Natural disasters, such as tropical cyclones, hurricanes and floods, can generate large quantities of waste, including building debris, fallen trees and hazardous waste.
Disaster waste is a threat to community health, safety and the environment. However, it is often managed in an ad hoc manner and can be a major obstacle to the much needed emergency relief operations and cause delay to humanitarian efforts by blocking access to affected communities.
This community factsheet serves as a basic guide for the safe handling and management of waste generated from natural disasters.