Waste Management
Waste Management
Waste Management
Waste
Management
Basel Convention
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal,
usually known simply as Basel Convention, is an
international treaty that was designed to reduce the
movements of hazardous waste between nations, specially to
prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less
developed countries (LDCs). It does not, however, address the
movement of radioactive waste. The convention is also
intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes
generated,
to
ensure
their
environmentally
sound
management as closely as possible to the source of
generation, and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound
management of the hazardous and other wastes they
generate.
The Convention was opened for signature on 22 nd
March 1989, and entered into force on 5 May 1992.
The definition
Produced
by
the
United Nations Statistics Division
(U.N.S.D.):
"Wastes are materials that are not prime
products (that is products produced for the
market) for which the generator has no further
use in terms of his/her own purposes of
production, transformation or consumption, and
of which he/she wants to dispose. Wastes may be
generated during the extraction of raw materials,
the processing of raw materials into intermediate
and final products, the consumption of final
products, and other human activities. Residuals
recycled or reused at the place of generation are
excluded."
Kinds of Wastes
Solid wastes: Wastes in solid forms, Domestic,
Commercial and Industrial wastes
Classification of Wastes
according to their
Properties
Bio-degradable
Non-biodegradable
cannot be degraded (plastics,
bottles, old machines,cans,
styrofoam containers and others)
Non-hazardous
Substances safe to use commercially,
industrially, agriculturally, or economically
and do not have any of those properties
mentioned above. These substances
usually create disposal problems.
Sources of Wastes
Households
Commerce and
Industry
our
our
our
our
health
socio-economic conditions
coastal and marine environment
climate
IMPACTS OF WASTE
Some countries are expected to become
warmer, although sulfates might limit warming
in some areas.
Impacts of waste.
Activities that have altered the chemical composition
of the atmosphere:
- Buildup of GHGs primarily carbon dioxide (CO2)
methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20).
- C02 is released to the atmosphere by the burning of
fossil fuels, wood and wood products, and solid waste.
- CH4 is emitted from the decomposition of organic
wastes in landfills, the raising of livestock, and the
production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil.
- N02 is emitted during agricultural and industrial
activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste
and fossil fuels. In 1977, the US emitted about onefifth of total global GHGs.
Points of contact
Waste hierarchy
Waste hierarchy refers to 3 Rs
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Waste
Minimizing solid
waste
Minimizing packaging
Recycleable
Paper, plastics, metals,
glass, wood
Reusable ?
Textiles, leather, rubber,
metals, wood
Compostable
Yard trimmings, food
scraps (vegetable)
CATEGORIES OF WASTE
DISPOSAL
1. DILUTE AND
DISPERSE
(ATTENUATION)
Throw it in the
river / lake /
sea
Burn it
2. CONCENTRATE
AND CONTAIN
(ISOLATION)
Waste dumps,
landfills
Useful options
Resource
recovery
Composting
Vermicompostin
g
Energy recovery
Incineration
Pyrolysis
Gasification
Bio-methanation or
anaerobic digestion
Impacts of waste on
health
Chemical poisoning through chemical
inhalation
Uncollected waste can obstruct the
storm water runof resulting in flood
Low birth weight
Cancer
Congenital malformations
Neurological disease
Impacts of waste on
health
Nausea and vomiting
Increase in hospitalization of diabetic
residents living near hazard waste sites.
Mercury toxicity from eating fish with
high levels of mercury.
Goorah, S., Esmyot, M., Boojhawon, R. (2009). The Health Impact of Nonhazardous Solid Waste
Disposal in a Community: The case of the Mare Chicose Landfill in Mauritius. Journal of
Environment Health, 72(1) 48-54
Kouznetsova, M., Hauang, X., Ma, J., Lessner, L. & Carpenter, D. (2007). Increased Rate of
Hospitalization for Diabetes and Residential Proximity of Hazardous waste Sites.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(1)75-75
Barlaz, M., Kaplan, P., Ranjithan, S. & Rynk, R. (2003) Evaluating Environmental Impacts of solid
Waste Management Alternatives. BioCycle, 52-56.
Impacts of Waste on
Environment
Waste breaks down in landfills to form
methane, a potent greenhouse gas
Change in climate and destruction of
ozone layer due to waste biodegradable
Littering, due to waste pollutions, illegal
dumping, Leaching: is a process by
which solid waste enter soil and ground
water and contaminating them.