CHAPTER 1 : WASTE MANAGEMENT

what is waste?

Waste are substances or objects, which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of national law

Any substance which is discarded after primary use, or it is worthless, defective and of no use.

category depending on its physical state

liquid waste

solid waste

includes human waste, runoff (storm water or flood water), sullage, industrial wastewater and other forms of wastewater from different sources

sewage, sullage, black water, grey water, runoff

any waste that is dry in form and is discarded by people as unwanted

types of wastes

Non-hazardous solid waste

Compostable organic waste (e.g. food, animal bedding, biodegradable plastics)

Hazardous Biological Waste: waste containing or contaminated with an infectious or potentially infectious agent, a biological toxin, an animal carcass, a genetically modified organism, recombinant DNA

Recyclable material (e.g., paper, soda cans)

Hazardous Chemical Waste:

  1. products which are chemical in nature (cleaning agents, paint, motor oil, & pharmaceutics)
  2. products that contain chemicals (fluorescent lamps, thermometers)
  3. materials contaminated with chemicals (contaminated soil or rags)

Otherwise Regulated Material
e.g. asbestos, car batteries, contaminated soil and construction debris

Hazardous Radioactive Waste: waste containing or contaminated with a radioactive isotope

why manage waste

'changed' properties & characteristics as 'products' they are not readily acceptable to the environment

Since environment cannot assimilate their current form, their entry into is simply perceived as pollution.

The main purpose of waste management is to isolate waste from humans and the environment, and protect human health.

Basic Concept of Waste Management

Improperly stored wastes can cause health, safety and economic problems

Prevent damaging the Earth’s ecosystems

the aesthetic value of a better outlook & a clean physical environment is important for our emotional wellbeing.

Maintain a high quality of life for the planet’s inhabitants

Isolate waste from humans and the environment, & consequently, safeguard individual, family & community health.

Main components of waste management

Temporary storage (on site storage)

Final disposal site

Treatment facility or technology

Final disposal offsite (away from waste generation site)

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waste principle

polluter pays principle: this means that the polluter
should bear the full cost of the consequences of their
actions.

proximity principle: waste should be treated or disposed of as near as possible to the point where it arises.
e.g. composting

waste hierarchy principle: the most commonly known.
This principle provides a framework for waste disposal
practices.

precautionary principle: this involves taking
precautions now to avoid possible environmental
damage in the future

WASTE LEGISLATION

The Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations, 2005

Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act, 2007 (Act 672)

Environmental Quality Act, 1974