Waste management is the process of controlling, reducing and disposing of unwanted materials. It is a vital aspect of human civilization as it protects the environment, conserves planetary resources and saves energy. It includes a wide range of activities such as collection, treatment, recycling and disposal of industrial, biological, household, municipal, organic, biomedical and radioactive wastes.
The main goal of waste management is to reduce the adverse effects of waste on the environment, human health, aesthetics and planetary resources. It is a complex field of operations that involves several different disciplines and requires extensive scientific knowledge, technology, engineering, finance, legislation, and policy making. It is necessary to develop a framework that ensures the protection of human health and environmental sustainability through efficient management of all types of wastes.
A major issue with waste management is the inability to define what constitutes a waste. A general definition is any object that has been discarded or no longer has value to the owner. However, if the material can be reused it may not be considered as waste (Palmer, 1992). The concept of waste has a strong impact on public perception and attitude towards solid waste management. It is therefore important to raise public awareness about the importance of the issue. This can be done through integration of environmental education with focus on solid waste management in the school curriculum beginning from primary/elementary schools.
There are a number of methods of waste management, which are used in conjunction with each other or separately to achieve the best result. The most preferred methods are reducing, reusing and recycling waste. Reducing the amount of waste produced is the most effective method and can be achieved through avoiding the purchase of disposable items, using second-hand goods or repairable goods instead of purchasing new ones, and buying products that require less designing.
Recycling is the most effective way of managing waste and prevents the need to extract raw materials from the environment. It is also the least polluting method of waste management as it significantly lowers energy usage, decreases the volume of landfills and preserves natural resources for future use. The most common forms of recyclable materials are paper, metals, and plastic.
Another effective method of managing waste is incineration. It is the most common method of disposing of hazardous waste and provides energy for a variety of processes. The most important advantage of this method is that it produces no toxic by-products. In addition, it is a cost-effective alternative to other methods of waste management, such as landfilling and burial.
Biomedical waste is one of the most dangerous types of waste and must be disposed of with special care. The most efficient way to do this is by using a special waste disposal system that can be found in healthcare facilities and similar institutions. These systems are based on the anaerobic digestion of organic waste and provide a safe, environmentally friendly way to dispose of waste material.