WASH Cluster – Disaster Waste in Emergencies
DW1.3
Handout
DW1 – Examples of Disaster Waste
Definition: Abnormal generation of waste that results from a natural disaster or
conflict
Disaster waste can be comprised of the following:

Sediment, soil and vegetation

Hazardous wastes (batteries, solvent, oils, asbestos, etc.)

Building debris (concrete, brick, roof tiles, plaster, etc.)

Household possessions, white goods (washing machines, fridges, etc.) and
electrical equipment (televisions, computers, etc.)

Relief waste such as packaging

Unexploded ordnance (including depleted uranium) and military vehicles

Healthcare waste including spoiled or expired pharmaceuticals

Waste from internally displaced people [IDP] camps and relief workers
accommodation
It is also important to remember that:
accumulated municipal wastes which grows immediately following the emergency as
the normal solid waste management systems will typically have broken down. These
wastes:

are often mixed in with the general disaster waste

will exacerbate the waste problems from the disaster

will grow quickly as waste collection systems are often broken down as a result
of the disaster.
Different disasters may result in different types of waste
Tsunami:
 Vegetation
 Soil
 Sediment
 municipal waste from dump sites
 healthcare waste
 human and animal remains and excreta
 hazardous substances (oils, asbestos, batteries, etc.)
 demolition waste (concrete, brick, timber, etc.) from destroyed buildings
 waste generated by relief operation (food, food packaging, IDP camps, relief
workers accommodation)
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WASH Cluster – Water in Emergencies
DW1.3
Earthquake:
 building debris
 healthcare waste (trauma victims including amputations and dressings)
Floods:
 households goods (furniture, white goods, carpets, spoiled food)
 pharmaceutical waste
 animal carcasses
 IDP camp waste
Hurricanes/Typhoons:
 similar to flood waste
 building materials (roof sheets, broken windows)
 vegetation (blown-over trees)
Post-conflict:
 demolition waste from destroyed buildings
 military hardware
 unexploded ordnance (UXO)
 depleted uranium (DU),
 waste generated by relief operation (food, food packaging, etc.)
 IDP / refugee camps
 relief workers accommodation
Handout – DW1: Examples of disaster waste
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