Search Results for 'construction waste'

[Tom NguyenKeymaster]

Hi Evan (and team)

Like many other rural regions (including Australia and New Zealand), there may not always be a centralised gravity or pressurised sewer main network.

You’ll be able to see from the 360 interactives what a typical outdoor toilet (detached dwelling) looks like in Loidahar. These are typically manual flush toilets where users utilise a small bucket that scoops up water from an adjacent container.

Waste enters a pit attached to the toilet/latrine, where it anaerobically decomposes.

Affordable systems commonly found in rural Timor-Leste

Direct Pit Latrine: Squat slab directly above a single pit.
Offset Pit Latrine: Uses a short horizontal pipe or channel to connect the squat pan to a pit some distance away (can reduce odour and increase safety).
Pour-Flush Toilets: Squat pan with Septic Tanks or Soak Pits

You can research what kind of common materials are used in construction of these systems, as well as their estimated cost. Consider maintenance requirements for components of the system you’re designing.

Kind regards

EWB Challenge team

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Isabella,

There’s already an existing thread that answers this question: https://ewbchallenge.org/forums/search/construction+waste/

Regards,
Jean

[Isabella KhouryParticipant]

Also, what are some reasons for the large amounts of construction waste on the island? Are there any resources you can point me to for this?

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by Isabella Khoury.

Hi,
I was just wondering where the images of the construction waste in Saibai from the Waste Management Gallery are located? Are they located inside or outside the landfills / waste areas or are they scattered throughout Saibai? Thank you in advance!

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Kate,

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. I’ve outlined my answers and recommended readings:

1. Under TSIRC Publications in our Resources Page, check the TSIRC Annual Report (2022 – 2023), which describes the Council’s financial performance and includes a breakdown of where their money comes from.

2. If this is related to waste management, please look at TSIRC (2024) ‘Priority Area Two — Local waste management strategy’ in our recommended readings at the end of Design Area 1 — Waste management design brief.

3. Our design brief described that solid wastes on the island typically arise and can be defined from three streams: domestic and municipal, commercial and industrial waste, and construction and demolition. It’s important to distinguish which can be shipped and which can managed via their landfill. Please check DAFF (2024) ‘Moving goods to, from and within Torres Strait’ under TSIRC Publications in our Resources Page to understand the movement of goods from the Torres Strait under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

4. You can find our response to a similar question on this thread.

5. Yes, waste management facilities are part of TSIRC’s operations. The Torres Strait Island Regional Council Deputation Pictogram provides more information about their workforce.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 8 months, 4 weeks ago by Jean Aquinde.

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Madison,

That is a great initiative! There might be more construction materials for which we still need to take photos, but you may assume all kinds of construction materials were left behind on the island, as it’s costly to transport them back and because of the island’s strict biosecurity regulations.

We are unsure of the main reasons why they were never reused or repurposed (even if some look in great condition), but we know that community members are allowed to reuse them.

According to this Fact Sheet – Commercial and Construction Waste Restrictions, “Approval for gifting materials to community members or TSIRC will be assessed on a case-by-case basis only. Gifting of materials must be approved by Councils CEO or delegate. To apply for approval, contact the relevant TSIRC Divisional Engineering Officer staff on-island. They will provide the information to the CEO or delegate. The CEO or delegate will assess the situation and deny or approve with conditions.”

I hope that answers your questions!

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Jean Aquinde.
• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Jean Aquinde.

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Vansh,

According to this fact sheet from TSIRC – Commercial and Construction Waste Restrictions: “waste storage container can be put on to the service barge for removal“.

The wastes being sent off the islands undergo a biosecurity inspection prior to disposal in mainland Australia.

I hope that helps.

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Jean Aquinde.

Hello,

I’d like to reuse construction material on the island to build my design. I can see through the pictures that there are corrugated iron, steel bars, wood, concrete blocks etc. Is there any other available material not able to be seen in the pictures and walkthroughs, and is there any reasons that the material is not currently being used for construction (such as chemical risks or degradation)?
Thank you!

[Sai Rupa DevKeymaster]

Hi Ameen

Hello,

Thank you for your inquiry about Saibai Island and its plastic waste situation. I understand your concern about the limited information available and your desire to minimize plastic waste effectively. Let’s address your questions while considering the interconnected nature of the island’s challenges and opportunities:

1. Land Accessibility and Construction: Saibai Island, with its low-lying terrain and limited infrastructure, presents challenges and opportunities for construction. While the island is approximately 1 meter above sea level, there’s potential for further development. However, it’s crucial to examine the Infrastructure section of the design brief, which outlines these challenges and opportunities in detail. Take advantage of the interactives and drone footage to gain a comprehensive understanding of the island’s layout and potential areas for development.

2. Transportation and Waste Management: Transportation on Saibai Island mainly relies on cars and walking, with waste often moved by trucks. Maintenance of vehicles can be challenging due to the island’s remote location and the expense of fuel, as highlighted in the Energy section of the design brief. By exploring these resources, you can gain insights into transportation dynamics and associated waste management practices.

3. Educational Campaigns on Plastic Waste: While there’s existing awareness regarding waste on Saibai Island, initiating an educational campaign could further contribute to minimizing plastic waste. It’s crucial to approach such initiatives innovatively and respectfully, ensuring the narrative promotes awareness without disrespecting the people or Country. Explore documents from TSRA and TSIRC to understand existing initiatives and potential collaboration opportunities.

I encourage you to explore the design brief comprehensively, considering all interconnected aspects of Saibai Island’s challenges and opportunities. Each section in the brief has an additional resources section with at least 5 resources per section. We have provided a total of over 30 resources and just added more resources on to the website. Take a look at what’s appropriate to your project and let us know if you have more questions.

Cheers,
Sai

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Jean Aquinde. Reason: spelling

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Peter,

Please refer to my answer to Shaun regarding more details on the marine infrastructure. According to this publication: Construction Work in Remote Islands in North Queensland Challenges and Solutions, the required materials for the Saibai Sea Wall and Bund Wall Project could not be supplied locally. Suppliers from Cairns needed to be engaged.

Due to the island’s remoteness, lack of local manufacturing capacity and resources, this is more likely a similar case when the pier was first constructed. I would say it’s generally safe to assume that construction materials are transported into the island from various sources in mainland Australia and are subject to Commercial and Construction Waste Restrictions.

On TSIRC’s website, Priority Area One – Marine infrastructure and equitable access, it explicitly says that ‘Poruma, Saibai, Masig, Boigu and Erub each require dredging on the marine access channel for barges and pocket dredging to facilitate barge and essential freight provision at approximately $26M for all five communities.’ Note that the other islands mentioned are also rated as ‘severe’, and that trend may be worth investigating.

According to this TSIRC document, the berthing dolphins and jetty at Saibai are damaged. In the risk rating’s definition, severe means ‘less than 3 years useful life left’. Saibai Island’s marine infrastructure may aesthetically look ‘okay’ in photos because it’s still technically functional, but given the risk rating, expect that the the structural features will likely reach its end of life in a year or so.

I agree with your assessment regarding the seawall. While the seawall is part of the marine infrastructure, its risk rating is likely different from the rest because of its recent reconstruction. Despite the reconstruction of the seawall, it’s important to remember that the village by default is highly susceptible to coastal flooding during high tides and storm surges.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Jean Aquinde.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Jean Aquinde.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Jean Aquinde.

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Harry,

From my quick search, I found these resources that might help you research further. It doesn’t say ‘tightly lidded bins’ explicitly but it covers the requirements when selecting receptacles:

Moving goods to, from and within Torres Strait
Biosecurity requirements for removing commercial and construction waste from Torres Strait

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jean Aquinde.

I hope this message finds you well. I am currently considering a community development initiative that I believe could benefit our local villagers immensely. The idea is to construct a communal underground root cellar adjacent to the community centre. This facility would provide a shared space for residents to store perishable items, potentially helping with food security and decreasing food waste.

However, before we proceed with this plan, I have concerns regarding the soil conditions in the village. I’ve observed that during the wet seasons, the challenges faced in rice cultivation are quite significant, leading me to believe that the soil conditions might not be optimal for an underground construction like a root cellar.

Given your expertise and familiarity with the area, I wanted to reach out and seek your insights on a few specific questions:

Can you provide more detailed information on the soil conditions in the village, especially during the wet seasons?

Are there instances where flooding has reached the homes of villagers during particularly heavy rains?

Could you also inform me about the proximity of the mountain to the village?
mountain cellar would be the best , but i am not sure how long would villagers take to go to the nearest mountain.

Your feedback will be instrumental in determining the feasibility of this project and ensuring the safety and longevity of the proposed root cellar. I genuinely believe that this facility could be a valuable asset to our community, and your guidance will be pivotal in making it a reality.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Daniel,

Waste rocks from a mining operation are a potential building material if identified as fit for construction (i.e. will not pose health risks). Unfortunately, we don’t have any information about the mining company’s willingness to supply it to the local community or their waste management strategy.

Have you considered other local materials that you may use?

Regards,
Jean

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Carlie,

In the Interactives, we mentioned that Yirrganydyi Rangers conduct frequent maintenance on Dungarra, including weed, leaves, rubbish clearing, and trimming overgrown vegetation. Look for the walking track (green icon) on the Dunggara site, and you can read more details there.

The term ‘problematic area’ is subjective as not all sites are operational, which means some may require a more comprehensive waste management plan during construction and operation. To help you decide the area you want to work on, hover over different potential sites in the Interactives and read each area’s current and proposed future uses.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Jean

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Kyle,

It’s great that you are exploring alternative materials. We’ve just updated our Resources page where you can find the cost of building materials like brick and cement bags in Cambodian Riel.

Waste rocks from a mining operation are a potential building material if identified as fit for construction (i.e. will not pose health risks). Unfortunately, we don’t have any information about the mining company’s willingness to supply it to the local community or their waste management strategy.

Aside from the identified design considerations, keep in mind the existing skills of the locals in your building material selection.

We’ve also observed locals wearing sandals/flip-flops in most photos and videos. I found this helpful resource as to why that’s their preference.

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Jean Aquinde.