elderly in Singapore – financial and quality of life implications of ageing in place

In spite of the unprecedented success of publichousing in Singapore, the rapid rate at whichthe population is greying is causing housingstress in the matured Housing and DevelopmentBoard (HDB) estates. Although new housingoptions such as studio apartments are beingprovided by the public sector while a recentlyformed housing cooperative is developing aretirement village, the majority of the elderlyin Singapore prefer to age in place,notwithstanding the imbalance between thedemands of their homes and the functioninglevel of the elderly persons' physical andbiological systems. This implies that homemodification, rather than new-built elderlyhousing, may be a more pragmatic solution tothe elderly Singaporeans' housing problems thatcould also improve their quality of life. Since85% of the population of Singapore live inpublic housing, this paper examines the typesof home modifications that could be carried outto the existing stock of public housing so asto create a suitable living environment for theelderly. In addition, the paper considers thehousing finance predicaments of the elderlySingaporean and explores possible financinginstruments that could be implemented tosupport home modifications for Singapore'sgreying population. The paper concludes thatsince home modification(s) could improve thequality of life of the elderly persons morethan specialised housing, public funds shouldbe diverted from building new specialisedhousing to home modification(s) for elderlyhome owners.     

Exploring the enabling effects of project management for SMEs in adopting open innovation – A framework for partner search and selection in open innovation projects

Open Innovation (OI) facilitates a multitude of innovation opportunities through allowing access to a broad variety of external partners, expertise and knowledge. Although OI has been established in academia and the corporate world, implementation by SMEs remains a formidable challenge, especially concerning the identification and selection of suitable OI partners. Given methodical support for such an endeavour is currently lacking, this article investigates how project management can support OI projects. Based on evidence from an exploratory multi-case study with four SMEs, this article develops a Situational Open Innovation framework that provides methodical support for SMEs in leveraging the complementarities between OI and project management towards effective partner search and selection. The findings illustrate how sensing capabilities for OI opportunities can benefit from systematic problem and stakeholder analyses as they allow for identifying and focussing on the most relevant innovation tasks and partners.     

Environmental contamination and seasonal variation of metals in soils,plants and waters in the paddy fields around a PbZn mine in Korea

The objective of this study is to investigate the extent and degree of heavy metal contamination of paddy fields influenced by metalliferous mining activity. Paddy soils, rice plants and irrigation waters were sampled along six traverse lines in the vicinity of the mine and nearby control site. Soil samples were taken 30, 80 and 150 days after rice transplanting, to study seasonal variation of their chemical properties and heavy metal concentrations. Sampling of rice plants and irrigation waters was also undertaken with seasons. The analysis of the samples were carried out using ICP-AES for 25 elements including Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Physical and chemical properties of soils (pH, loss-on-ignition, cation exchange capacity and texture) and waters (pH, Eh and temperature) were also measured. The properties of soils were similar to the average Korean soils, with the exception of some samples taken in the vicinity of the mine. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in paddy soils, rice plants and irrigation waters sampled in the immediate vicinity of the mine were relatively high due to the seepage of metals from mining dump sites. Although there was variation between sampling sites, soil pH values under reducing conditions were on average higher than those under oxidising conditions. Relatively low content of organic matter and low cation exchange capacity of soils were found at 80 days after rice transplanting (P < 0.05). No seasonal variations in metal concentrations were found in paddy soils throughout the period of the rice growing, in which soils ranged from flooded reducing conditions through most of the growing season to drained oxidising conditions before and at harvest. Relatively high metal concentrations were found in the rice stalks and leaves under oxidising conditions. The sequential extraction analysis of selected soil samples confirmed that high proportions of exchangeable fractions of the metals were found under oxidising conditions. It was shown that Cd and Zn concentrations in rice leaves and stalks and rice grain increased with increasing metal concentrations in paddy soils to a greater extent than for Cu and Pb. This difference in uptake is in agreement with the greater proportions of Cd and Zn, compared with Cu and Pb, in the exchangeable soil fraction extracted with MgCl₂. Average daily intake from locally grown rice by the residents was estimated to be 121 μg Cd and 126 μg Pb. Thus, long-term metal exposure by regular consumption of the rice poses potential health problems to residents in the vicinity of the mine, although no adverse health effects have as yet been observed.     

ICT, growth and productivity in the German energy sector - On the way to a smart grid?

This paper examines how the German energy industry has invested in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capital during the years 1992-2005. Using the method of growth accounting I find that the contribution of ICT investment to the growth of value-added and average labour productivity (ALP) within the German energy industry has decreased in the years 2001-2005. The reasons for this can be many. However, policy and regulation are called to remove existing barriers to ICT investment to overcome this investment reticence and to exploit productivity potentials in all stages of the energy value chain as a necessary pre-condition for building Smart Grids.