Disaster Waste Recovery

Recently operational, DWR has been established in order to provide support to communities affected by disasters. DWR is available for both short and long-term assignments, and is positively engaged with pursuing partnerships, with the aim of increasing the capacity of operational agencies.

In the aftermath of disasters, large amounts of solid waste can accumulate, posing a threat to public health, and hindering reconstruction. Uncontrolled dumping of waste can have a significant negative impact on the environment, including contamination of groundwater resources and the proliferation of rats and other vectors.

Such wastes can however provide a resource for reconstruction, including the creation of income generating possibilities.

DWR experts can be deployed to the field in small numbers to provide the necessary support, and DWR is currently expanding its register of waste management specialists through a screening process.

This year DWR has run projects in Tabasco, Mexico (disaster waste management plan, local authority capacity building) and South Ossetia (disaster waste management assessment). Other work includes contributions to a series of waste management Technical Briefing Notes (Oxfam) and increasing disaster waste management capacity for donors (SRSA).

Please contact info@disasterwaste.org to apply to be a member of the register, for information on partnership agreements or any other discussion or enquiries.

Or visit the DWR website: www.disasterwaste.org