Solid waste management with different methods and fields of expertise for each. The management of waste materials is a problem worldwide. In the developing countries, waste management is becoming an acute problem as urbanization and economic development increase leading to larger quantities of waste materials requiring management in these countries.
In Asia, the management of waste materials requires immediate attention especially in countries such as China, South Korea and Malaysia which have been categorized as emerging industrialized countries.
Landfill
A site set up for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment. Historically, landfills have been the most common methods of organized waste disposal and remain so in many places around the world. Landfills may include internal waste disposal sites (where a producer of waste carries out their own waste disposal at the place of production) as well as sites used by many producers. Many landfills are also used for waste management purposes, such as the temporary storage, consolidation and transfer, or processing of waste material (sorting, treatment, or recycling).
Dumping at sea
There are still some countries that dump their waste material into the sea. It is very convenient, easy and cheap compared to other methods like incineration and landfill. It also helps to save space in developed country such as USA. For example, the world biggest garbage dump is a floating one and has twice the size of the USA.
Recycle
Recycling is a resource recovery practice that refers to the collection and reuse of waste materials such as empty beverage containers. The materials from which the items are made can be reprocessed into new products. Material for recycling may be collected separately from general waste using dedicated bins and collection vehicles are sorted directly from mixed waste streams and are known as kerb-side recycling, it requires the owner of the waste to separate it into various different bins (typically wheelie bins) prior to its collection. The most common consumer products recycled include aluminium such as beverage cans, copper such as wire, steel food and aerosol cans, old steel furnishings or equipment, polyethylene and PET bottles, glass bottles and jars, paperboard cartons ,newspapers, magazines and light paper, and corrugated fibreboard boxes.
Polyvinyl chloride, Low-density polyethylene, Polypropylene , and Polystyrene 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 have different recycling programs in place that can handle the various types of recyclable materials. However, variation in acceptance is reflected in the resale value of the material once it is reprocessed.
Japan
There are many incinerators in Japan: Tokyo alone has 13. Some MSW incineration facilities in Japan are of two stages: pyrolysis, followed by thermal combustion. Some Japanese cities have made their MSW incinerators the center of community complexes with indoor gardens, meeting halls, second-hand shops, and offices of NGOs.
Switzerland
The recycling rate for municipal solid waste in Switzerland exceeds 40% In 2009 2801285 tons of waste from households and small businesses was recycled and 2'680359 tons of municipal waste was incinerated . In Switzerland the following common household waste materials are recycled: aluminium and tin cans, old batteries, light bulbs, glass, paper, PET bottles, textiles, electrical and electronic equipment, and other. The disposal of recyclable waste is mostly free of charge, though not always operated as door-to-door collection. Some waste must be brought to collection spots (e.g. glass, metal, textiles), some is collected in supermarkets or retail shops (e.g. batteries, pet bottles, old electrical and electronic equipment).
The seven Swiss recycling organisations: FERRO-Recycling (tin cans), IGORA (household aluminium), INOBAT (household batteries), PETRecycling Switzerland (PET beverage bottles), the SENS Foundation (electrical and electronic equipment), TEXAID (textiles) and VetroSwiss (glass) are united in the umbrella organisation Swiss Recycling. "This association exploits the communication synergies that exist between the individual recycling organisations by providing a common platform for disseminating information on the separate collection and appropriate recycling of materials. The association's independence and expertise make it a key contact for official bodies, politicians, retailers and schools throughout Switzerland on all issues relating to recycling." Individual recycling rates The recycling rates of the individual recyclable materials reached in 2006 a mean of 76% of all currently recyclable items being recycled. This has narrowly surpassed the Swiss government's 75% target, meaning that for the time being there will be no introduction of a recycling tax on glass bottles and jars, nor on clothes and textiles, plastic bottles, home-use batteries, light bulbs or paperware and card.
Australia
Australia has a strong dependence on landfill for waste management with more than 17 million tonnes deposited in 200203. Of this, 70% of municipal waste, 56% of commercial and industrial waste, and 43% of construction and demolition waste went to landfill. This equates to approximately 6.2 million tonnes, 5.3 million tonnes, and 5.9 million tonnes respectively. The overall landfill disposal rate is estimated to be 54% (2). Impacts of landfill Landfills have low operating costs compared to waste reprocessing systems, and traditionally have been located relatively close to the urban centres they serve. While some landfills have been in use for decades, such older facilities especially those in areas becoming more heavily populated, are gradually being replaced with modern ones. Vastly different from old-style dumps, landfills are designed to control leachate and gas emissions. Most importantly, they are sited carefully with regard to the natural conditions of the area. Landfill siting must take into account soil conditions, hydrology and topography, climate, local environmental issues, hauling distances, land use and other issues.
Disadvantages of landfill
Placing hazardous waste in landfill sites, rather than reprocessing it, means that the danger is still present and people might still come into contact with the material. Natural events, such as flooding, earthquakes or tsunamis, can very quickly nullify all the care that has been taken of hazardous waste and distribute the hazardous material randomly into the environment. Mismanagement of hazardous waste, of which there are many examples throughout the world, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, can be extremely dangerous too. For some materials, like PVC, landfill is actually safer than incineration, according to the OECD. Further, landfill has led directly to the development of landfill tax. According to the OECD, the tax has influenced businesses to recycle, re-use or minimize their waste. According to the EPA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act contains wide-ranging technical requirements to make sure that hazardous leachate, the liquid that drains from landfill, does not escape into the environment.
Buy products with less packaging Encourage people to use Recycle Bags or baskets instead of plastic bags. Repair cloths and other daily items instead of buying a new replacement. Reuse an item for another purposes. For example an empty plastic bottle is use to rare fish. Compost solid waste. This will also provides nutrient to the soil. When writing fully utilize both sides of paper. Buy products made from recycled material. Recharge battery rather then discarding it.
The End.