Metabolism of Jaffna town: special reference to settlement

Abstract

This research assesses the metabolism of Jaffna town special reference to settlement to promote circular metabolism, and to achieve urban sustainability. Metabolic analysis of towns and cities could help planners improve the efficient use of materials and energy in cities and reduce environmental footprint. The research aims to formulate strategies to enhance the sustainability of Jaffna Town by assessing the consumption of materials and energy and, the pattern of material and energy flow in and out of Jaffna Town. This study was confined to settlements in Jaffna Town, considering the consumption and disposal of food, water and materials. Primary data on the consumption of food, water, energy and material and disposal of waste per day were collected using questionnaires based on a stratified random sampling method from households. Collected data on input and output were analysed using SPSS packages. Further, key informant interviews with officers of UDA, field observation for the study area, and discussion with each sample household were conducted. Data on waste generation and management of the Municipal Council were also collected and analysed. The research concluded that three of four sectors in Jaffna town's metabolic process are semi-circular. 14 % of food, 31% of water, 33% of cloth, 61.3 % of solid waste and whole animal wastes are recycled to circulate in the environment in an eco-friendly manner except energy that is not recovered. Most of the demolished building materials are recycled. In addition, the total input and output of Food, water and energy are 64 and 60 tons respectively, 48 tons of them end up in waste streams causing environmental consequences and 12 tons are recycled as input. Building materials, clothes and furniture consumed remain in the loop as a stock because of one-time consumption. Appropriate strategies to promote from a semi-circular pattern to a circular metabolic pattern such as urban agriculture, climate-sensitive building design, lean development, green urbanism, and neighbourhood development are suggested.