Tracking Material Flows in Foreign Lands

Eawag News 62, April 2007

complete volume [pdf]


Editorial: Developing Solutions Using Material Flow Analysis
Roland Schertenleib

Material Flows: from Analysis to Management
Hans-Peter Bader and Hans-Joachim Mosler
The analysis of material flows is essentially a kind of environmental accounting: rather than financial and other assets, the “balance sheet” records substances and goods of environmental relevance. Eawag is now increasingly also using this method to address acute environmental problems in developing and emerging countries. [...]


Arsenic in Paddy Fields – a Hazard?
Linda Roberts and Stephan Hug
In many parts of Bangladesh, paddy fields are irrigated with arsenic containing groundwater. The resulting input of arsenic to agricultural soils amounts to more than 1000 tonnes per year. Together with partners at ETH Zurich and in Bangladesh, researchers at Eawag are studying its fate: does arsenic accumulate in the soil or is it remobilized during the rainy season? [...]


Does Decentralized Composting Make Economic Sense?
Silke Rothenberger
In developing countries, the benefits of decentralized composting have been demonstrated by a number of small-scale pilot projects. But how would the establishment of a city-wide network of composting plants affect a municipal waste management system? Taking as an example the Eritrean city of Asmara, Eawag researchers used a newly developed model to calculate waste flows and waste management costs, and to simulate various alternative scenarios. [...]


Waste Flows in Santiago de Cuba
Hans-Joachim Mosler
Waste is a problematic issue in developing countries. Due to the rise of living standards, the amounts of waste increase as well. Very often, rather than being appropriately disposed of, it is simply dumped in landfills. This is also the case in Santiago de Cuba. What can the public do to stem the tide of waste? [...]


The Tha Chin River is Overloaded with Nutrients
Monika Schaffner and Irene Wittmer
Increasingly intensive farming practices have led to a dramatic deterioration of water quality in the Tha Chin River in Thailand. One major problem is the high level of nutrients. According to our model – based on material flow analysis – intensive aquaculture accounts for a large proportion of the nutrient inputs. [...]


Closing the Phosphorus Cycle
Agnes Montangero
In Hanoi, Vietnam, waterbodies are polluted by high levels of nutrients, which are discharged in wastewater. At the same time, the region’s agriculture uses artificial fertilizers. Our new planning tool indicates where to set priorities to sustainably manage nutrient resources – and reduce water pollution. [...]


Hazardous Build-up of Gases in the Depths of Lake Kivu
Martin Schmid
The deep waters of Lake Kivu (DR Congo/Rwanda) contain vast amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. If these gases reached the surface, they would endanger
the lives of people on the shores of the lake. Measurements carried out by Eawag
have now shown an unexpected rise in methane concentrations, spelling an increased risk of a gas eruption. [...]


Forum: The Energy-frugal Building
Andri Bryner
“The futuristic building”, “A step towards the 2000-watt society”, “Showpiece of zero-energy architecture” – the Forum Chriesbach has attracted wide media coverage. The theme underlying all the reports was that Eawag, which conducts research on sustainable use of water resources, has now demonstrated its own commitment to sustainable development. [...]


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