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Waste: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Waste
The 1st of January 1989 marked a turning point in how humanity viewed its own refuse, when the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal redefined waste not as a static object, but as a substance intended for disposal. Before this international agreement, waste was simply trash, a byproduct of existence that needed to be hidden away. The convention established that waste is any substance or object which is disposed of, intended to be disposed of, or required to be disposed of by national law. This legal shift transformed waste from a passive nuisance into an active legal category with global implications. The definition was not merely semantic; it created a framework for controlling the movement of hazardous materials across borders, recognizing that what one nation discards could become another nation's poison. The United Nations Environment Program adopted this definition to standardize how countries tracked the flow of dangerous materials, ensuring that the concept of waste was no longer just about what was thrown away, but about the intent and legal obligation to get rid of it. This redefinition laid the groundwork for the complex global trade in waste that would follow, where the line between a resource and a liability became increasingly blurred.
The Hidden Cost of Convenience
In 2018, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that 292.4 tons of municipal solid waste were generated, equating to approximately 4.9 pounds per person per day, yet only 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million tons were composted. This massive volume of discarded material hides a staggering economic and environmental reality. The average American throws away 81.5 pounds of clothes each year, contributing to the 11.3 million tons of textile waste generated annually. As online shopping became more prevalent, the waste stream shifted, with cardboard, bubble wrap, and shipping envelopes clogging landfills. The EPA estimated that 10.1 million tons of plastic containers and packaging ended up in landfills in 2018, with only 30.5 percent recycled or combusted as an energy source. The sheer scale of this consumption creates a cycle where the value of the discarded item is lost, and the cost of managing it is borne by the community. The construction and demolition sector added another layer to this crisis, generating approximately 600 million tons of debris in 2018 alone. This waste, consisting of steel, wood, drywall, and concrete, is often intended for reuse, yet much of it ends up buried. The economic cost of managing this waste is high, often paid for by municipal governments, and the environmental cost is even higher, as the burning of waste creates toxic gases and greenhouse emissions. The problem is not just the volume, but the value system that treats these materials as disposable rather than as resources to be managed.
Common questions
When did the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal redefine waste?
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal redefined waste on the 1st of January 1989. This international agreement established that waste is any substance or object which is disposed of, intended to be disposed of, or required to be disposed of by national law. The United Nations Environment Program adopted this definition to standardize how countries tracked the flow of dangerous materials.
How much municipal solid waste did the United States Environmental Protection Agency report in 2018?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that 292.4 tons of municipal solid waste were generated in 2018. This volume equated to approximately 4.9 pounds per person per day, yet only 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million tons were composted. The EPA estimated that 10.1 million tons of plastic containers and packaging ended up in landfills that year.
Where is the Onkalo deep geological repository located and what is its purpose?
The Onkalo deep geological repository is located near the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant in Eurajoki, Finland. It is designed for the final disposal of radioactive waste to ensure that it remains isolated from the biosphere for thousands of years. This facility stands as a testament to the difficulty of storing nuclear waste produced by various industries.
What health consequences do workers face at the Agbogbloshie e-waste dump in Ghana?
Workers at the Agbogbloshie e-waste dump in Accra, Ghana face burns, eye damage, lung and back problems, chronic nausea, debilitating headaches, and respiratory problems. Most workers die from cancer in their 20s due to the hazardous conditions of smashing devices to get to the metals. This situation represents a form of environmental injustice where the costs of disposal are borne by the poor.
What temperature range does plasma arc heating reach when processing municipal solid waste?
Plasma arc heating reaches temperatures ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 degrees Celsius when processing municipal solid waste. This process releases energy by an electrical discharge in an inert atmosphere to transform waste into fuel. The technology offers environmental benefits by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and methane generated in landfills.
How many people die each year in developing countries due to diseases caused by mismanaged waste?
Between 400,000 and 1 million people die each year in developing countries because of diseases caused by mismanaged waste. Estimates from poverty charity Tearfund attribute these deaths to gastrointestinal parasites, yellow fever, worms, and various other conditions. The lack of wastewater treatment facilities means people often have no choice but to clean with, cook with, or drink contaminated water.
Radioactive waste, often referred to as nuclear waste, is produced by various industries such as nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, hospitals, research centers, and mining facilities, creating a legacy that lasts for millennia. Any activity that involves radioactive material can generate waste that emits particles capable of damaging ecosystems and human health for years to come. The United States currently defines five types of radioactive waste, including high-level waste generated from nuclear reactors and transuranic waste, which is man-made and has an atomic number of 92 or higher. The management of this waste is monitored and regulated by multiple governmental agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Each agency plays a critical role in creating, handling, and properly disposing of these materials, yet the challenge remains immense. The Onkalo deep geological repository, located near the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant in Eurajoki, Finland, stands as a testament to the difficulty of storing this waste. It is designed for the final disposal of radioactive waste, ensuring that it remains isolated from the biosphere for thousands of years. The failure to handle and recycle these materials can have catastrophic consequences, potentially damaging the site's ecosystems for years to come. The life cycle of hazardous waste includes generation, transportation, treatment, and storage and disposal, all of which are included under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The stakes are incredibly high, as the consequences of improper handling can lead to long-term environmental damage and human health crises.
The Global Trade of Discarded Dreams
The global trade in waste has created a complex web of economic and environmental relationships, where developed nations export their refuse to developing countries, often with devastating consequences. In 2001, the Basel Convention estimated 338 million tonnes of waste was generated, while the OECD estimated 4 billion tonnes from its member countries, highlighting the stark difference in reporting and the scale of the issue. The waste trade is not just about moving trash; it is about moving the burden of environmental degradation from the wealthy to the poor. Photographer Kevin McElvaney documented the world's biggest e-waste dump called Agbogbloshie in Accra, Ghana, which used to be a wetland. The young men and children that work in Agbogbloshie smash devices to get to the metals, obtaining burns, eye damage, lung and back problems, chronic nausea, debilitating headaches, and respiratory problems, with most workers dying from cancer in their 20s. The same unfortunate situation and dumps/landfills can be seen in similar countries that are considered the third world, such as other West African countries and China. Many are advocating for waste management, a stop to the waste trade, the creation of wastewater treatment facilities, and providing a clean and accessible water source. The health of all these people in landfills and water are human necessities and rights that are being taken away. The waste trade is a form of environmental injustice, where the benefits of consumption are enjoyed by the wealthy, while the costs of disposal are borne by the poor.
The Science of Turning Trash to Power
Energy recovery from waste is using non-recyclable waste materials and extracting from it heat, electricity, or energy through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolyzation, and anaerobic digestion. This process is referred to as waste-to-energy, and it offers a safe and cost-effective option for wastes that would normally have to be dealt with through disposal. Plasma arc heating is the very high heating of municipal solid waste to temperatures ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 degrees Celsius, where energy is released by an electrical discharge in an inert atmosphere. Using waste as fuel can offer important environmental benefits, as it can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by diverting energy use from fossil fuels, while also generating energy and using waste as fuel can reduce the methane emissions generated in landfills by averting waste from landfills. There is some debate in the classification of certain biomass feedstock as wastes, such as Crude Tall Oil, a co-product of the pulp and papermaking process, which is defined as a waste or residue in some European countries when in fact it is produced on purpose and has significant value add potential in industrial applications. The process of waste-to-energy is not just about burning trash; it is about transforming the waste stream into a resource that can power communities and reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal. The technology is evolving, with new methods like gasification and pyrolysis offering more efficient ways to extract energy from waste, while also reducing the environmental impact of the process.
The Invisible War Against Disease
Inappropriately managed waste can attract rodents and insects, which can harbor gastrointestinal parasites, yellow fever, worms, various diseases, and other conditions for humans, and exposure to hazardous wastes, particularly when they are burned, can cause various other diseases including cancers. Between 400,000 and 1 million people die each year in developing countries because of diseases caused by mismanaged waste, estimates poverty charity Tearfund. The problem is not just the volume of waste, but the lack of infrastructure to manage it. Wastewater treatment facilities remove pollutants and contaminants physically and chemically to clean water to be returned to society, yet the cost of such facilities is high, with a 150,000 GPD capacity WWTS estimated to cost between $500,000 and $1.5 million inclusive of all necessary design, engineering, equipment, installation, and startup. The lack of wastewater treatment facilities in developing countries means that people have no choice but to clean with, cook with, or drink the contaminated water which has caused millions of cases of disease and deaths. The need to preserve every resource, every finite water source that we do have left to maintain our lives and lifestyles is critical, as the water table is dropping all over the world. The solution is not just in technology, but in the political will to invest in the infrastructure needed to protect public health and the environment. The battle against disease is a battle against waste, and the victory requires a global commitment to managing waste responsibly.