Rapid economic growth, urbanization and increasing population have caused (materially intensive) resource consumption to increase, and consequently the release of large amounts of waste to the environment. From a global perspective,what are the substantial issues regarding to the solid waste management?
The sustainable solid waste management is a global challenge now a day. There are some countries like Japan are managing their solid waste in a proper way. They are maintaining the source segregation, recycling, safe waste incineration and power generation. However, most of the countries are not doing so. To me, the main challenge for global solid waste management is the political willingness. Though most of the researchers, scientists are warning about the possible and probable problems arising from waste, it is not gaining much political interest in most of the countries specially in the low and middle-income countries. This is because in those countries most of the politicians are not aware or don’t care about the future problems.
This is my personal opinion as I did some work on solid waste management.
Increasing population, economic growth, the blind faith in science, land conversion and less available properties are challenges. There are other factors what can be challenges or opportunities depending on your approach, for instance, due to the exploitation of virgin materials high demand on recycled materials (e.g., rare earth elements). The best and more economical solutions are capital intensive, so they are not available for the low GDP countries what would need it the most. Transferring the issue from solid waste happens frequently. Particulates in the sea and everywhere are also significant issues.
Economic growth will indeed have an impact on enviromental problems, increasing public consumption will cause various kinds of waste that can pollute the enviroment. One way that can be done is, with the existence of high economic growth can create higher level of education, the most important thing in overcoming the problem of waste is to provide education and unerstanding abaout the waste to the community, how to manage waste properly, the risks that waste can inflict on humanity's survival.
It is necessary to provide a longer service life for goods and the ability to repair them. If the goods can not be repaired, they become waste. The population buys disposable cheap goods, goods quickly break down and become waste. This is my personal opinion.
Dear Md Saif ul Islam
Thank you for your valuable contribution. In consistent with your comments, Some countries in the world have managed to handle the waste generated in the country is a more sustainable manner than others.The leading countries for recycling waste within Asia are South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong. These countries are all considered "land scarce". Within Europe, there has been somewhat of a recycling revolution. Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ireland recycle 34% of their waste, respectively. Belgium is not far behind, at 31%. Norway and Sweden have become specialized in burning their waste as an inexpensive fuel for power. Both of these countries import waste from surrounding nations in order to power their incineration plants...
Regards,
Ata
Dear Dr. Radics
I do appreciate you so much for your contribution. I do agree with you. There was an interesting terminology in your comments "capital intensive". Would you please give us more information about this issue and it's relationship with solid waste generation?
Regards,
Ata
Dear Ery Prasetyo
Thank you for your answer. I do agree with you. One of the most important issue for the implementation of solid waste management is the proper and practical public education and awareness regarding the minimization and recycling of solid waste. I think that any kind of behavior change requires education. Public participation in is vital in optimal management of municipal solid waste. The public awareness, education and empowerment are the pre-requisites for the use of this potential.
Regards,
Ata
Dear Dr. Vambol
Thank you for your valuable contribution. You mentioned a significant factor which must consider to reduce the quantity of solid waste. It is necessary to provide a longer service life for goods and the ability to repair them.
Regards,
Ata
Your question is very interesting and multifaceted. I wish you success in your research. I invite you to publish the results in the scientific journal TEB.
https://www.researchgate.net/project/Papers-are-invited-for-TEB-Journal-November-2017
Dear Dr. Vambol
Thank you for your invitation. I will consider your journal for possible collaboration.
Regards,
Ata
To make it short, the substantial challenges of global solid waste management are: Economy - Availability of funding for solid waste management
Technology - Availability of applicable technology
Society - Government and public response to solid waste management.
See attached paper by Nwachukwu et al. (2017)
Increasing population; consumerism; lesser land availability; etc., are all the reasons connected with solid waste generation and its disposal. The solid waste disposal and its management has become very important issue especially in many urban areas. Of late Government agencies with the active participation of public are trying to manage the solid waste in India. The bio degradable waste is being converted into composts which can be used as fertilizer. However the processes with respect to non degradable solid waste in terms of its recycling and reuse or safe disposal of the ultimate sludge are still an issue. Public awareness is also being created in terms of proper waste disposal & its management, such that the immediate environment, especially land and water, are not polluted.
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