Development and preliminary testing of sustainable development indicators for biosolids management at regional/local level in Ireland

摘要

Management of biosolids (treated sewage sludge) is becoming a significantudissue for Local Authorities throughout Ireland, especially with the progressiveudimplementation of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 91/271/EECudof 1991. The future of biosolids management will depend on what directionudLocal Authorities take in the immediate future. This direction will beuddetermined by quantity and quality of treated sewage sludge, types of sludgeudtreatment available/selected and recycling/disposal outlets that will beudacceptable to most stakeholders and most importantly, pose no danger toudhuman health.udThe aim of this thesis is to develop and conduct a preliminary test ofudsustainable development indicators (SDIs) for managing biosolids at theudregional/local level. Accordingly, a set of 22 SDIs (comprising five headline,udseven core and ten complementary indicators) has been developed using audstakeholder-based approach. These indicators are arranged according to theudDriving force-Pressure-State-lmpact-Response framework and address alluddomains of biosolids management namely, production, quality, cost,udlegislation/regulation, training/research and recycling/disposal. A preliminaryudtest of the indicators was carried out in County Sligo to verify their suitabilityudand usefulness. A key finding of the study is that the SDIs are relativelyudeffective and can make significant contributions to the sustainableudmanagement of biosolids.udThe stakeholder participatory approach adopted in the study meant that theudindicator development process involved participants from varied background,udknowledge, experience and perspective. Such a ‘mix’ is necessary in order toudcapture the multi-faceted criteria of sustainable biosolids management. Theudmethodology and analysis of the survey results were designed to ensure anudunbiased, critical, and fair input by the participating stakeholders.udThe thesis concludes by synthesising the findings and making a number ofudrecommendations and suggestions for further research. These propositions,udif implemented, could lead to the refinement of the SDIs and generation ofudnew ones.