Solid Waste Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Solid Waste - Essay ExampleThis author will discuss self-coloured yen concerns will provide details on the factors that contribute to the problem, as well as the factors that are stirred by it will tackle the positive and negative impacts will present and evaluate the present sustainability strategies and solutions and will discuss the required government, societal and global support. In addition, this authors personal plan to tense sustainability will be discussed, showing how each goal should be conducted. Solid Waste Solid forsake, as defined by the United States Environmental defense Agency (EPA), is any type of refuse, or sound coming from treatment plants of excesswater and water supply, or mire emanated from pollution control facilities and other throw-away materials from residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sources, and from mining and agricultural operations. Almost all of mankinds activities create wastes. In 2006, American residents, industries, an d institutions actually generated over 250 million tons of municipal solid waste. The average American produces waste on a rate of approximately 4.6 pounds per day.Moreover, a yearly 7.6 billion tons of industrial solid waste are produced and discarded from the U.S. industrial sector (U.S. EPA, 2003). Solid waste management comprises waste reduction, recycling, incineration, composting and landfills. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that one-third of solid waste is recycled one-seventh is incinerated and one-half goes to landfills. The greater part of environmental harm and ecosystem damage is caused by the behavior of mankind. The growing waste generation, alongside the escalating population and excessive action of material goods will unconstructively affect the human health and the environment (Chase, et al, 2009). With the American households and businesses continuously generating trash, creating an effective home(a) waste management program is difficult. On t he local level, states and municipalities, in accordance with the requirements, requests and concerns of individual communities, have utilise solid waste programs for waste collection, transport and government, together with waste reduction, reuse and recycling. On the other hand, the duty of EPA in waste management is to set objectives and provide leadership, technological assistance, education and training (U.S. EPA, 2003). Factors that Contribute to or are Affected by the Problem In 2001, paper products comprised the biggest factor of municipal solid waste or MSW (36 %) yard wastes made up the second-biggest factor (12 percent) food scraps, glass, metals, synthetics, and lumber formed 5 to 12 % of the entire municipal solid waste leather, rubber, and fabrics constituted 7% of MSW and other various wastes comprised more or less 3 % of MSW (U.S. EPA, 2003). As the economy develops and the population increases, waste production amplifies as well. Improper solid waste management th rough uncontrolled dumping and incineration can cause health and environmental hazards, such(prenominal) as water contamination breeding places for insects and rodents flood increase from drainage obstructions greenhouse gas emissions unhealthiness outbreaks and fire risks (U.S. EPA, 2002). Benefits of Formal Recycling and Composting Programs Well-managed recycling and composting programs could be advantageous to both the ecology and the economy. Organized disposal programs could