Holm Rochelle H, Chunga Brighton A, Mallory Adrian, Hutchings Paul, Parker Alison
Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation, Mzuzu University, Malawi.
Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, UK.
Environ Health Insights. 2021 Jan 11;15:1178630220984147. doi: 10.1177/1178630220984147. eCollection 2021.
When waste management infrastructure is built, there can be resistance from the local affected populations, often termed the Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) phenomenon. This study aims to understand the forms of resistance that may develop in such contexts, focusing on 2 solid waste and 1 liquid waste management site within Mzuzu City, Malawi. At the newest solid waste site, community resistance had grown to the extent that the site was reportedly destroyed by the local community. Interviews and observations of the sites are complemented by examining historic and recent satellite images. It was found that, at the new solid waste site, community engagement had not been conducted effectively prior to construction and as part of ongoing site operations. This was compounded by poor site management and the non-delivery of the promised benefits to the community. In contrast, at the liquid waste site, the community could access untreated sludge for use as fertilizer and were happier to live within its vicinity. While NIMBYism is a frustrating phenomenon for city planners, it is understandable that communities want to protect their health and well-being when there is a history of mismanagement of waste sites which is sadly common in low-income settings. It is difficult for government agencies to deliver these services and broader waste management. In this study, an unsuccessful attempt to do something better with a legitimate goal is not necessarily a failure, but part of a natural learning process for getting things right.
当建设废物管理基础设施时，当地受影响人群可能会产生抵触情绪，这种现象通常被称为“不要建在我家后院”（NIMBY）现象。本研究旨在了解在这种情况下可能出现的抵触形式，重点关注马拉维姆祖祖市的2个固体废物管理场所和1个液体废物管理场所。在最新的固体废物管理场所，社区抵触情绪不断升级，据报道该场所已被当地社区破坏。通过研究历史和近期卫星图像，对这些场所的访谈和观察得到了补充。研究发现，在新的固体废物管理场所，建设前以及作为场地运营的一部分，社区参与都没有得到有效开展。糟糕的场地管理以及承诺给社区的福利未能兑现，使情况更加复杂。相比之下，在液体废物管理场所，社区可以获取未经处理的污泥用作肥料，并且更愿意居住在其附近。虽然“不要建在我家后院”主义对城市规划者来说是一个令人沮丧的现象，但考虑到在低收入地区垃圾场管理不善的情况屡见不鲜，社区希望保护自身健康和福祉是可以理解的。政府机构很难提供这些服务以及更广泛的废物管理。在本研究中，怀着正当目标做更好的事情却未成功，不一定是失败，而是实现正确做法的自然学习过程的一部分。
