International audienc

Due to their sometimes devastating and, at the same time, transformative effects, the impacts of major hurricanes on small islands leave their mark both on the way territories operate and on their future development. This was the case during the passage of hurricane Irma over the island of Saint Martin in 2017. By analyzing the stocks and circulation of hurricane waste flows, our aim was to see whether the inherent evolution of Saint Martin’s metabolism as a result of the island’s total destruction tended toward a lasting transformation of its waste management system and, therefore, toward the territory’s sustainability. This evolution was analyzed in a diachronic approach and over a short time frame. It was based on three structuring territorial metabolism dimensions: the intensity of waste flows, the spatial structure of the metabolism and the actors and techniques that explain it. Results show that while the intensity of the waste flows changed durably after Irma, the lasting transformation of the spatial structure and the actor system was less obvious and depended on the waste stream. Results also reveal the importance of reflecting on the development of recycling and reuse methods as a solution for improving post-hurricane waste planning on islands.

La gestion des déchets post-ouragan constitue un enjeu fondamental de la post-crise. Or, le suivi de ces nouveaux déchets n'est pas sans poser de difficultés. Une revue de la littérature portant sur le suivi des déchets postouragan sur plusieurs territoires caribéens et états-uniens et une enquête de terrain menée sur l'ile de Saint-Martin quelques mois après le passage de l'ouragan Irma rendent compte de difficultés communes dans le suivi des déchets post-ouragan (installation dans l'urgence des aires de stockage temporaire, difficultés à réintroduire certains flux de déchets dans leur filière de gestion habituelle, enfouissement massif, pollutions des eaux, du sol, dépôts sauvages de déchets…). Cet article met également en lumière quelques spécificités des milieux insulaires en matière de gestion des déchets (disponibilité du foncier, difficile accès à d'autres territoires, faible diversité des filières de traitement et de valorisation) qui rendent particulièrement difficile la gestion des déchets post-ouragan. ABSTRACT. Hurricane waste management is a significant post-crisis issue. Based on review of articles on hurricane waste management in several Caribbean and US territories and on a survey a few months after Irma hurricane in the Saint Martin island, this article shows difficulties in the hurricane waste managament (inappropriate location of temporary debris staging; difficulties of sorting and recycling; water pollution; soil pollution; illegal dumping; open burning…). Also, this article highlights some specificities of waste management in island (difficult access to other territories; low diversity of treatment and recovery options). These specificities make particularly difficult to manage hurricane waste. MOTS-CLÉS. Déchets post catastrophe, Ouragan, Caraïbes, Gisement, Gestion des déchets.

No abstract

No abstract