Chapter 2.

4 Public awareness and communication

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Communicating with the public

Different terminology Public communication

Public information
Stakeholder dialogue Public consultation Awareness raising Public education programmes

Public involvement
Public participation Same objective
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Public concerns in general

Fear of damage to health
Effects on quality of life Damage to natural environment

Lack of trust in responsible authorities

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Public concerns about a specific development

Health concerns Impacts on local amenities

Impacts on property values

Transport impacts Effects on quality of life Nuisance from noise, dust etc

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Need for public awareness raising in developing economies

Press cutting from Sunday Navhind Times, Goa 7 April 2002

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Case study: Successful community action, Taiwan

Proposal in 2001 by EPA to build a 78 hectare disposal site for industrial waste Community was concerned that the construction would damage local economic development

Petition submitted to EPA saying that residents were against the establishment of such a site
EPA agreed not to proceed without community acceptance Site was relocated
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Case study: Public opposition to mercury disposal in India

Community concern about a thermometer factory and scrap yard in a dense urban area Allegations that mercury-contaminated waste stored in open, frequented by barefoot, unprotected workers

Wastes also illegally dumped on slopes of area officially designated a sanctuary area
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Raising public awareness

Hazardous waste management is itself an environmental protection measure

Need to raise public awareness and understanding

Public information campaigns are costly they require: funds skilled staff

time

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Who is the public?

Also known as stakeholders: all of those who have rights, responsibilities and interests Everyone but in particular: Neighbours of waste generating industry Neighbours of treatment or disposal facility National and local environmental campaigning bodies Local land users eg farmers, horticulturalists, allotment owners, gardeners, fishermen, forestry workers Schools and play groups Local community and religious groups
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Specific groups to be informed

Politicians, local and national Print and broadcast media Waste generators

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Why raise publics awareness?

To increase their trust To provide accurate information To convey their own responsibilities as waste generators

To get support for national waste strategies and especially a hazardous waste management programme
To get local acceptance of necessary facilities required by that strategy

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Another reason to inform the public

To comply with the Aarhus Convention UN Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters Came into force October 2001

To date 19 countries are party to the convention

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Who should undertake public information and communication?

International bodies eg WHO, UNEP National governments

Local/regional government
Waste industry

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How to inform and communicate with the public?

Use a variety of methods as public is mixed: Be clear about objectives Identify audience groups Identify message(s)

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Need for diverse methods

Some methods suited to conveying information and acquiring stakeholder views, some suited to dialogue passive information provision eg posters, leaflets, newsletters, media/radio, web sites active seeking of public views eg surveys, workshops, telephone hot lines participative forums eg citizens juries, local advisory groups Need information appropriate to audience eg nontechnical for layman Use of Internet increasing
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When to involve the public?

When a hazardous waste strategy for the region or city is being devised When contracts for hazardous waste collection and/or disposal are being negotiated When planning applications are made for waste treatment and disposal sites

When licensing or operating permits are applied for

AIM: to increase public understanding of the issues and acceptance of necessary facilities
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NIMBY
Some of the acronyms used to describe public attitudes:

NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard

LULU = Locally Unacceptable Land Use NIMTOO = Not In My Term Of Office BANANA = Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone and one used by the public to describe industrys approach: CATNIP = Cheapest Available Technology Not Involving Prosecution
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Average costs of different approaches

Low cost:
Leaflets and posters Surveys telephone, postal, targeted groups

Medium cost:
Panels and focus groups Citizens juries High cost: Local advisory groups
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Information for other stakeholders

Different stakeholders need different information eg industry, policy makers
Sector-specific information targeted at: major hazardous waste generators small scale generators Waste minimisation initiatives

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Chapter 2.4 Summary

Different terms, same objective
improving the publics awareness of, and participation in, hazardous waste management issues

Common public concerns

Case studies of public opposition

Diversity of the public Why involve them, who should do it, how and when Targeting specific sectors eg waste generators
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