Aalborg University, Department of Business & Management, Aalborg East, Denmark.
Waste Manag Res. 2011 Oct;29(10):1008-17. doi: 10.1177/0734242X11417488. Epub 2011 Sep 2.
There is a strong connection between economic growth and development of cities. Economic growth tends to stimulate city growth, and city economies have often shaped innovative environments that in turn support economic growth. Simultaneously, social and environmental problems related to city growth can be serious threats to the realization of the socio-economic contributions that cities can make. However, as a result of considerable diversity of competences combined with interactive learning and innovation, cities may also solve these problems. The 'urban order' may form a platform for innovative problem solving and potential spill-over effects, which may stimulate further economic growth and development. This paper discusses how waste problems of cities can be transformed to become part of new, more sustainable solutions. Two cases are explored: Aalborg in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden. It is shown that the cities have the potential to significantly contribute to a more sustainable development through increased material recycling and energy recovery. Waste prevention may increase this potential. For example, instead of constituting 3% of the total greenhouse gas emission problem, it seems possible for modern European cities to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction by 15% through up to date technology and integrated waste management systems for material and energy recovery. Going from being part of the problem to providing solutions; however, is not an easy endeavour. It requires political will and leadership, supportive regulatory frameworks, realistic timetables/roadmaps, and a diverse set of stakeholders that can provide the right creative and innovative mix to make it possible.
经济增长与城市发展之间存在着紧密的联系。经济增长往往会刺激城市的发展，而城市经济通常塑造了创新的环境，进而支持经济增长。与此同时，与城市发展相关的社会和环境问题可能对城市所能做出的社会经济贡献构成严重威胁。然而，由于城市具有多样化的能力，再加上相互学习和创新，城市也可能解决这些问题。“城市秩序”可能为创新问题的解决和潜在的溢出效应提供一个平台，从而刺激进一步的经济增长和发展。本文探讨了如何将城市的废物问题转化为新的、更可持续的解决方案的一部分。探讨了两个案例：丹麦的奥尔堡和瑞典的马尔默。研究表明，通过提高物质回收和能源回收，城市有可能为更可持续的发展做出重大贡献。废物预防可能会增加这种潜力。例如，通过现代技术和综合废物管理系统来实现物质和能源回收，欧洲现代城市有可能通过减排温室气体，将其对温室气体排放问题的贡献从 3%提高到 15%。然而，从成为问题的一部分到提供解决方案并非易事。这需要政治意愿和领导力、支持性的监管框架、现实的时间表/路线图，以及多样化的利益相关者，他们能够提供正确的创造性和创新性组合，使之成为可能。
