Waste Management HVB 32203 WASTE: AN INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
Having relied for too long on the old strategy out of sight, out of mind. we are now running out of ways to dispose of our waste in a manner that keeps it out of either sight or mind.
-from Earth in the Balance (1992)-

DEFINITION
Terms
Waste Refuse

Definition
Objects that are rejected or worthless or unwanted; thoughtless or inappropriate use. Waste material composed of garbage, rubbish and ashes; products that can be blown out of a landfill like paper products or trash bags.

Garbage
Rubbish

Discarded food or organic matter

Combustible and noncombustible solid waste generated from peoples activities; includes paper, beverage cans, yard trimmings and can be articles difficult to decompose, such as furniture, old refrigerators and tires. Materials considered worthless, unnecessary and offensive; usually discarded or thrown away; parts that have been broken off. Discarded objects from construction, service industries, and food packaging.

Trash Commercial waste

Terms Industrial waste Municipal solid waste

Definition Mining, power plant, and manufacturing products from paper mills, and chemical plants that are thrown away. Community waste

CLASSIFICATION OF WASTE
Solid waste Hazardous waste Clinical waste Radioactive waste E-waste

SOLID WASTE
Consists of materials that no one wants. Includes refuse and items that people throw away. Refuse consists of garbage, rubbish, ashes, and solids from human activities. Garbage is organic materials from food. Rubbish consists of unusable paper, plastic, cans, wood, paper, and other products.

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Definition of hazardous waste varies according to agencies. Hazardous waste is any waste that is capable of causing hazard effects to human health or the environment.

WHO definition (1983):

Hazardous waste is waste that has physical, chemical and biological characteristics that need special rules in its management and disposal in order to avoid risks towards human health and bad effects on the environment.

CLINICAL WASTE
Medical waste is generally defined as any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biological, including but not limited to:
Soiled or blood-soaked bandages Culture dishes and other glassware Discarded surgical instruments

RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Material containing the unusable radioactive by products of the scientific, military, and industrial applications of nuclear energy. Radioactive by-products from the operation of a nuclear reactor or from the reprocessing of depleted nuclear waste.

E-WASTE

ISSUES AND CHALLANGES

Waste management is a major challenge in urban areas throughout the world. Without an effective and efficient waste management- waste generated from various human activities, both industrial and domestic-can result in health hazardsnegative impact to the environment.

ISSUES AND CHALLANGES

Policy and legislation Sources and quantities Storage, collection/transportation, treatment and disposal Infrastructures Green productivity practices

Policy and Legislation

Like many other developing countries in the world, concerns in the region are growing in both the governmental and public sectors for an effective and economic management of solid waste. The lack of awareness, technical knowledge, legislation, policies, and long-term strategy are major issues for solid-waste management in Asian developing countries.

Sources and Quantities

The sources and quantities of solid waste depend on various factors such as economics, culture, heritage, industrialization, and season. The sources of solid waste include: domestic waste, commercial waste, hospital waste, and hazardous waste.

Storage, Collection, Transportation, Treatment and Disposal

Needs a proper and systematic methods.

INFRASTRUCTURES
Main disposal methods: open dumping and sanitary landfill. Environmental condition of the uncontrolled dumpsites is extremely vulnerable.

GREEN PRODUCTIVITY
Increasing amount of waste in their municipalities. GP: reduce, recycling, reuse, recovery are essential elements. Rapid growth rate of waste in the cities. National awareness campaign on GP measures to promote recycling. GP measures not only reduce waste, but also recover useful resources as well. The rate of recycling in Asian developing countries is far from satisfactory.

ISSUES AND CHALLANGES

Waste Management: discipline associated with controlling the generation, storage, collection, transfer, transport, processing and disposal of waste : in a manner that is in accordance with the best principles of health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations.

Challenge and issues

Increasing waste quantities Unreported waste in the MSW totals Lack of clear definition about solid waste management terms & functions Lack of quantity data Need for even and predictable enforcement regulations and standards

CHALLENGES
Highly dependent on dumpsite. More land needed to replace the closed dumpsites Disposal of MSW without much resource recovery Emission of greenhouse gases Exposure to rainwater-generates leachate Contamination of surface & groundwater by leachate Exposure to disease vectors Scavenging activity at the landfill site Unsustainable solution

References
Paul T. William. (2005). Waste Treatment and Disposal. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., 2nd Edition. Kathryn H. Kamp. (2005). Environmental Health Ecological Perspectives. Jones and Bartlett Pub.