Waste Management and Emergency Response

Climate Implications – Waste Management and Emergency Response

Contaminated Site Management

Waste management sites are vulnerable to flooding from an increase in extreme precipitation events. These include Superfund, corrective action sites, brownfield sites, landfills, and underground storage tanks. Contaminated site management will become more difficult due to the increased incidence of flooding and other climate impacts that threaten the effectiveness of cleanup efforts. 

Disaster Debris Management

Environmental emergency response efforts, such as the safe and timely management of disaster debris, are an essential but often overlooked component of an emergency response or disaster incident. Disaster debris management is also one of the competing priorities communities face during such events. It is important that debris is properly managed so as to protect human health, comply with regulations, conserve disposal capacity, reduce injuries and prevent or minimize environmental impacts.