WHAT IS WASTE?

WHAT IS WASTE:

A true, yet very simple definition of waste is something we don’t want and throw away.

Waste is an inevitable by-product of our use of natural resources.

Waste is split into three categories of household (12%), industrial (78%) and commercial (10%) collectively referred to as “Controlled Waste”.

Certain wastes are classified as “Hazardous Waste” a very broad term for a wide range of substances that present different levels of risk. Some present a serious and immediate threat to the population and the environment, for example those which are toxic, could cause cancer or infectious disease.

About three quarters of the UK’s municipal solid waste is disposed of directly to landfill.

Reuse and recycling (including composting) account for a further 13% of municipal solid waste.

The remainder is pre-treated, mostly by incineration (approximately 9% of municipal solid waste).

The remaining 1% is pre-treated using a variety of new or specialist methods which include gasification/pyrolysis; mechanical biological treatment (MBT); and anaerobic digestion.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION:

Waste management is a very large scale activity which inevitably has consequences for Human Health and the Environment. Waste should be managed in ways that protect human health and the environment and

in particular:

• Without risk to water, air, soil and plants and animals;

• Without causing a nuisance through noise or odours;

• Without adversely affecting the countryside or places of special interest;

• Disposing of waste at the nearest appropriate installation, by means of the most

appropriate methods and technologies.

HEALTH FEARS

• Landfill sites have been investigated as the possible cause of birth defects, cancers and respiratory illnesses including asthma;

• Incinerators have been investigated as to possible increases in cancer, birth defects and respiratory illnesses including asthma. Other studies have particularly concentrated on emissions of dioxins;

• Composting and Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs) have been investigated for possible exposures to micro-organisms and odours, and lung diseases like ...

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• Without adversely affecting the countryside or places of special interest;

• Disposing of waste at the nearest appropriate installation, by means of the most

appropriate methods and technologies.

HEALTH FEARS

• Landfill sites have been investigated as the possible cause of birth defects, cancers and respiratory illnesses including asthma;

• Composting and Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs) have been investigated for possible exposures to micro-organisms and odours, and lung diseases like bronchitis.

The possible Health Effects of waste management operations have been investigated two

main ways:

• Epidemiological studies – these are studies of the distribution (or pattern) and determinants (or causes) of disease in human populations.

• Emissions based studies – which measure emissions being released into the environment from one or more sources. Based on this, human exposures to emitted substances can be estimated, and the risks to human health can be assessed.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

There is also concern about the environmental effects of facilities which deal with municipal solid

waste.

For example, emissions from municipal solid waste processes might affect acid rain or global warming.

Plant life near landfill sites might be affected by landfill gas or water contaminated by waste, if these are allowed to escape from a site.

Odours or noise from municipal solid waste facilities are occasionally a problem.

The possible Environmental Effects of waste management operations have been investigated in several ways:

• Monitoring levels of pollutants emitted from landfill sites in communities located near to

landfill sites, where this is not already carried out as part of regulatory monitoring;

• Studying how much particulate matter, micro-organisms, organic chemicals and methane is

released from composting of municipal solid waste;

• Measuring emissions of micro-organisms and fungal spores from all forms of municipal solid

waste management;

• Looking at what and how much is emitted to air, to sewer and in solid residues from processes

which are not yet widely applied to municipal solid waste in this country – mechanical biological treatment, and anaerobic digestion.

The available research includes reports from theEnvironment Agency, the UK Government, a recent study by the Irish Government, and work by the American Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Greenpeace, and other organisations. These reviews discuss and draw together the conclusions of other studies but don’t usually put numbers on possible health effects or put the conclusions into context

Substances Of Concern

Carbon Dioxide

Dioxins and Furans

Hydrogen Chloride

Hydrogen Fluoride

Individual volatile organic compounds: benzene, chlorobenzene,

chloroethane, chloroethene, 1,1-dichloroethane tetrachloroethene

Metals: arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel

Methane

Nitrogen Oxides

Particulate Matter

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Sulphur Dioxide

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Waste management is often very simple, and usually brings financial savings and reduced environmental damage.

Waste management is usually considered in a hierarchy of different options:

- this is the best and most cost effective solutions

including and - where minimisation isn't possible.

- the last resort and most costly option.

Waste decision-making should be based on the following principles

• Individuals, communities and organisations should take responsibility for their waste;

• In taking decisions there should be consideration of alternative options in a systematic

way;

• Engagement with the local community and key stakeholders should be an important

and integral part of the decision making process;

• The environmental impacts of possible options should be assessed looking at both the

long and short term;

STRUCTURE

Action and Delivery:

Data Collection and Analysis:

Evaluation of Options:

Timescales:

Integration with Other Plans:

Strategy Scope:

Partnership Working:

Communication and Consultation:

Risk Management:

Monitoring and Evaluation:

CHECKLIST FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

All those who produce or handle wastes from demolition, earthworks and construction activities have legal responsibilities – Duty of Care – (Duty of Care is a legal requirement under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.)

for its safe keeping, transport and subsequent recovery or disposal. Failure to comply can result in an unlimited fine.

It is recommended to set up a task force with clear responsibilities for the work to

be carried out.

1. Are political understanding and support for the waste management planning process present?

2. Have sufficient resources been allocated to the process?

3. Scope of the waste management plan:

_ What is the geographical coverage of plan? National, regional or local?

_ Which waste streams will be included in the plan? Total waste, municipal waste, hazardous waste, packaging waste, other?

_ Which sectors will be included in the plan?

_ What is the time horizon of the plan? e.g. 3, 5 or 10 years?

4. Have the participants in the planning process been identified? Do they include government departments, local authorities, waste experts, representatives from the waste management sector and the waste generating industry, and NGOs?

5. Has the time schedule for preparation of the waste management plan been set? Time estimates for the work should be realistic.

6. Have any relationships between the waste management plan and other plans (e.g. spatial planning, energy planning, etc.) been identified? Do they influence elements in the waste management plan?

CONCLUSION

“The ideal is to produce no waste at all!

But every one of us can reduce the amount we produce and re-use as much as

possible of what’s left

What we can’t re-use, we must try to recover by recycling or composting.

When recycling or composting proves impossible, we should consider burning the waste to produce energy.

Only as a last resort should we ever think of burying it.”