Waste Disposal

Term Paper # 99910

Environmental Studies > Economics and Policy
Environmental Studies > Management
Environmental Studies > Recycling

Waste Disposal

This paper explores the three methods of waste disposal: landfill, incineration and the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle).

1,416 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the accumulation of waste is an inevitable problem of highly industrialized, consumerist and rich nations, whose economies thrive on producing and creating demand for more products. The paper discusses three methods that are used to deal with waste: landfill, incineration and the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. The paper explains how all three methods are associated with various environmental and economic costs. The paper points out, however, that the 3Rs method of waste management has the greatest potential for growth and improvement.

From the Paper:

"Waste is a non-avoidable result of high-technology industrialized economies. We live in a consumerist society that encourages us to shop and acquire more things. Hence more things are produced and more waste is generated. In 2000, Canadians generated 1021 kg of non-hazardous waste per capita (Statistics Canada, 2002). 747kg of this waste were disposed of per capita (Statistics Canada, 2002), while the rest was recycled. "Current waste management practices in Canada emphasize techniques and approaches that avoid or minimize the need for waste disposal" (MacLaren, 371). There are three methods used to deal with waste: landfill, incineration and the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle."

Sample of Sources Used:

Raven, P.H., Berg, L.R., Johnson, G.B. Environment. New York: Saunders College Publishing, 1998
Miller, G.T., Jr. (2004) Living in the Environment, 13th edition. Toronto: Thomson Brookes/Cole
Maclaren, V.W. "Waste Management: Integrated Approaches". Resource and Environmental management in Canada: Addressing Conflict and Uncertainty. Ed. B. Mitchell. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2004, 371-397
Statistics Canada, Waste management Industry Survey: Business and Government Sectors, 2000. Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2002
Harper, C.L. Environment and Society: Human perspectives on Environmental Issues.2nd edition. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001