Preparing Temporary
Storage Site (TSS)
before a disaster
Ryo Tajima(National Institute for Environment Studies, NIES)
Makoto Tsukiji(JSMCWM)

Self introduction

Ryo Tajima• Ph D. (Engineering); background inenvironmental policy/planning• Senior researcher• Center for Material Cycles and Waste
Management Research, National Institutefor Environmental Studies• 10 years research experience in (disaster)waste management• Involved in national and local disaster waste
management policy making in Japan (e.g.
Chair of the Working Group for theamendment of Disaster waste management
guidelines since 2017)
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Aim and scope of this session

Understand the importance of preparing for TSS
Understand conditions for TSS
Understand preparedness actions for TSS

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What is a Temporary Storage Site (TSS)?

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Definition- Temporary storage site (TSS) is a place to temporary store disaster wastes
before they are treated or disposed of at treatment (recycle) plants and/orlandfills.

- Temporary storage site (TSS) is also called “debris management sites”,“Temporary staging sites”, “Temporary disaster waste management sites”, etc.
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Why do we need TSS?
1) To enhance the efficiency of disaster waste transportation
2) To allow separation and enhance reuse/recycling• It is difficult to thoroughly separate disaster waste at source

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Variation of TSS- Simply store disaster waste- Separation by simple technology(if any)- Store disaster waste andrecycled materials- Separation or treatmentusing advanced technology

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TSS in practice: some Japanese cases

Series of Lectures on Disaster Waste
Management, 3Rincs 20218Context of TSS in Japan- Function and design of TSS may be different among countries- In Japan, TSS are used as shown above because…
Legalrequirements• Municipal governments are responsible for the collection,treatment, final disposal of DW to prevent problems onconserving the quality of living environment

Funding• More than 90 % of the total DWM cost is covered by national
budget (even more for severe disasters)

3R/wastemanagement
practice inpeacetime• Industrial waste and other general wastes are collected anddisposed of separately.
• Ca. 80% of general waste is combusted, and 20% is recycled.
• There are specific recycling systems for white goods, C&D
waste, plastic packaging, food waste (from business) andvehicles.

Type of waste• Furniture and Japanese floorings are usually disposed of as
disaster waste

Why do we need to prepare for TSS?

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Many factors inhibit smooth set up of TSS after disaster“Suitable” open space is scarce

Open space used by other disaster response units

Resource and time constraints

TSS not welcomed by community

Can’t identify available open space suitable for TSS quickly

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Why prepare?
Inability to quickly identify suitable open space for TSS lead toenvironmental, social, economic risks

Can’t identify available open space suitable for TSS quickly
TSS opened at unsuitable land

TSS opened lateUnprepared TSS opened

Uncontrolled waste disposalDisaster waste mixed at TSS

Need to quickly remove waste

Hinders rescue and recovery

Increased treatment cost

Environmental risk at TSS

Environmental risk

Increased disposal time

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TSS opened at unsuitable landStored waste can cause serious impact on living environment (odor, pest),
especially when they are wet
Remains of disaster waste after closing TSS could constrain post-disaster usage

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Uncontrolled waste disposal

Other factors that lead to uncontrolled waste disposal include…
• TSS is located too far away from waste source (damaged area)• Access to vehicles for waste transportation is scarce• Public information on where to dispose of waste is not properly understood
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Disaster waste mixed at TSS
If TSS is opened before sufficient staffing and allocation of equipment /heavy machine, it becomes hard to keep waste separated in TSS

If separation is required before landfilling, treatment cost and time increaseas waste become more mixed
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Appropriately separated waste could be recycled and quickly
disposed of (if such waste treatment / recycling technology andfacility exist)

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Preparation for TSS

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Things to prepare before disaster1) Identify suitable land for TSS
 What are the conditions for TSS?

2) Plan for TSS operations
 What do we need for TSS operations?

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How suitable is this land?
A small park in the middle of residential area

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How suitable is this land?
A parking lot of public playgroundHow suitable is this land?
A rice paddy field covered by tsunami sediments

How suitable is this land?
A public space for road expansion

How suitable is this land?
A public open space along a road running in wetland

Conditions for TSS (1/3)
Criteria

ReasonAccess is easy for disastervictims1)

For the convenience of victims. Somepeople (e.g. elderly) might need specialassistance for disposal

The site is not too close toresidential areas2)

To prevent impact to the living
environment (e.g. odors, pests and dusts)[Notes]1) This is the case when disaster wastes are transported to TSS by disaster victims2) Also from hospitals, schools, and local business

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Conditions for TSS (2/3)
Criteria

ReasonThe site is not adjacent to rivers,
canals, swamps, ponds, lakes,and drainage1)

To prevent environmental degradation.
(in cases where disaster wastes containhazardous substances)

The site is not under high risk offlooding (wetlands, river banks) 2)

To prevent disaster waste fromscattering by flooding.

[Notes]1) 500m buffer zone is commonly considered in literatures
2) Refer to flood risk maps, if any

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Conditions for TSS (3/3)
Criteria

Reason The site is publicly owned andmaintained. Farmlands should
be avoided.1)

To enable quick use and return, and toavoid unnecessary burden upon closureof TSS

 The land is large enough (as arule of thumb, more than
3,000m2 per TSS) 2)

To receive the huge amount of disaster
waste and to operate heavy machineryand trucks inside.

Notes1) Important to avoid costly land lease2) Based on Japanese experience. The total area should be considered separately.

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Other conditions• Avoid impact on traffic• Secure good ingress/egress oflarge trucks (e.g. the adjacent roadshould be wider than 6m)• Flat land of simple figure (e.g.
square or rectangular)

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Discussion-1
Which land is suitable for TSS?

① Small park inresidential area

② A parking lot ofpublic playground③ disaster affected
rice paddy field④ A public space ⑤A public open spacefor road expansion in wetland
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Discussion-2
If you had no other choice, how would you prioritize these
five candidate lands?
Area

Nearby residence

Ownership…

Priority

Park A+(5,000 m2)(several housesnearby)+(Public)…

CLandfillcell B++(20,000 m2)++(no residence)+(Public)

…

A

…

…

…

…

…

…

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Preparedness planning for TSS• Procedure to open TSS should be clear• What do you need to do before opening TSS?
 Identify land
 Confirm the state of the candidate site
 Plan for layout of TSS
 Coordinate with other disaster
response functions
 Prepare resources Announce OpenSeries of Lectures on Disaster Waste
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Preparedness planning for TSS• What resources (staff and equipment) do you need?

• Resources need to be planned depending on operation plan (e.g. whether
DW will be separated at TSS),• How can you quickly prepare and allocate resources?

• Pre-disaster arrangements with local waste management companies,
adjacent local governments, etc.

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Othercombustibles

Whitegoods

Roof tile

Sofa

Slate

timber
Bedding

tire

concrete

GypsumboardsGlassandceramics

Other
Incombustibles

Tatami
Metal

Source: Original figure from Ministry of Environment (2016) disaster wase management guidelines [in Japanese]

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Under the assumption that…

• Collection of disaster waste iscompleted in some specific timeframe (e.g. one year)• disaster wastes are carried into andout from TSS in parallel• Disaster wastes are carried out fromTSS to disposal sites (or othertreatment/recycling facilities) since
the TSS is opened

Amount of DW in TSS

Estimation of the total TSS area

Time

2

TSS area (m )＝Maximum amount of DW in TSS (t) / apparent specific gravity
3(t/m ) / height of DW pile (m)×(1＋working space area ratio)
33• Apparent specific gravity: 0.4 t/m for combustibles, 1.1 t/m for incombustibles• Hight of DW pile: max. 5ｍ• Working space area ratio: 0.8～１Source: Ministry of Environment (2016) disaster wase management guidelines [in Japanese]

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Disaster drill at TSS
Verification of preparedness plan through disaster drill at TSS 
improved plan, improved awareness, improved teamwork

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Wrap up

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ConclusionsPreparation of TSS candidate land and set up plan will lead toquick open of TSS, which will in turn reduce environmental,social, economic risks
Suitable land for TSS should be identified considering thecontext of each country (e.g. expected type of DW, available
recycling / waste treatment technology)
Let’s lands and plans to prepare for TSS operation before
disaster!
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Thank you for your attention!
Any comments?

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