Literature review on reccyling in china and britain - Essay Example

cording to Li, Bai & Nie (2002) the planning and construction of the recycling, treatment, and disposal facilities for hazardous wastes are basic elements to a sound waste management plan. In China, even though a few regulatory bodies have been established, the proposals are still in the study and formulation stages. Manufacturing units set up their own waste management facilities. Due to lack of national and local standards, secondary pollution and environmental risks persist in China. The UK government has expressed support for the recycling industry through – the government’s White Paper on environment, 1990 and the Draft Waste Strategy for England and Wales, 1995.

Through this the UK government proposes a target of recycling 50% of the solid waste by the year 2000 (Craighill & Powell, 2005). Through these documents, the government has ranked recycling higher on the waste management hierarchy. Recycling requires additional energy and resources and is surrounded by misconceptions while incineration and landfill is used as the last option. To keep the time, energy, costs and the possibility of accidents to the minimum, the waste should be disposed off as close as possible to the source (RMCEF, n.d). If these were not under control, the benefits of recycling or compositing would be lost.

This also alerts the public and the waste producers and encourages waste reduction. This Proximity principle in conjunction with the waste hierarchy results in Best Practical Environmental Option (BPEO). BPEO provides the most benefit or the least damage to the environment, at affordable cost, both in long as well as short term. Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEEC), is an important element of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It has helped to upgrade the old processes to meet new standards.

This forms a part of the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC), which includes organic waste treatment, incineration, and disposal of chemicals. Rapid