The Future of Solid and Hazardous Waste Disposal - Research Paper Example

The Future of Solid and Hazardous Waste Disposal Hazardous waste is any form of waste in liquid, solid, and gaseous state that contains traces of harmful properties that may endanger human life or the environment at large. These harmful substances may be from industrial or commercial origin because of them being by products. On the other hand, solid waste is the common form of waste from the items used on a daily basis. The major institutions that generate these wastes are schools, domestic homes, hospital institutions, and business premises. Ideally, these institutions can either produce hazardous or non hazardous wastes. In essence, anything that the humankind uses leaves some sort of waste behind. However, the way that society disposes its wastes is what the waste disposal channel becomes. Waste either can be properly disposed or managed in a way that reduces harmful effects to human health and the environment. In this regard, the objective of this paper will be to expound on the environmental issues around public health with relation to hazardous waste disposal. Further, it will touch on effective waste management ways in various countries in the world that have managed to reduce unhygienic waste disposal. Waste management in developed and developing countries Ideally, the European Union member states become wealthier by the day hence translating to increased waste production. However, the Union has made tremendous steps in ensuring that waste disposal is a matter of priority. This has been effected thorough the invocation of three vital principles (Sasikumar and Sanoop 3) . The first and basic principle revolves around the prevention of waste regeneration through the global initiative of going green. This means that manufacturers within the EU block have to produce finished products that have little or no waste after their production. Secondly, the EU emphasizes on the need to recycle and reuse to minimize on the amount of waste generated. Thirdly, the EU imposed directives on the improvement of the last disposal and the amounts of carbon emissions to the atmosphere by the emphasizing on the use of biodegradable materials. These stringent measures have helped to streamline waste management and disposal within the EU in order to achieve an ecology system fit for human habitation. Remarkably, the EU has devised frameworks within its member states to facilitate waste treatment and management as a waste reduction measure. In essence, solid wastes have become useful resources as they act as energy sources. This means that the product responsibility is the core aspect in waste management. In this regard, dangerous wastes within this block are matters of immense concern, as they store and treat them in conditions that are friendly to the humankind and its surrounding. Other measures put in place include the proper packaging and labeling of dangerous wastes according to the international standards and stipulations. The overall objective of the developed countries is the increase in recycling of wastes produced in households or in industrial set ups. In addition, they seek to capitalize on energy regeneration through eco-friendly ways in order to provide alternate energy avenues. On the contrary, solid waste in the developing countries has been much a hustle to these nations. The urbanization menace over the years saw the influx of populations in to urban settlements giving birth to urban solid wastes. Seemingly, the increased population rate increases the degradation of these cities because of the waste produced. Moreover, the introduction of programs to curb the waste menace saw a reduction in the levels of waste generated within these urban dwellings. In this regard, the governments in these countries have seen the need to sensitize their populations on the need to manage wastes to avoid futuristic health problems. Ideally, the developing countries have adopted the three R’s of effective waste management. The R’s stand for Reduce Reuse, and Recycle. These three form the basis to which studies in waste management have achieved. Similarly, the developing nations have also followed examples of their developed counterparts in terms of seeing waste a resource and not a burden. This is visible h it comes to the use of bio-fuels and the likes. In addition, the growth in the technology field has given rise to electrical and electronically related wastes. These wastes are mainly from mobile phones and other electronically powered gadgets. Since time immemorial, the disposal of the wastes or worn out electronic devices was an uphill task, but it is not so anymore. These governments have put in place measures to ensure that these wastes are properly disposed at places allocated for the same purpose. Subsequently, waste management in both if these countries are a matter of importance as they both intended to safeguard their populations against environmental hazards. Risks of hazardous waste In essence, there are a number of risks associated with the improper disposal of hazardous wastes. For instance, the two main victims that suffer to environmental neglect are the environment and the human population. Essentially, a substance becomes hazardous when it is toxic, explosive, or highly corrosive when exposed to the atmosphere or the environment. In this regard, the improper disposal of especially household waste may be an alarming problem to society. Some of these wastes may include pesticides, car batteries, and paints. Most frequently, garbage trucks and sewer lines have exploded because of poor disposal of explosive and highly reactive substances. In addition, the corrosive substances exposed to the environment may be cancerous and at times tends to cause infertility problems in some individuals. Therefore, they pose grave health and medical risks to the populations that surround them. The risks posed become a threat to the environment at large, as they tend to endanger the lives of the wild species. In some cases, the wastes have made their way in to wild habitats that play homage to the beautiful wildlife and scenery. Additionally, the current neglectful nature of the society has witnessed the spillage of hazardous flammable substances in to the wild, which have caused fires and deaths of the wild animals. Indeed, with the continued trend in the destroying of the wild habitat, the world endangers the sustainability of the wild habitat. This forms the basis for modern day extinction of habitats that house these wild animals. Hazardous waste disposal Hazardous wastes are unique types of wastes because disposing them off in a common manner depending on its physical state. Their state influences the kind of treatment accorded to them in terms of treatment and solidification (Letcher and Vallero 393). Ideally, solid waste is easier to manage than the other states of wastes. In addition, the cost of disposing these hazardous wastes has seen the industrialized transfer their wastes to the industrializing countries. Arguably, the transfer of waste across international borders is mainly due to the high cost of disposing these hazardous wastes in their native countries. In this regard, various regulations came in to place to govern the monitoring of these wastes until they get to their final disposal. This involves the tracking of these wastes over a period to ascertain the life span of the hazardous materials and wastes. In essence, this helps in the avoiding of illegally dumped hazardous wastes. Sequentially, the disposal of hazardous wastes in some countries requires the indulgence of authorities in order for facilities to do their disposal. Additionally, waste disposal is systematic in that disposal is at designated areas only. Consequently, hefty fines are payable by the companies found to be in breach of these rules. This has helped many developing and industrialized countries to regulate the disposal of these highly hazardous and toxic wastes. Forms of hazardous waste management Recycling This is the remanufacturing of used waste materials in to new and modified products. Essentially, recycling minimizes the use of new raw materials, the wastage of useful but used materials, and the excessive use of energy. This factor is a vital pillar in urban waste management as it is the third component in the R’s mentioned above (Letcher and Vallero 5). Some of the main materials that this form of waste management applies include glass, electronic devices, metal, plastics, and papers in general. On the contrary, the repeated use of biodegradable wastes is not a form of recycling as many may argue. However, recycling has proven to be an expensive venture regardless of the benefits that tag along with it. In essence, the coat of recycling is higher than that of the initial production because it requires the application of intense energy. Economically, the profit margin s of recycled products is of low significance, but they are key in waste management. Combustion of waste materials In the scientific world, this process is referred to as incineration. This is a waste management process in which wastes undergoes intense heating to produce ashes or gases. Moreover, electric power may be the result product produced because of the energy produced. Incinerators are more advantageous in that they reduce the body mass by a remarkable eighty percent. Ideally, it is a better alternative to land filling and other forms of waste management because the ashes produced are easy to dispose. Incineration is a better alternative for the disposal of clinical and other hazardous wastes as it destroys the pathogens in to insignificant and least harmful levels. Essentially, waste combustion provides an alternative for insoluble wastes that water treatment may manage. This form of waste management is popular in Japan where land is a scarce resource hence making land refilling is impossible. Remarkably, Denmark and Sweden have been the leaders in the utilization of the energy produced during the incineration process. In addition, the levels of emissions in the incinerators are relatively low hence, reducing the levels of pollutions. Land filling Land filling is a common feature in the developing or industrializing nations. This is a form of waste disposal that invokes the pilling up refuse and burying of the same in an allocated piece of land. Primarily, the dumpsite becomes the place where waste management applies. The management of these landfills may be public or commercial depending on its ownership status. In essence, this form of waste management is the oldest and is a common feature across many world nations. Moreover, landfills in some countries double up as temporary waste holding areas, where sorting of wastes applies before recycling and treatment (Hosetti 16). Typically, soil covers the layers of refuse as a containment measure. However, disposal within these landfills is also under restricted authority as those in charge of these areas subject the refuse to intense scrutiny. This is effective as it helps in the minimization of disposal of highly hazardous within the designated area. As a precaution, the trucks undergo a tire cleaning process before leaving the landfill. In addition, the trucks carrying the waste pass through weighbridges to ascertain the tonnage that the government uses a database for proper record keeping an implementation of government policies (Sasikumar and Sanoop 166). On the contrary, the landfill issue may have its disadvantages as it intensely affects the infrastructure of an urban setting. In essence, the heavy refuse trucks that access these landfills hence destroying the road networks system. In addition, the landfills act as sources of natural underground water passages. Additionally, pollution is imminent in the soils within the landfills, as they are unable to sustain any plant cover. These areas also serve as breeder grounds for disease ferrying rodents especially from improperly managed landfills (Hosetti 3). Other problems that these landfills present include strong stenches, dust, and noise pollutions from the heavy machinery present in these locations. Pyrolysis Pyrolisis as form of waste management is the use of chemical under intense heat to decompose organic substances without allowing any oxygen penetration. The focus of the process is charring, which is simply burning. Remarkably, Pyrolisis and incineration are two different concepts with similar traits. In essence, the former ensures that the burning process produces a by-product while the latter ensures that the product is not useful in any way. In this regard, the process helps in the attainment of less complex products from an original product. This as form of waste management can also be a useful in that it may apply in baking and roasting as long as oxygen is in limited supply. Pyrolisis applies in the production of charcoal as the wood Pyrolisis through the carbonization to leave the insoluble ash and a carbon form. In addition, this form of hazardous waste management is effective in the disposal of inorganic wastes that may take years to decompose. It can also be applicable in the disposal and burning of pesticide wastes that may be harmful to the atmosphere when exposed. Ideally, many homesteads especially in the remote regions tend to burn these wastes as a cheaper alternative to waste management. However, the facts that many do not know is that some of these waste are highly explosive hence subjecting themselves to health risks. In this regard, it is highly recommended that experts handle incineration or Pyrolysis as forms of waste management. Summary Hazardous waste disposal poses a risk to public health if not properly managed. Ideally, hazardous waste is a headache to almost every economy, but the various technological advancements have made it a reliable aspect of the economy. The combustion of these wastes to produce electricity and other energy forms makes this a diverse way of sustaining the dwindling and over relied energy forms. Essentially the sanctions and regulations imposed by the various governments over the disposal of wastes within their countries has been substantial in that they marked strides in the realization of a healthy and satisfying environment. Incidentally, unmanning of industrial wastes leads to unhealthy environments, as their primary interest is accruing profits. Seemingly, the economic barriers existing between developed and industrializing nations are not hindrances in the attainment of better environments. In essence, both of these classes of economies have put in almost similar measures in the curbing of illegal solid waste disposal in their countries. Therefore, the stringent measures imposed on waste management has been fruitful although full implemented is a work in progress. However, emphasis should be on the waste management avenues that have minimized use of land as avenues for waste disposal. This is to mean discouraging of land filling and isolation of refuse as ways of solid waste is important. This is because they tend to minimize the availability of land usable for other important purposes. In addition, the future of solid waste management has shaped up over the years since nations have seen the need to preserve the environment for the generations of the future. This means that pollution of the environment creates habitats that may not sustain future generations. Therefore, the building of a healthy future environment starts by paying attention to the underlying now factors in order to capitalize on the future. Ideally, the future starts now and that if not minded now then the society would face vital environmental problems in the future that may be hard to solve at that particular time. Works cited Hosetti, Bradley B., Prospects and Perspective of Solid Waste Management. New Delhi: New Age International, 2006. Print. Letcher, Trevor M, and Daniel A. Vallero. Waste: A Handbook for Management. Burlington, MA: Academic Press, 2011. Internet resource. Sasikumar and Sanoop G. Krishna. Solid Waste Management. New Delhi: PHI Learning, 2009. Print. Read More