Waste management

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A specialized trash collection truck providing regular municipal trash collection in a neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden Sophamtning 2010.jpg
A specialized trash collection truck providing regular municipal trash collection in a neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden
Waste pickers burning e-waste in Agbogbloshie, a site near Accra in Ghana that processes large volumes of international electronic waste. The pickers burn the plastics off of materials and collect the metals for recycling, However, this process exposes pickers and their local communities to toxic fumes. Agbogbloshie Ghana.jpg
Waste pickers burning e-waste in Agbogbloshie, a site near Accra in Ghana that processes large volumes of international electronic waste. The pickers burn the plastics off of materials and collect the metals for recycling, However, this process exposes pickers and their local communities to toxic fumes.
Containers for consumer waste collection at the Gdansk University of Technology Recycling containers Gdansk University of Technology, Poland.jpg
Containers for consumer waste collection at the Gdańsk University of Technology
A recycling and waste-to-energy plant for waste that is not exported Sysav-flygbild 06 september 2014.jpg
A recycling and waste-to-energy plant for waste that is not exported

Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. [1] This includes the collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process and waste-related laws, technologies, and economic mechanisms.

Contents

Waste can either be solid, liquid, or gases and each type has different methods of disposal and management. Waste management deals with all types of waste, including industrial, biological, household, municipal, organic, biomedical, radioactive wastes. In some cases, waste can pose a threat to human health. [2] Health issues are associated with the entire process of waste management. Health issues can also arise indirectly or directly: directly through the handling of solid waste, and indirectly through the consumption of water, soil, and food. [2] Waste is produced by human activity, for example, the extraction and processing of raw materials. [3] Waste management is intended to reduce the adverse effects of waste on human health, the environment, planetary resources, and aesthetics.

The aim of waste management is to reduce the dangerous effects of such waste on the environment and human health. A big part of waste management deals with municipal solid waste, which is created by industrial, commercial, and household activity. [4]

Waste management practices are not the same across countries (developed and developing nations); regions (urban and rural areas), and residential and industrial sectors can all take different approaches. [5]

Proper management of waste is important for building sustainable and liveable cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries and cities. A report found that effective waste management is relatively expensive, usually comprising 20%–50% of municipal budgets. Operating this essential municipal service requires integrated systems that are efficient, sustainable, and socially supported. [6] A large portion of waste management practices deal with municipal solid waste (MSW) which is the bulk of the waste that is created by household, industrial, and commercial activity. [7] According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), municipal solid waste is expected to reach approximately 3.4 Gt by 2050; however, policies and lawmaking can reduce the amount of waste produced in different areas and cities of the world. [8] Measures of waste management include measures for integrated techno-economic mechanisms [9] of a circular economy, effective disposal facilities, export and import control [10] [11] and optimal sustainable design of products that are produced.

In the first systematic review of the scientific evidence around global waste, its management, and its impact on human health and life, authors concluded that about a fourth of all the municipal solid terrestrial waste is not collected and an additional fourth is mismanaged after collection, often being burned in open and uncontrolled fires – or close to one billion tons per year when combined. They also found that broad priority areas each lack a "high-quality research base", partly due to the absence of "substantial research funding", which motivated scientists often require. [12] [13] Electronic waste (ewaste) includes discarded computer monitors, motherboards, mobile phones and chargers, compact discs (CDs), headphones, television sets, air conditioners and refrigerators. According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2017, India generates ~ 2 million tonnes (Mte) of e-waste annually and ranks fifth among the e-waste producing countries, after the United States, the People's Republic of China, Japan and Germany. [14]

Effective 'Waste Management' involves the practice of '7R' - 'R'efuse, 'R'educe', 'R'euse, 'R'epair, 'R'epurpose, 'R'ecycle and 'R'ecover. Amongst these '7R's, the first two ('Refuse' and 'Reduce') relate to the non-creation of waste - by refusing to buy non-essential products and by reducing consumption. The next two ('Reuse' and 'Repair') refer to increasing the usage of the existing product, with or without the substitution of certain parts of the product. 'Repurpose' and 'Recycle' involve maximum usage of the materials used in the product, and 'Recover' is the least preferred and least efficient waste management practice involving the recovery of embedded energy in the waste material. For example, burning the waste to produce heat (and electricity from heat). Certain non-biodegradable products are also dumped away as 'Disposal', and this is not a "waste-'management'" practice. [15]

Principles of waste management

Diagram of the waste hierarchy Waste hierarchy rect-en.svg
Diagram of the waste hierarchy

Waste hierarchy

The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, which classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste minimisation. The waste hierarchy is the bedrock of most waste minimization strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of end waste; see: resource recovery. [16] [17] The waste hierarchy is represented as a pyramid because the basic premise is that policies should promote measures to prevent the generation of waste. The next step or preferred action is to seek alternative uses for the waste that has been generated, i.e., by re-use. The next is recycling which includes composting. Following this step is material recovery and waste-to-energy. The final action is disposal, in landfills or through incineration without energy recovery. This last step is the final resort for waste that has not been prevented, diverted, or recovered. [18] [ page needed ] The waste hierarchy represents the progression of a product or material through the sequential stages of the pyramid of waste management. The hierarchy represents the latter parts of the life-cycle for each product. [19]

Life-cycle of a product

The life-cycle of a product, often referred to as the product lifecycle, encompasses several key stages that begin with the design phase and proceed through manufacture, distribution, and primary use. After these initial stages, the product moves through the waste hierarchy's stages of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Each phase in this lifecycle presents unique opportunities for policy intervention, allowing stakeholders to rethink the necessity of the product, redesign it to minimize its waste potential, and extend its useful life.

During the design phase, considerations can be made to ensure that products are created with fewer resources, are more durable, and are easier to repair or recycle. This stage is critical for embedding sustainability into the product from the outset. Designers can select materials that have lower environmental impacts and create products that require less energy and resources to produce.

Manufacturing offers another crucial point for reducing waste and conserving resources. Innovations in production processes can lead to more efficient use of materials and energy, while also minimizing the generation of by-products and emissions. Adopting cleaner production techniques and improving manufacturing efficiency can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of a product.

Distribution involves the logistics of getting the product from the manufacturer to the consumer. Optimizing this stage can involve reducing packaging, choosing more sustainable transportation methods, and improving supply chain efficiencies to lower the overall environmental impact. Efficient logistics planning can also help in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the transport of goods.

The primary use phase of a product's lifecycle is where consumers interact with the product. Policies and practices that encourage responsible use, regular maintenance, and the proper functioning of products can extend their lifespan, thus reducing the need for frequent replacements and decreasing overall waste.

Once the product reaches the end of its primary use, it enters the waste hierarchy's stages. The first stage, reduction, involves efforts to decrease the volume and toxicity of waste generated. This can be achieved by encouraging consumers to buy less, use products more efficiently, and choose items with minimal packaging.

The reuse stage encourages finding alternative uses for products, whether through donation, resale, or repurposing. Reuse extends the life of products and delays their entry into the waste stream.

Recycling, the final preferred stage, involves processing materials to create new products, thus closing the loop in the material lifecycle. Effective recycling programs can significantly reduce the need for virgin materials and the environmental impacts associated with extracting and processing those materials.

Product life-cycle analysis (LCA) is a comprehensive method for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life. By systematically assessing these impacts, LCA helps identify opportunities to improve environmental performance and resource efficiency. Through optimizing product designs, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life management, LCA aims to maximize the use of the world's limited resources and minimize the unnecessary generation of waste.

In summary, the product lifecycle framework underscores the importance of a holistic approach to product design, use, and disposal. By considering each stage of the lifecycle and implementing policies and practices that promote sustainability, it is possible to significantly reduce the environmental impact of products and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Resource efficiency

Resource efficiency reflects the understanding that global economic growth and development can not be sustained at current production and consumption patterns. Globally, humanity extracts more resources to produce goods than the planet can replenish. Resource efficiency is the reduction of the environmental impact from the production and consumption of these goods, from final raw material extraction to the last use and disposal.

Polluter-pays principle

The polluter-pays principle mandates that the polluting parties pay for the impact on the environment. With respect to waste management, this generally refers to the requirement for a waste generator to pay for appropriate disposal of the unrecoverable materials. [20]

History

Throughout most of history, the amount of waste generated by humans was insignificant due to low levels of population density and exploitation of natural resources. Common waste produced during pre-modern times was mainly ashes and human biodegradable waste, and these were released back into the ground locally, with minimum environmental impact. Tools made out of wood or metal were generally reused or passed down through the generations.

However, some civilizations have been more profligate in their waste output than others. In particular, the Maya of Central America had a fixed monthly ritual, in which the people of the village would gather together and burn their rubbish in large dumps. [21] [ irrelevant citation ]

Modern era

Edwin Chadwick's 1842 report The Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population was influential in securing the passage of the first legislation aimed at waste clearance and disposal. SirEdwinChadwick.jpg
Edwin Chadwick's 1842 report The Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population was influential in securing the passage of the first legislation aimed at waste clearance and disposal.

Following the onset of the Industrial Revolution, industrialisation, and the sustained urban growth of large population centres in England, the buildup of waste in the cities caused a rapid deterioration in levels of sanitation and the general quality of urban life. The streets became choked with filth due to the lack of waste clearance regulations. [22] Calls for the establishment of municipal authority with waste removal powers occurred as early as 1751, when Corbyn Morris in London proposed that "... as the preservation of the health of the people is of great importance, it is proposed that the cleaning of this city, should be put under one uniform public management, and all the filth be...conveyed by the Thames to proper distance in the country". [23]

However, it was not until the mid-19th century, spurred by increasingly devastating cholera outbreaks and the emergence of a public health debate that the first legislation on the issue emerged. Highly influential in this new focus was the report The Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population in 1842 [24] of the social reformer, Edwin Chadwick, in which he argued for the importance of adequate waste removal and management facilities to improve the health and wellbeing of the city's population.

In the UK, the Nuisance Removal and Disease Prevention Act of 1846 began what was to be a steadily evolving process of the provision of regulated waste management in London. [25] The Metropolitan Board of Works was the first citywide authority that centralized sanitation regulation for the rapidly expanding city, and the Public Health Act 1875 made it compulsory for every household to deposit their weekly waste in "moveable receptacles" for disposal—the first concept for a dustbin. [26] In the Ashanti Empire by the 19th century, there existed a Public Works Department that was responsible for sanitation in Kumasi and its suburbs. They kept the streets clean daily and commanded civilians to keep their compounds clean and weeded. [27]

Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. 1894 destructor furnace. The use of incinerators for waste disposal became popular in the late 19th century. Manlove, Alliott furnace.jpg
Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. 1894 destructor furnace. The use of incinerators for waste disposal became popular in the late 19th century.

The dramatic increase in waste for disposal led to the creation of the first incineration plants, or, as they were then called, "destructors". In 1874, the first incinerator was built in Nottingham by Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. to the design of Alfred Fryer. [23] However, these were met with opposition on account of the large amounts of ash they produced and which wafted over the neighbouring areas. [28]

Similar municipal systems of waste disposal sprung up at the turn of the 20th century in other large cities of Europe and North America. In 1895, New York City became the first U.S. city with public-sector garbage management. [26]

Early garbage removal trucks were simply open-bodied dump trucks pulled by a team of horses. They became motorized in the early part of the 20th century and the first closed-body trucks to eliminate odours with a dumping lever mechanism were introduced in the 1920s in Britain. [29] These were soon equipped with 'hopper mechanisms' where the scooper was loaded at floor level and then hoisted mechanically to deposit the waste in the truck. The Garwood Load Packer was the first truck in 1938, to incorporate a hydraulic compactor.

Waste handling and transport

Moulded plastic, wheeled waste bin in Berkshire, England Bin.JPG
Moulded plastic, wheeled waste bin in Berkshire, England

Waste collection methods vary widely among different countries and regions. Domestic waste collection services are often provided by local government authorities, or by private companies for industrial and commercial waste. Some areas, especially those in less developed countries, do not have formal waste-collection systems.

Waste handling and transport

Curbside collection is the most common method of disposal in most European countries, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and many other parts of the developed world in which waste is collected at regular intervals by specialised trucks. This is often associated with curb-side waste segregation. In rural areas, waste may need to be taken to a transfer station. Waste collected is then transported to an appropriate disposal facility. In some areas, vacuum collection is used in which waste is transported from the home or commercial premises by vacuum along small bore tubes. Systems are in use in Europe and North America.

In some jurisdictions, unsegregated waste is collected at the curb-side or from waste transfer stations and then sorted into recyclables and unusable waste. Such systems are capable of sorting large volumes of solid waste, salvaging recyclables, and turning the rest into bio-gas and soil conditioners. In San Francisco, the local government established its Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance in support of its goal of "Zero waste by 2020", requiring everyone in the city to keep recyclables and compostables out of the landfill. The three streams are collected with the curbside "Fantastic 3" bin system – blue for recyclables, green for compostables, and black for landfill-bound materials – provided to residents and businesses and serviced by San Francisco's sole refuse hauler, Recology. The city's "Pay-As-You-Throw" system charges customers by the volume of landfill-bound materials, which provides a financial incentive to separate recyclables and compostables from other discards. The city's Department of the Environment's Zero Waste Program has led the city to achieve 80% diversion, the highest diversion rate in North America. [30] Other businesses such as Waste Industries use a variety of colors to distinguish between trash and recycling cans. In addition, in some areas of the world the disposal of municipal solid waste can cause environmental strain due to official not having benchmarks that help measure the environmental sustainability of certain practices. [31]

Waste segregation

Recycling point at the Gdansk University of Technology Recycling point Gdansk University of Technology.jpg
Recycling point at the Gdańsk University of Technology

This is the separation of wet waste and dry waste. The purpose is to recycle dry waste easily and to use wet waste as compost. When segregating waste, the amount of waste that gets landfilled reduces considerably, resulting in lower levels of air and water pollution. Importantly, waste segregation should be based on the type of waste and the most appropriate treatment and disposal. This also makes it easier to apply different processes to the waste, like composting, recycling, and incineration. It is important to practice waste management and segregation as a community. One way to practice waste management is to ensure there is awareness. The process of waste segregation should be explained to the community. [32]

Segregated waste is also often cheaper to dispose of because it does not require as much manual sorting as mixed waste. There are a number of important reasons why waste segregation is important such as legal obligations, cost savings, and protection of human health and the environment. Institutions should make it as easy as possible for their staff to correctly segregate their waste. This can include labelling, making sure there are enough accessible bins, and clearly indicating why segregation is so important. [33] Labeling is especially important when dealing with nuclear waste due to how much harm to human health the excess products of the nuclear cycle can cause. [34]

Hazards of waste management

There are multiple facets of waste management that all come with hazards, both for those around the disposal site and those who work within waste management. Exposure to waste of any kind can be detrimental to the health of the individual, primary conditions that worsen with exposure to waste are asthma and tuberculosis. [35] The exposure to waste on an average individual is highly dependent on the conditions around them, those in less developed or lower income areas are more susceptible to the effects of waste product, especially though chemical waste. [36] The range of hazards due to waste is extremely large and covers every type of waste, not only chemical. There are many different guidelines to follow for disposing different types of waste. [37]

Diagram showing the multiple ways that incineration is hazardous to the population Hazards of Incineration.jpg
Diagram showing the multiple ways that incineration is hazardous to the population

The hazards of incineration are a large risk to many variable communities, including underdeveloped countries and countries or cities with little space for landfills or alternatives. Burning waste is an easily accessible option for many people around the globe, it has even been encouraged by the World Health Organization when there is no other option. [38] Because burning waste is rarely paid attention to, its effects go unnoticed. The release of hazardous materials and CO2 when waste is burned is the largest hazard with incineration. [39]

Financial models

In most developed countries, domestic waste disposal is funded from a national or local tax which may be related to income, or property values. Commercial and industrial waste disposal is typically charged for as a commercial service, often as an integrated charge which includes disposal costs. This practice may encourage disposal contractors to opt for the cheapest disposal option such as landfill rather than the environmentally best solution such as re-use and recycling.

Financing solid waste management projects can be overwhelming for the city government, especially if the government see it as an important service they should render to the citizen. Donors and grants are a funding mechanism that is dependent on the interest of the donor organization. As much as it is a good way to develop a city's waste management infrastructure, attracting and utilizing grants is solely reliant on what the donor considers important. Therefore, it may be a challenge for a city government to dictate how the funds should be distributed among the various aspect of waste management. [40]

An example of a country that enforces a waste tax is Italy. The tax is based on two rates: fixed and variable. The fixed rate is based on the size of the house while the variable is determined by the number of people living in the house. [41]

The World Bank finances and advises on solid waste management projects using a diverse suite of products and services, including traditional loans, results-based financing, development policy financing, and technical advisory. World Bank-financed waste management projects usually address the entire lifecycle of waste right from the point of generation to collection and transportation, and finally treatment and disposal. [6]

Disposal methods

Landfill

A landfill [lower-alpha 1] is a site for the disposal of waste materials. It is the oldest and most common form of waste disposal, although the systematic burial of waste with daily, intermediate and final covers only began in the 1940s. In the past, waste was simply left in piles or thrown into pits (known in archeology as middens).

Some landfill sites are used for waste management purposes, such as temporary storage, consolidation and transfer, or for various stages of processing waste material, such as sorting, treatment, or recycling. Unless they are stabilized, landfills may undergo severe shaking or soil liquefaction of the ground during an earthquake. Once full, the area over a landfill site may be reclaimed for other uses.
A landfill compaction vehicle in action. Landfill compactor.jpg
A landfill compaction vehicle in action.
Spittelau incineration plant in Vienna Spittelau (Wien) - Mullverbrennungsanlage (1).JPG
Spittelau incineration plant in Vienna

Incineration

Tarastejarvi Incineration Plant in Tampere, Finland Tarastenjarven jatteenpolttolaitos.jpg
Tarastejärvi Incineration Plant in Tampere, Finland

Incineration is a disposal method in which solid organic wastes are subjected to combustion so as to convert them into residue and gaseous products. This method is useful for the disposal of both municipal solid waste and solid residue from wastewater treatment. This process reduces the volume of solid waste by 80 to 95 percent. [42] Incineration and other high-temperature waste treatment systems are sometimes described as "thermal treatment". Incinerators convert waste materials into heat, gas, steam, and ash.

Incineration is carried out both on a small scale by individuals and on a large scale by industry. It is used to dispose of solid, liquid, and gaseous waste. It is recognized as a practical method of disposing of certain hazardous waste materials (such as biological medical waste). Incineration is a controversial method of waste disposal, due to issues such as the emission of gaseous pollutants including substantial quantities of carbon dioxide.

Incineration is common in countries such as Japan where land is more scarce, as the facilities generally do not require as much area as landfills. Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) are broad terms for facilities that burn waste in a furnace or boiler to generate heat, steam, or electricity. Combustion in an incinerator is not always perfect and there have been concerns about pollutants in gaseous emissions from incinerator stacks. Particular concern has focused on some very persistent organic compounds such as dioxins, furans, and PAHs, which may be created and which may have serious environmental consequences and some heavy metals such as mercury [43] and lead which can be volatilised in the combustion process..

Recycling

Steel crushed and baled for recycling Steel recycling bales.jpg
Steel crushed and baled for recycling

Recycling is a resource recovery practice that refers to the collection and reuse of waste materials such as empty beverage containers. This process involves breaking down and reusing materials that would otherwise be gotten rid of as trash. There are numerous benefits of recycling, and with so many new technologies making even more materials recyclable, it is possible to clean up the Earth. [44] Recycling not only benefits the environment but also positively affects the economy. The materials from which the items are made can be made into new products. [45] Materials for recycling may be collected separately from general waste using dedicated bins and collection vehicles, a procedure called kerbside collection. In some communities, the owner of the waste is required to separate the materials into different bins (e.g. for paper, plastics, metals) prior to its collection. In other communities, all recyclable materials are placed in a single bin for collection, and the sorting is handled later at a central facility. The latter method is known as "single-stream recycling". [46] [47]

A recycling point in Lappajarvi, Finland Recycling point in Lappajarvi.jpg
A recycling point in Lappajärvi, Finland

The most common consumer products recycled include aluminium such as beverage cans, copper such as wire, steel from food and aerosol cans, old steel furnishings or equipment, rubber tyres, polyethylene and PET bottles, glass bottles and jars, paperboard cartons, newspapers, magazines and light paper, and corrugated fiberboard boxes.

PVC, LDPE, PP, and PS (see resin identification code) are also recyclable. These items are usually composed of a single type of material, making them relatively easy to recycle into new products. The recycling of complex products (such as computers and electronic equipment) is more difficult, due to the additional dismantling and separation required.

The type of material accepted for recycling varies by city and country. Each city and country has different recycling programs in place that can handle the various types of recyclable materials. However, certain variation in acceptance is reflected in the resale value of the material once it is reprocessed. Some of the types of recycling include waste paper and cardboard, plastic recycling, metal recycling, electronic devices, wood recycling, glass recycling, cloth and textile and so many more. [48] In July 2017, the Chinese government announced an import ban of 24 categories of recyclables and solid waste, including plastic, textiles and mixed paper, placing tremendous impact on developed countries globally, which exported directly or indirectly to China. [49]

Re-use

Biological reprocessing

An active compost heap Compost Heap.jpg
An active compost heap

Recoverable materials that are organic in nature, such as plant material, food scraps, and paper products, can be recovered through composting and digestion processes to decompose the organic matter. The resulting organic material is then recycled as mulch or compost for agricultural or landscaping purposes. In addition, waste gas from the process (such as methane) can be captured and used for generating electricity and heat (CHP/cogeneration) maximising efficiencies. There are different types of composting and digestion methods and technologies. They vary in complexity from simple home compost heaps to large-scale industrial digestion of mixed domestic waste. The different methods of biological decomposition are classified as aerobic or anaerobic methods. Some methods use the hybrids of these two methods. The anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of solid waste is more environmentally effective than landfill, or incineration. [50] The intention of biological processing in waste management is to control and accelerate the natural process of decomposition of organic matter. (See resource recovery).

Energy recovery

Energy recovery from waste is the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolyzation, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. [51] This process is often called waste-to-energy. Energy recovery from waste is part of the non-hazardous waste management hierarchy. Using energy recovery to convert non-recyclable waste materials into electricity and heat, generates a renewable energy source and can reduce carbon emissions by offsetting the need for energy from fossil sources as well as reduce methane generation from landfills. [51] Globally, waste-to-energy accounts for 16% of waste management. [52]

The energy content of waste products can be harnessed directly by using them as a direct combustion fuel, or indirectly by processing them into another type of fuel. Thermal treatment ranges from using waste as a fuel source for cooking or heating and the use of the gas fuel (see above), to fuel for boilers to generate steam and electricity in a turbine. Pyrolysis and gasification are two related forms of thermal treatment where waste materials are heated to high temperatures with limited oxygen availability. The process usually occurs in a sealed vessel under high pressure. Pyrolysis of solid waste converts the material into solid, liquid, and gas products. The liquid and gas can be burnt to produce energy or refined into other chemical products (chemical refinery). The solid residue (char) can be further refined into products such as activated carbon. Gasification and advanced Plasma arc gasification are used to convert organic materials directly into a synthetic gas (syngas) composed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas is then burnt to produce electricity and steam. An alternative to pyrolysis is high-temperature and pressure supercritical water decomposition (hydrothermal monophasic oxidation).

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is often used to convert many types of domestic and industrial residues into a recovered fuel. Different types of waste input (such as plant waste, food waste, tyres) placed in the pyrolysis process potentially yield an alternative to fossil fuels. [53] Pyrolysis is a process of thermo-chemical decomposition of organic materials by heat in the absence of stoichiometric quantities of oxygen; the decomposition produces various hydrocarbon gases. [54] During pyrolysis, the molecules of an object vibrate at high frequencies to the extent that molecules start breaking down. The rate of pyrolysis increases with temperature. In industrial applications, temperatures are above 430 °C (800 °F). [55]

Slow pyrolysis produces gases and solid charcoal. [56] Pyrolysis holds promise for conversion of waste biomass into useful liquid fuel. Pyrolysis of waste wood and plastics can potentially produce fuel. The solids left from pyrolysis contain metals, glass, sand, and pyrolysis coke which does not convert to gas. Compared to the process of incineration, certain types of pyrolysis processes release less harmful by-products that contain alkali metals, sulphur, and chlorine. However, pyrolysis of some waste yields gases which impact the environment such as HCl and SO2. [57]

Resource recovery

Resource recovery is the systematic diversion of waste, which was intended for disposal, for a specific next use. [58] It is the processing of recyclables to extract or recover materials and resources, or convert to energy. [59] These activities are performed at a resource recovery facility. [59] Resource recovery is not only environmentally important, but it is also cost-effective. [60] It decreases the amount of waste for disposal, saves space in landfills, and conserves natural resources. [60]

Resource recovery, an alternative approach to traditional waste management, utilizes life cycle analysis (LCA) to evaluate and optimize waste handling strategies. Comprehensive studies focusing on mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) have identified a preferred pathway for maximizing resource efficiency and minimizing environmental impact, including effective waste administration and management, source separation of waste materials, efficient collection systems, reuse and recycling of non-organic fractions, and processing of organic material through anaerobic digestion.

As an example of how resource recycling can be beneficial, many items thrown away contain metals that can be recycled to create a profit, such as the components in circuit boards. Wood chippings in pallets and other packaging materials can be recycled into useful products for horticulture. The recycled chips can cover paths, walkways, or arena surfaces.

Application of rational and consistent waste management practices can yield a range of benefits including:

  1. Economic – Improving economic efficiency through the means of resource use, treatment, and disposal and creating markets for recycles can lead to efficient practices in the production and consumption of products and materials resulting in valuable materials being recovered for reuse and the potential for new jobs and new business opportunities.
  2. Social – By reducing adverse impacts on health through proper waste management practices, the resulting consequences are more appealing to civic communities. Better social advantages can lead to new sources of employment and potentially lift communities out of poverty, especially in some of the developing poorer countries and cities.
  3. Environmental – Reducing or eliminating adverse impacts on the environment through reducing, reusing, recycling, and minimizing resource extraction can result in improved air and water quality and help in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
  4. Inter-generational Equity – Following effective waste management practices can provide subsequent generations a more robust economy, a fairer and more inclusive society and a cleaner environment. [18] [ page needed ]

Waste valorization

Waste valorization, beneficial reuse, beneficial use, value recovery or waste reclamation [61] is the process of waste products or residues from an economic process being valorized (given economic value), by reuse or recycling in order to create economically useful materials. [62] [61] [63] The term comes from practices in sustainable manufacturing and economics, industrial ecology and waste management. The term is usually applied in industrial processes where residue from creating or processing one good is used as a raw material or energy feedstock for another industrial process. [61] [63] Industrial wastes in particular are good candidates for valorization because they tend to be more consistent and predictable than other waste, such as household waste. [61] [64]

Historically, most industrial processes treated waste products as something to be disposed of, causing industrial pollution unless handled properly. [65] However, increased regulation of residual materials and socioeconomic changes, such as the introduction of ideas about sustainable development and circular economy in the 1990s and 2000s increased focus on industrial practices to recover these resources as value add materials. [65] [66] Academics focus on finding economic value to reduce environmental impact of other industries as well, for example the development of non-timber forest products to encourage conservation.

Liquid waste-management

Liquid waste is an important category of waste management because it is so difficult to deal with. Unlike solid wastes, liquid wastes cannot be easily picked up and removed from an environment. Liquid wastes spread out, and easily pollute other sources of liquid if brought into contact. This type of waste also soaks into objects like soil and groundwater. This in turn carries over to pollute the plants, the animals in the ecosystem, as well as the humans within the area of the pollution. [67]

Industrial wastewater

Wastewater from an industrial process can be converted at a treatment plant to solids and treated water for reuse. What is Zero Liquid Discharge Diagram.png
Wastewater from an industrial process can be converted at a treatment plant to solids and treated water for reuse.

Industrial wastewater treatment describes the processes used for treating wastewater that is produced by industries as an undesirable by-product. After treatment, the treated industrial wastewater (or effluent) may be reused or released to a sanitary sewer or to a surface water in the environment. Some industrial facilities generate wastewater that can be treated in sewage treatment plants. Most industrial processes, such as petroleum refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants have their own specialized facilities to treat their wastewaters so that the pollutant concentrations in the treated wastewater comply with the regulations regarding disposal of wastewaters into sewers or into rivers, lakes or oceans. [68] :1412 This applies to industries that generate wastewater with high concentrations of organic matter (e.g. oil and grease), toxic pollutants (e.g. heavy metals, volatile organic compounds) or nutrients such as ammonia. [69] :180 Some industries install a pre-treatment system to remove some pollutants (e.g., toxic compounds), and then discharge the partially treated wastewater to the municipal sewer system. [70] :60

Most industries produce some wastewater. Recent trends have been to minimize such production or to recycle treated wastewater within the production process. Some industries have been successful at redesigning their manufacturing processes to reduce or eliminate pollutants. [71] Sources of industrial wastewater include battery manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, electric power plants, food industry, iron and steel industry, metal working, mines and quarries, nuclear industry, oil and gas extraction, petroleum refining and petrochemicals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, pulp and paper industry, smelters, textile mills, industrial oil contamination, water treatment and wood preserving. Treatment processes include brine treatment, solids removal (e.g. chemical precipitation, filtration), oils and grease removal, removal of biodegradable organics, removal of other organics, removal of acids and alkalis, and removal of toxic materials.

Sewage sludge treatment

Sludge treatment in anaerobic digesters at a sewage treatment plant in Cottbus, Germany Sludge treatment in anaerobic digesters at a sewage treatment plant in Cottbus.jpg
Sludge treatment in anaerobic digesters at a sewage treatment plant in Cottbus, Germany

Sewage sludge treatment describes the processes used to manage and dispose of sewage sludge produced during sewage treatment. Sludge treatment is focused on reducing sludge weight and volume to reduce transportation and disposal costs, and on reducing potential health risks of disposal options. Water removal is the primary means of weight and volume reduction, while pathogen destruction is frequently accomplished through heating during thermophilic digestion, composting, or incineration. The choice of a sludge treatment method depends on the volume of sludge generated, and comparison of treatment costs required for available disposal options. Air-drying and composting may be attractive to rural communities, while limited land availability may make aerobic digestion and mechanical dewatering preferable for cities, and economies of scale may encourage energy recovery alternatives in metropolitan areas.

Sludge is mostly water with some amounts of solid material removed from liquid sewage. Primary sludge includes settleable solids removed during primary treatment in primary clarifiers. Secondary sludge is sludge separated in secondary clarifiers that are used in secondary treatment bioreactors or processes using inorganic oxidizing agents. In intensive sewage treatment processes, the sludge produced needs to be removed from the liquid line on a continuous basis because the volumes of the tanks in the liquid line have insufficient volume to store sludge. [72] This is done in order to keep the treatment processes compact and in balance (production of sludge approximately equal to the removal of sludge). The sludge removed from the liquid line goes to the sludge treatment line. Aerobic processes (such as the activated sludge process) tend to produce more sludge compared with anaerobic processes. On the other hand, in extensive (natural) treatment processes, such as ponds and constructed wetlands, the produced sludge remains accumulated in the treatment units (liquid line) and is only removed after several years of operation. [73]

Sludge treatment options depend on the amount of solids generated and other site-specific conditions. Composting is most often applied to small-scale plants with aerobic digestion for mid-sized operations, and anaerobic digestion for the larger-scale operations. The sludge is sometimes passed through a so-called pre-thickener which de-waters the sludge. Types of pre-thickeners include centrifugal sludge thickeners, [74] rotary drum sludge thickeners and belt filter presses. [75] Dewatered sludge may be incinerated or transported offsite for disposal in a landfill or use as an agricultural soil amendment. [76]

Energy may be recovered from sludge through methane gas production during anaerobic digestion or through incineration of dried sludge, but energy yield is often insufficient to evaporate sludge water content or to power blowers, pumps, or centrifuges required for dewatering. Coarse primary solids and secondary sewage sludge may include toxic chemicals removed from liquid sewage by sorption onto solid particles in clarifier sludge. Reducing sludge volume may increase the concentration of some of these toxic chemicals in the sludge. [77]

Avoidance and reduction methods

An important method of waste management is the prevention of waste material being created, also known as waste reduction. Waste Minimization is reducing the quantity of hazardous wastes achieved through a thorough application of innovative or alternative procedures. [78] Methods of avoidance include reuse of second-hand products, repairing broken items instead of buying new ones, designing products to be refillable or reusable (such as cotton instead of plastic shopping bags), encouraging consumers to avoid using disposable products (such as disposable cutlery), removing any food/liquid remains from cans and packaging, [79] and designing products that use less material to achieve the same purpose (for example, lightweighting of beverage cans). [80]

International waste trade

The global waste trade is the international trade of waste between countries for further treatment, disposal, or recycling. Toxic or hazardous wastes are often imported by developing countries from developed countries.

The World Bank Report What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management, describes the amount of solid waste produced in a given country. Specifically, countries which produce more solid waste are more economically developed and more industrialized. [81] The report explains that "Generally, the higher the economic development and rate of urbanization, the greater the amount of solid waste produced." [81] Therefore, countries in the Global North, which are more economically developed and urbanized, produce more solid waste than Global South countries. [81]

Current international trade flows of waste follow a pattern of waste being produced in the Global North and being exported to and disposed of in the Global South. Multiple factors affect which countries produce waste and at what magnitude, including geographic location, degree of industrialization, and level of integration into the global economy.

Numerous scholars and researchers have linked the sharp increase in waste trading and the negative impacts of waste trading to the prevalence of neoliberal economic policy. [82] [83] [84] [85] With the major economic transition towards neoliberal economic policy in the 1980s, the shift towards "free-market" policy has facilitated the sharp increase in the global waste trade. Henry Giroux, Chair of Cultural Studies at McMaster University, gives his definition of neoliberal economic policy:

"Neoliberalism ...removes economics and markets from the discourse of social obligations and social costs. ...As a policy and political project, neoliberalism is wedded to the privatization of public services, selling off of state functions, deregulation of finance and labor, elimination of the welfare state and unions, liberalization of trade in goods and capital investment, and the marketization and commodification of society." [86]

Given this economic platform of privatization, neoliberalism is based on expanding free-trade agreements and establishing open-borders to international trade markets. Trade liberalization, a neoliberal economic policy in which trade is completely deregulated, leaving no tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions on international trade, is designed to further developing countries' economies and integrate them into the global economy. Critics claim that although free-market trade liberalization was designed to allow any country the opportunity to reach economic success, the consequences of these policies have been devastating for Global South countries, essentially crippling their economies in a servitude to the Global North. [87] Even supporters such as the International Monetary Fund, “progress of integration has been uneven in recent decades.” [88] Specifically, developing countries have been targeted by trade liberalization policies to import waste as a means of economic expansion. [89] The guiding neoliberal economic policy argues that the way to be integrated into the global economy is to participate in trade liberalization and exchange in international trade markets. [89] Their claim is that smaller countries, with less infrastructure, less wealth, and less manufacturing ability, should take in hazardous wastes as a way to increase profits and stimulate their economies. [89]

Challenges in developing countries

Areas with developing economies often experience exhausted waste collection services and inadequately managed and uncontrolled dumpsites. The problems are worsening. [18] [ page needed ] [90] Problems with governance complicate the situation. Waste management in these countries and cities is an ongoing challenge due to weak institutions, chronic under-resourcing, and rapid urbanization. [18] [ page needed ] All of these challenges, along with the lack of understanding of different factors that contribute to the hierarchy of waste management, affect the treatment of waste. [91] [ full citation needed ]

In developing countries, waste management activities are usually carried out by the poor, for their survival. It has been estimated that 2% of the population in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are dependent on waste for their livelihood. Family organized, or individual manual scavengers are often involved with waste management practices with very little supportive network and facilities with increased risk of health effects. Additionally, this practice prevents their children from further education. The participation level of most citizens in waste management is very low, residents in urban areas are not actively involved in the process of waste management. [92]

Technologies

Traditionally, the waste management industry has been a late adopter of new technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags, GPS and integrated software packages which enable better quality data to be collected without the use of estimation or manual data entry. [93] This technology has been used widely by many organizations in some industrialized countries. Radiofrequency identification is a tagging system for automatic identification of recyclable components of municipal solid waste streams. [94]

Smart waste management has been implemented in several cities, including San Francisco, Varde or Madrid. [95] Waste containers are equipped with level sensors. When the container is almost full, the sensor warns the pickup truck, which can thus trace its route servicing the fullest containers and skipping the emptiest ones. [96]

The "Global Waste Management Outlook 2024," supported by the Environment Fund - UNEP’s core financial fund, and jointly published with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), provides a comprehensive update on the trajectory of global waste generation and the escalating costs of waste management since 2018. The report predicts municipal solid waste to rise from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. The direct global cost of waste management was around USD 252 billion in 2020, which could soar to USD 640.3 billion annually by 2050 if current practices continue without reform. Incorporating life cycle assessments, the report contrasts scenarios from maintaining the status quo to fully adopting zero waste and circular economy principles. It indicates that effective waste prevention and management could cap annual costs at USD 270.2 billion by 2050, while a circular economy approach could transform the sector into a net positive, offering a potential annual gain of USD 108.5 billion. To prevent the direst outcomes, the report calls for immediate action across multiple sectors, including development banks, governments, municipalities, producers, retailers, and citizens, providing targeted strategies for waste reduction and improved management practices. [97]

Waste generated by country, 2020 [98]
CountryGDP (USD)PopulationTotal waste generated (t)Share of population living in urban areasWaste generated per capita (kg/person)
Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba 35,563103,18788,13244%854
Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan 2,05734,656,0325,628,52526%162
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 8,03725,096,1504,213,64467%168
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 13,7242,854,1911,087,44762%381
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 43,71282,43143,00088%522
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 67,1199,770,5295,617,68287%575
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 23,55042,981,51617,910,55092%417
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 11,0202,906,220492,80063%170
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa 11,11355,59918,98987%342
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda 17,96696,77730,58524%316
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 47,78423,789,33813,345,00086%561
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 56,0308,877,0675,219,71659%588
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 14,8549,649,3412,930,34956%304
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 8406,741,5691,872,01614%278
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 51,91511,484,0554,765,88398%415
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 2,2275,521,763685,93648%124
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 1,92518,110,6242,575,25131%142
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 3,196155,727,05614,778,49738%95
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 22,2797,025,0372,859,19076%407
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 47,9381,425,171951,94390%668
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 35,400386,838264,00083%682
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 12,6713,535,9611,248,71849%353
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 18,3089,489,6164,280,00079%451
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize 7,259359,288101,37946%282
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 80,98264,79882,000100%1,265
Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 7,98410,724,7052,219,05270%207
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 14,596208,494,89679,069,58487%379
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 15,445280,601174,81531%623
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 60,866423,196216,25378%511
Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 6,743686,958111,31442%162
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 14,1262,014,866210,85471%105
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 8234,515,3921,105,98342%245
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 47,67235,544,56425,103,03482%706
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 68,3948,574,8326,079,55674%709
Flag of Jersey.svg  Channel Islands 46,673164,541178,93331%1,087
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 20,36216,829,4426,517,00088%387
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 16,0921,400,050,048395,081,37661%282
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Côte d'Ivoire 3,66120,401,3324,440,81452%218
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 3,26321,655,7163,270,61758%151
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,05678,736,15214,385,22646%183
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo 4,9002,648,507451,20068%170
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 12,52346,406,64812,150,12081%262
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 2,960777,42491,01329%117
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 6,354513,979132,55567%258
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 18,1694,757,5751,460,00081%307
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 12,98511,303,6872,692,69277%238
Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 27,504153,82224,70489161
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands 66,20759,17260,000100%1,014
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 39,5451,198,575769,48567%642
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 53,78583,132,80050,627,87677%609
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti 6,597746,221114,99778%154
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica 11,70972,40013,17671%182
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 57,8215,818,5534,910,85988%844
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 15,32810,528,3944,063,91083%386
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 11,82640,606,05212,378,74074%305
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador 11,89616,144,3685,297,21164%328
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 10,30187,813,25621,000,00043%239
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea 1,7154,474,690726,95741%162
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 40,98647,076,78022,408,54881%476
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 36,9561,326,590489,51269%369
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 1,77999,873,0326,532,78722%65
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 48,8145,520,3143,124,49886%566
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 10,788867,086189,39057%218
Flag of France.svg  France 46,11067,059,88836,748,82081%548
Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 44,40348,84261,00042%1,249
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia 3,440104,93726,04023%248
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 18,5151,086,137238,10290%219
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 46,29066,460,34430,771,14084%463
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 12,6053,717,100800,00059%215
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 3,09321,542,0083,538,27557%164
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 43,71233,62316,954100%504
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 1,6238,132,552596,91137%73
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 2,1811,311,349193,44163%148
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 1,8001,770,526289,51444%164
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 24,8271,221,490198,44373%162
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 30,46510,716,3225,615,35380%524
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada 13,208105,48129,53637%280
Flag of Greenland.svg  Greenland 43,94956,90550,00087%879
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 8,12516,252,4292,756,74152%170
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 59,075159,973141,50095%885
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 9,812746,556179,25227%240
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 57,2167,305,7005,679,816100%777
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras 5,3969,112,8672,162,02858%237
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 28,8294,067,5001,810,03858%445
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 2,95310,847,3342,309,85257%213
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 32,6439,769,9493,780,97072%387
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 10,531261,115,45665,200,00057%250
Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man 44,20480,75950,55153%626
Flag of India.svg  India 6,4971,352,617,344189,750,00035%140
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 83,3894,867,3162,910,65564%598
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 14,53680,277,42417,885,00076%223
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 10,31136,115,64813,140,00071%364
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 55,274343,400225,27094%656
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 37,6888,380,1005,400,00093%644
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 42,42060,297,39630,088,40071%499
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 9,5512,881,3551,051,69556%365
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 10,4138,413,4642,529,99791%301
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 41,310126,529,10442,720,00092%338
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 22,70316,791,4244,659,74058%278
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 3,33041,350,1525,595,09928%135
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 4,8055,956,9001,113,30037%187
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 3,36415,270,7901,089,00024%71
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati 2,250114,39535,72456%312
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis 25,56954,28832,89231%606
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 42,10551,606,63220,452,77681%396
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 58,8102,998,0831,750,000100%584
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 6,5446,663,967351,90036%53
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 16,9675,603,2792,040,00089%364
Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 1,3333,512,932564,46752%161
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 8,4806,193,5012,147,59681%347
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia 14,030177,20677,61619%438
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 45,72736,54532,38214%886
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 12,28721,203,0002,631,65019%124
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 1,9791,965,66273,45729%37
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 37,2782,786,8441,315,39068%472
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 114,323619,896490,33891%791
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 30,9821,912,789839,71468%439
Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 117,336612,167377,942100%617
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 6,91534,318,0806,852,00064%200
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 43,71237,78346,000100%1,217
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 10,3613,554,1083,981,20043%1,120
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 1,56624,894,5523,768,75939%151
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 17,285409,163211,50641%517
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 19,332125,890,95253,100,00081%422
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands 3,62952,7938,61478%163
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 16,1482,082,958626,97058%301
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 2,00816,006,6701,937,35444%121
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 43,708502,653348,84195%694
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 1,09446,095,4644,677,30731%101
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 20,753622,227329,78067%530
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 10,9403,027,3982,900,00069%958
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands 60,95654,03632,76192%606
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 1,21727,212,3822,500,00037%92
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 4,7843,506,288454,00055%129
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 20,6471,263,473438,00041%347
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 99916,577,1471,297,84417%78
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 23,90630,228,01612,982,68577%429
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 6,1531,559,983256,72952%165
Flags of New Caledonia.svg  New Caledonia 57,330278,000108,15772%389
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 1,0388,842,4151,865,64617%211
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 4,690154,402,17627,614,83052%179
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 4,6125,737,7231,528,81659%266
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 56,84917,332,8508,805,08892%508
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 64,9625,347,8964,149,96783%776
Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 2,90228,982,7721,768,97721%61
Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru 11,16713,0496,192100%475
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 41,8574,692,7003,405,00087%726
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 30,5363,960,9251,734,88586%438
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 4,571193,203,47230,760,00037%159
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 28,4363,969,2491,472,26268%371
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 11,87730,973,3548,356,71178%270
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 7,705103,320,22414,631,92347%142
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau 18,27521,5039,42781%438
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 3,9127,755,7851,000,00013%129
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 33,22237,970,87212,758,21360%336
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 34,3113,473,1814,170,95394%1,201
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 34,96210,269,4175,268,21166%513
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay 11,8106,639,1191,818,50162%274
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 5,9864,046,9011,387,00077%343
Flag of French Polynesia.svg  French Polynesia 60,956273,528147,00062%537
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 96,2622,109,5681,000,99099%475
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 29,98419,356,5445,419,83354%280
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 26,013143,201,68060,000,00075%419
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 1,95111,917,5084,384,96917%368
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 48,92131,557,14416,125,70184%511
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 4,19238,647,8042,831,29135%73
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 3,06815,411,6142,454,05948%159
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 97,3415,703,6001,870,000100%328
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 2,596563,513179,97225%319
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 1,2385,439,695610,22243%112
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 7,3296,164,6261,648,99673%267
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 58,80633,20317,17597%517
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 1,86314,317,9962,326,09946%162
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 18,3516,944,9752,347,40256%338
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 1,79611,177,4902,680,68120%240
Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe 3,721191,26625,58774%134
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 16,954526,10378,62066%149
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 31,9665,454,0732,296,16554%421
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 39,0382,087,9461,052,32555%504
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 52,60910,285,4534,618,16988%449
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 8,3211,343,098218,19924%162
Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles 23,30388,30348,00058%544
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 8,58720,824,8924,500,00055%216
Flag of Chad.svg  Chad 1,73311,887,2021,358,85124%114
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 1,4047,228,9151,109,03043%153
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 16,30268,657,60026,853,36651%391
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 2,6168,177,8091,787,40028%219
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 11,4715,366,277500,00053%93
Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste 3,3451,268,67163,87531%50
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 5,636104,95117,23823%164
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 28,9111,328,100727,87453%548
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 10,50511,143,9082,700,00070%242
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 28,28983,429,61635,374,15676%424
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu 3,79311,0973,98964%360
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 2,12949,082,9969,276,99535%189
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 1,97235,093,6487,045,05025%201
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 11,53545,004,64415,242,02570%339
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 20,5883,431,5521,260,14096%367
Flag of the United States.svg  United States of America 61,498326,687,488265,224,52883%812
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 5,16429,774,5004,000,00050%134
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 11,972109,45531,56153%288
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 14,27029,893,0809,779,09388%327
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands 24,21620,64521,09949%1,022
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  United States Virgin Islands 30,437105,784146,50096%1,385
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 5,08986,932,4969,570,30037%110
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 3,062270,40270,22526%260
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 6,211187,66527,39918%146
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 8,27027,584,2124,836,82038%175
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 12,66751,729,34418,457,23267%357
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 3,20114,264,7562,608,26845%183
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 3,19112,500,5251,449,75232%116

Waste management by region

China

Municipal solid waste generation shows spatiotemporal variation. In spatial distribution, the point sources in eastern coastal regions are quite different. Guangdong, Shanghai and Tianjin produced MSW of 30.35, 7.85 and 2.95 Mt, respectively. In temporal distribution, during 2009–2018, Fujian province showed a 123% increase in MSW generation while Liaoning province showed only 7% increase, whereas Shanghai special zone had a decline of −11% after 2013. MSW composition characteristics are complicated. The major components such as kitchen waste, paper and rubber & plastics in different eastern coastal cities have fluctuation in the range of 52.8–65.3%, 3.5–11.9%, and 9.9–19.1%, respectively. Treatment rate of consumption waste is up to 99% with a sum of 52% landfill, 45% incineration, and 3% composting technologies, indicating that landfill still dominates MSW treatment. [99]

Morocco

Morocco has seen benefits from implementing a $300 million sanitary landfill system. While it might appear to be a costly investment, the country's government predicts that it has saved them another $440 million in damages, or consequences of failing to dispose of waste properly. [100]

San Francisco

San Francisco started to make changes to their waste management policies in 2009 with the expectation to be zero waste by 2030. [101] Council made changes such as making recycling and composting a mandatory practice for businesses and individuals, banning Styrofoam and plastic bags, putting charges on paper bags, and increasing garbage collection rates. [101] [102] Businesses are fiscally rewarded for correct disposal of recycling and composting and taxed for incorrect disposal. Besides these policies, the waste bins were manufactured in various sizes. The compost bin is the largest, the recycling bin is second, and the garbage bin is the smallest. This encourages individuals to sort their waste thoughtfully with respect to the sizes. These systems are working because they were able to divert 80% of waste from the landfill, which is the highest rate of any major U.S. city. [101] Despite all these changes, Debbie Raphael, director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, states that zero waste is still not achievable until all products are designed differently to be able to be recycled or compostable. [101]

Turkey

Turkey generates about 30 million tons of solid municipal waste per year; the annual amount of waste generated per capita amounts to about 400 kilograms. [103] According to Waste Atlas, Turkey's waste collection coverage rate is 77%, whereas its unsound waste disposal rate is 69%. [103] While the country has a strong legal framework in terms of laying down common provisions for waste management, the implementation process has been considered slow since the beginning of 1990s.

United Kingdom

Waste management policy in England is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). In England, the "Waste Management Plan for England" presents a compilation of waste management policies. [104] In the devolved nations such as Scotland Waste management policy is a responsibility of their own respective departments.

Zambia

In Zambia, ASAZA is a community-based organization whose principal purpose is to complement the efforts of the Government and cooperating partners to uplift the standard of living for disadvantaged communities. The project's main objective is to minimize the problem of indiscriminate littering which leads to land degradation and pollution of the environment. ASAZA is also at the same time helping alleviate the problems of unemployment and poverty through income generation and payment of participants, women, and unskilled youths. [105]

E-waste

A record 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21 percent in just five years, according to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2020, released today. The new report also predicts global e-waste – discarded products with a battery or plug – will reach 74 Mt by 2030, almost a doubling of e-waste in just 16 years. This makes e-waste the world's fastest-growing domestic waste stream, fueled mainly by higher consumption rates of electric and electronic equipment, short life cycles, and few options for repair. Only 17.4 percent of 2019's e-waste was collected and recycled. This means that gold, silver, copper, platinum, and other high-value, recoverable materials conservatively valued at US$57 billion – a sum greater than the Gross Domestic Product of most countries – were mostly dumped or burned rather than being collected for treatment and reuse. [106] E-wasteis predicted to double by 2050. [107] [108]

Transboundary movement of e-waste

The Transboundary E-waste Flows Monitor quantified that 5.1 Mt (just below 10 percent of the total amount of global e-waste, 53.6 Mt) crossed country borders in 2019. To better understand the implication of transboundary movement, this study categorizes the transboundary movement of e-waste into controlled and uncontrolled movements and also considers both the receiving and sending regions. [109]

Scientific journals

Related scientific journals in this area include:

See also

Notes

  1. Also known as a tip, dump, rubbish dump, garbage dump, trash dump, or dumping ground.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazardous waste</span> Ignitable, reactive, corrosive and/or toxic unwanted or unusable materials

Hazardous waste is waste that must be handled properly to avoid damaging human health or the environment. Waste can be hazardous because it is toxic, reacts violently with other chemicals, or is corrosive, among other traits. As of 2022, humanity produces 300-500 million metric tons of hazardous waste annually. Some common examples are electronics, batteries, and paints. An important aspect of managing hazardous waste is safe disposal. Hazardous waste can be stored in hazardous waste landfills, burned, or recycled into something new. Managing hazardous waste is important to achieve worldwide sustainability. Hazardous waste is regulated on national scale by national governments as well as on an international scale by the United Nations (UN) and international treaties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sewage sludge</span> Semi-solid material that is produced as a by-product during sewage treatment

Sewage sludge is the residual, semi-solid material that is produced as a by-product during sewage treatment of industrial or municipal wastewater. The term "septage" also refers to sludge from simple wastewater treatment but is connected to simple on-site sanitation systems, such as septic tanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incineration</span> Waste treatment process

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of substances contained in waste materials. Industrial plants for waste incineration are commonly referred to as waste-to-energy facilities. Incineration and other high-temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas and heat. The ash is mostly formed by the inorganic constituents of the waste and may take the form of solid lumps or particulates carried by the flue gas. The flue gases must be cleaned of gaseous and particulate pollutants before they are dispersed into the atmosphere. In some cases, the heat that is generated by incineration can be used to generate electric power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero waste</span> Philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused

Zero waste, or waste minimization, is a set of principles focused on waste prevention that encourages redesigning Natural resource resource life cycles so that all products are repurposed and/or reused. The goal of the movement is to avoid sending trash to landfills, incinerators, oceans, or any other part of the environment. Currently 9% of global Plastic recycling plastic is recycled. In a zero waste system, all materials are reused until the optimum level of consumption is reached.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental technology</span> Technical and technological processes for protection of the environment

Environmental technology (envirotech) is the use of engineering and technological approaches to understand and address issues that affect the environment with the aim of fostering environmental improvement. It involves the application of science and technology in the process of addressing environmental challenges through environmental conservation and the mitigation of human impact to the environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste hierarchy</span> Tool to evaluate processes protecting the environment

Waste (management) hierarchy is a tool used in the evaluation of processes that protect the environment alongside resource and energy consumption from most favourable to least favourable actions. The hierarchy establishes preferred program priorities based on sustainability. To be sustainable, waste management cannot be solved only with technical end-of-pipe solutions and an integrated approach is necessary.

Articles related to waste management include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal solid waste</span> Type of waste consisting of everyday items discarded by the public

Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the United States and rubbish in Britain, is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" can also refer specifically to food waste, as in a garbage disposal; the two are sometimes collected separately. In the European Union, the semantic definition is 'mixed municipal waste,' given waste code 20 03 01 in the European Waste Catalog. Although the waste may originate from a number of sources that has nothing to do with a municipality, the traditional role of municipalities in collecting and managing these kinds of waste have produced the particular etymology 'municipal.'

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste-to-energy</span> Process of generating energy from the primary treatment of waste

Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) refers to a series of processes designed to convert waste materials into usable forms of energy, typically electricity or heat. As a form of energy recovery, WtE plays a crucial role in both waste management and sustainable energy production by reducing the volume of waste in landfills and providing an alternative energy source.

A mechanical biological treatment (MBT) system is a type of waste processing facility that combines a sorting facility with a form of biological treatment such as composting or anaerobic digestion. MBT plants are designed to process mixed household waste as well as commercial and industrial wastes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sewage sludge treatment</span> Processes to manage and dispose of sludge during sewage treatment

Sewage sludge treatment describes the processes used to manage and dispose of sewage sludge produced during sewage treatment. Sludge treatment is focused on reducing sludge weight and volume to reduce transportation and disposal costs, and on reducing potential health risks of disposal options. Water removal is the primary means of weight and volume reduction, while pathogen destruction is frequently accomplished through heating during thermophilic digestion, composting, or incineration. The choice of a sludge treatment method depends on the volume of sludge generated, and comparison of treatment costs required for available disposal options. Air-drying and composting may be attractive to rural communities, while limited land availability may make aerobic digestion and mechanical dewatering preferable for cities, and economies of scale may encourage energy recovery alternatives in metropolitan areas.

There are a number of different waste treatment technologies for the disposal, recycling, storage, or energy recovery from different waste types. Each type has its own associated methods of waste management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biodegradable waste</span> Organic matter that can be broken down

Biodegradable waste includes any organic matter in waste which can be broken down into carbon dioxide, water, methane, compost, humus, and simple organic molecules by micro-organisms and other living things by composting, aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion or similar processes. It mainly includes kitchen waste, ash, soil, dung and other plant matter. In waste management, it also includes some inorganic materials which can be decomposed by bacteria. Such materials include gypsum and its products such as plasterboard and other simple sulfates which can be decomposed by sulfate reducing bacteria to yield hydrogen sulfide in anaerobic land-fill conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landfill diversion</span>

Waste diversion or landfill diversion is the process of diverting waste from landfills. The success of landfill diversion can be measured by comparison of the size of the landfill from one year to the next. If the landfill grows minimally or remains the same, then policies covering landfill diversion are successful. For example, currently in the United States there are 3000 landfills. A measure of the success of landfill diversion would be if that number remains the same or is reduced. In 2015 it was recorded that the national average of landfill diversion in the United States was 33.8%, while San Francisco had implemented the most effective policies and had recorded a landfill diversion rate of 77%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sewage treatment</span> Process of removing contaminants from municipal wastewater

Sewage treatment is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable to discharge to the surrounding environment or an intended reuse application, thereby preventing water pollution from raw sewage discharges. Sewage contains wastewater from households and businesses and possibly pre-treated industrial wastewater. There are a high number of sewage treatment processes to choose from. These can range from decentralized systems to large centralized systems involving a network of pipes and pump stations which convey the sewage to a treatment plant. For cities that have a combined sewer, the sewers will also carry urban runoff (stormwater) to the sewage treatment plant. Sewage treatment often involves two main stages, called primary and secondary treatment, while advanced treatment also incorporates a tertiary treatment stage with polishing processes and nutrient removal. Secondary treatment can reduce organic matter from sewage,  using aerobic or anaerobic biological processes. A so-called quarternary treatment step can also be added for the removal of organic micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals. This has been implemented in full-scale for example in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste</span> Unwanted or unusable materials

Waste are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use. A by-product, by contrast is a joint product of relatively minor economic value. A waste product may become a by-product, joint product or resource through an invention that raises a waste product's value above zero.

Solid waste policy in the United States is aimed at developing and implementing proper mechanisms to effectively manage solid waste. For solid waste policy to be effective, inputs should come from stakeholders, including citizens, businesses, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, government agencies, universities, and other research organizations. These inputs form the basis of policy frameworks that influence solid waste management decisions. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates household, industrial, manufacturing, and commercial solid and hazardous wastes under the 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Effective solid waste management is a cooperative effort involving federal, state, regional, and local entities. Thus, the RCRA's Solid Waste program section D encourages the environmental departments of each state to develop comprehensive plans to manage nonhazardous industrial and municipal solid waste.

Resource recovery is using wastes as an input material to create valuable products as new outputs. The aim is to reduce the amount of waste generated, thereby reducing the need for landfill space, and optimising the values created from waste. Resource recovery delays the need to use raw materials in the manufacturing process. Materials found in municipal solid waste, construction and demolition waste, commercial waste and industrial wastes can be used to recover resources for the manufacturing of new materials and products. Plastic, paper, aluminium, glass and metal are examples of where value can be found in waste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reuse of human excreta</span> Safe, beneficial use of human excreta mainly in agriculture (after treatment)

Reuse of human excreta is the safe, beneficial use of treated human excreta after applying suitable treatment steps and risk management approaches that are customized for the intended reuse application. Beneficial uses of the treated excreta may focus on using the plant-available nutrients that are contained in the treated excreta. They may also make use of the organic matter and energy contained in the excreta. To a lesser extent, reuse of the excreta's water content might also take place, although this is better known as water reclamation from municipal wastewater. The intended reuse applications for the nutrient content may include: soil conditioner or fertilizer in agriculture or horticultural activities. Other reuse applications, which focus more on the organic matter content of the excreta, include use as a fuel source or as an energy source in the form of biogas.

Waste valorization, beneficial reuse, beneficial use, value recovery or waste reclamation is the process of waste products or residues from an economic process being valorized, by reuse or recycling in order to create economically useful materials. The term comes from practices in sustainable manufacturing and economics, industrial ecology and waste management. The term is usually applied in industrial processes where residue from creating or processing one good is used as a raw material or energy feedstock for another industrial process. Industrial wastes in particular are good candidates for valorization because they tend to be more consistent and predictable than other waste, such as household waste.

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