Report on Marquette County’s Hazardous Waste Collection Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority (MCSWMA) conducted a hazardous waste collection event in Sands Township, Michigan. This initiative provides residents with a safe and environmentally sound method for disposing of hazardous materials, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program is a recurring effort to protect community health and environmental integrity.

Initiative Details and Objectives

The primary objective of the collection event is to divert hazardous waste from regular residential trash and recycling streams. This prevents environmental contamination and promotes public safety. According to MCSWMA staff, these events are crucial for responsible waste management.

Accepted Materials

A range of household hazardous waste was collected, including but not limited to:

• Old paint cans
• Used batteries
• Household chemicals

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The waste collection program makes significant contributions to the following SDGs:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By properly managing hazardous chemicals, the initiative reduces the risk of human exposure to harmful substances that can contaminate air, soil, and water, thus promoting a healthy living environment for the community.
2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The program prevents hazardous materials from leaching into groundwater and surface water from landfills, directly protecting the quality of local water resources.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This initiative is a core component of sustainable waste management, making Marquette County a safer and more resilient community by mitigating environmental hazards.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The event directly addresses Target 12.4, which calls for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, significantly reducing their release to air, water, and soil.
5. SDG 14 & 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land: Preventing chemical pollutants from entering the ecosystem protects aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity from the toxic effects of hazardous waste.

As stated by MCSWMA employee Rianna Jalonen, “We want the hazardous waste to end up in [the proper place, not] people’s recycling or their residential trash. We just want to keep the environment clean.” This statement underscores the program’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its alignment with global sustainability targets.

Future Events

The MCSWMA will continue to host these collection events throughout the year to ensure ongoing community access to responsible waste disposal. The next scheduled event is:

• Date: September 11
• Time: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Marquette County Landfill’s hazardous waste collection event addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on environmental health, community well-being, and responsible waste management.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is relevant because the proper disposal of hazardous waste, such as “household chemicals,” is crucial for preventing soil and water contamination. Such contamination can lead to illnesses and health problems within the community. The article directly supports this by stating the effort aims to “keep our community and environment safe.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The initiative is a community-based action to improve municipal services. By providing a “safe way to dispose of things that don’t belong in the regular trash,” the Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority is contributing to making the community more sustainable and reducing its adverse environmental impact.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This is the most directly related SDG. The article focuses on the end-of-life management of products containing hazardous materials (“old paint cans and batteries to household chemicals”). The collection event is a clear example of promoting the environmentally sound management of waste, a key aspect of this goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities described, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

   By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The hazardous waste collection event is a direct action to improve “municipal and other waste management,” as it prevents harmful substances from entering regular landfills and the environment.

2. Target 12.4: Responsible management of chemicals and waste

   By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. The article’s core subject—collecting “hazardous waste” like “paint cans and batteries to household chemicals”—is a direct implementation of this target, aiming to “keep the environment clean.”

3. Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation

   By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. While the article focuses on collection rather than reduction, providing a dedicated disposal route for hazardous materials is a critical component of an overall strategy to manage and reduce the impact of waste. It ensures that hazardous items are diverted from the general waste stream, which is a form of waste management and reduction of environmental pollution.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not provide quantitative data, but it implies several qualitative and process-based indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• Frequency of Waste Collection Events

  The article states that the “Solid Waste Management Authority hosts more of these collections throughout the year” and provides a date for the next event. The number of collection events held annually serves as a direct indicator of the effort and resources being allocated to manage hazardous waste (related to Target 12.4).

• Types of Waste Collected

  The article specifies the types of materials collected: “old paint cans and batteries to household chemicals.” Tracking the categories and volume of hazardous waste collected would be a key performance indicator for measuring the amount of hazardous material diverted from improper disposal (related to Target 12.4 and 11.6).

• Community Participation Rate

  Although not explicitly stated, the success of such events depends on resident participation. The number of residents or households utilizing the service could be an implied indicator of community awareness and engagement in responsible waste disposal practices (related to Target 11.6).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: uppermichiganssource.com