Abstract
Following the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan, a Task team for Disaster Waste Management and Reconstruction was established within the Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management (JSMCWM). One of the major jobs undertaken by the task team during fieldwork and upon return was to create a manual entitled, Strategies for Separation and Treatment of Disaster Waste (JSMCWM manual). The objective of this paper was to review existing manuals and introduce an outline for the JSMCWM manual in order to facilitate developments in this field for the future.
Overseas, U.S. guides for debris management are rather substantial and the information is systematized. The international organization UNEP/OCHA has also published guidelines that briefly list up points of importance. However, with regard to international information-sharing among Asian countries, we found a need to further examine the networks and make available a wider range of choices, etc. to make improvements.
One of the major characteristics of the JSMCWM manual is that it emphasizes the concept that even disaster waste is recyclable. The recyclable items must be listed up to promote reuse and recycling wherever possible. The manual offers different modes of separation and options for reuse and recycling. However, more information is needed so better management plans can be developed long before a disaster strikes.
