Wasteshed Network

‌Context

A growing population globally has been displaced by political conflict and environmental stress and is living within refugee camps, sometimes for decades. Current waste management systems within these areas are identified as a major threat to human health and wellbeing.

A recent workshop organised by YESI brought together a global network to build an action research agenda for refugee waste management. Attendees included representatives from The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Norwegian Church Aid, Oxfam, the Lajee Centre from Palestine’s Aida Camp, and Jordan’s Za’atari camp. The conference offered an opportunity for attendees to explore the commonalities and differences in the failures of past refugee camp waste management and the delegates visited the Za’atari camp for a facility tour of Oxfam’s recycling project. It culminated in the development of the Wasteshed Network to maintain the research links formed.

Zaatari Camp Waste Flows (PDF , 497kb)

The diagram above maps the waste flows identified during the workshop and visit to the Za'atari camp.

Network aims and objectives

• Research complex systems of waste management in refugee camps that are resilient, cost-effective, environmentally-conscious and appropriate across different contexts and geographies;
• Establish a learning platform for the sharing and exchange of experiences, challenges and ideas;
• Engage a wider audience to verify findings globally and promote greater impact;
• Co-develop and implement pilot approaches to improve waste management;
• Add social value through waste management providing jobs, useful products, training and a sense of community.