Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - REM 463 E100

Special Topics (3)

Class Number: 7930

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Thu, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

Special Topics: Sustainable Waste Planning
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch continues to grow in size and volume, severely impacting marine ecosystems. In 2019 Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said he would “declare war against Canada” if we did not take back our garbage. China is now refusing to accept plastic waste for recycling from western countries. Some provinces are banning single-use plastic bags. New research suggests individual Canadians eat, drink and inhale hundreds of thousands to millions of tiny plastic waste particles every year. Multi-national companies are practicing “green-washing” in terms of trying to convince the public their products and packaging are sustainable. Waste is classified in this course as municipal solid waste (garbage). A theme of the course is “life cycle analysis", a “cradle-to-grave” approach that is demonstrating we can’t recycle our way out of the garbage crisis.  The course examines the planning, technical, social (especially environmental racism) aspects of the garbage crisis. Canadian and international perspectives are compared and contrasted throughout the course, especially in South-East Asia where the instructor has conducted research on waste. The "not-in-my-backyard" syndrome has become synonymous with waste issues due to perceived and real environmental impacts of waste technologies, especially incineration and sanitary landfill. These planning problems and the economics of disposal have been catalysts in producing a fundamental shift in our thinking about the environment. This shift has resulted in the proliferation of the "3Rs" - reduction, reuse and recycling, as the preferred planning hierarchy. However, growing industrialization and economic wealth in the developing world is creating increased waste quantities and toxicity in these waste streams, leading to western style waste planning problems. Further exasperating this problem in the developing world is social equity - the uncertain future role of urban waste scavengers and dump pickers, mainly desperately poor women and children, who are being displaced as western technologies are introduced. We will also review environmental racism at waste disposal sites in a Canadian context.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

After completing the course, students will be able to:

  • reviewing the historical geography of waste management
  • learn waste auditing techniques for city planning
  • review the fundamentals of planning waste reduction programs for urban residents (recycling and composting)
  • overview the fundamentals of final disposal: sanitary landfill engineering design and waste-to-energy incinerators
  • examine Environmental Assessment and public engagement required for siting and approvals necessary for landfills, incinerators, recycling and composting facilities
  • analyse Environmental Racism and Social Equity issues
  • appreciate the globalization of waste’s environmental impacts
  • appreciate the “power of one” – reducing your own personal waste footprint.

Grading

  • Participation (online) 15%
  • Class field trip to landfill site and recycling facility 20%
  • Assignments 65%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Online readings will be made available on Canvas to download.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Hanna, Kevin (ed.). 2015. “Environmental Impact Assessment: Practice and Participation”, Oxford.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.