Indicators for managing biosolids in Ireland.
Sustainable development indicators (SDIs) have emerged as a tool to measure progress towards sustainable development for a number of fields. However, no indicator initiative to date has been aimed at biosolids management at local authority, regional or national levels. This paper presents a study where stakeholders involved in the management of biosolids in Ireland participated in the development of SDIs for managing biosolids at the local/regional level. A significant 81% of participating stakeholders find SDIs either 'useful' or 'very useful' as a tool for managing biosolids. A suite of 22 indicators has been developed and arranged according to the driving force-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) indicator framework. The indicators address all the domains of biosolids management namely, production, quality, cost, legislation/regulation, training/research and recycling/disposal. The stakeholder approach is recognition that no effective indicator set can be developed without the input of stakeholders.
Amajirionwu
Magnus
M
Centre for Sustainability, Institute of Technology, G0018 The BIC, Ballinode, Sligo, Ireland. Amajirionwu.Magnus@itsligo.ie
Connaughton
Noel
N
McCann
Brian
B
Moles
Richard
R
Bartlett
John
J
O'Regan
Bernadette
B
D007494:Ireland; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*