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Traveling by Car, Bicycle, or Bus Figure 3.58 The Input-Output Framework of a Waste Management System
Independent Inputs (mostly given or not controlled): • Geographic constraints • Demographic and economic conditions • Climatic and atmospheric conditions • Social norms and historical practices
Dependent Inputs (controlled to some degree): 1. Policy, legislation, and regulations 2. Institutions 3. Physical systems, technology, and spatial planning 4. Stakeholders 5. Economic and financial aspects
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Waste Management Interventions:
A. Product demand management
B. Infrastructure and services
C. Vehicle fleet and fuel supply
Desired Outputs
(objectives to be maximized): • Public health • Material and energy resource use efficiency • Ecological protection
Undesired Outputs (to be minimized): • Higher than necessary consumption of materials and energy in waste that is not recycled or otherwise productively used • Air emissions from uncontrolled burning, poor incineration practices, and the uncontrolled discharge of landfill gases • Land and water pollution from insufficient collection or poor disposal practices • Impact on land, water, and energy consumption
Figure 3.58 The Input-Output Framework of a Waste Management System
Source: Author compilation (Charles Peterson).
• Aesthetics: Eff ective systems protect the visual and sensory appeal of cities by ensuring that waste is eff ectively managed and that practices do not unduly aff ect residents and visitors.
What does solid waste comprise?
Most people rightly attribute signifi cant portions of municipal solid waste to residents and commercial operations. However, municipal solid waste includes other sources, some of which require special waste management approaches:
• Medical facilities: Hospitals and clinics generate solid waste. Medical facilities also generate infectious waste and, occasionally, radioactive waste. In general, infectious and radioactive waste material must be managed separately from other medical waste, although infectious waste that has been rendered noninfectious through incineration and autoclave or microwave treatment may be discarded in municipal landfi lls.
• Industry: Municipal landfi lls may receive industrial waste, but hazardous waste must be managed separately.
• Construction and demolition debris: This waste comprises discards from new building construction and the renovation of older facilities and residue from structures that have been torn down. Much of this debris may be recovered for recycling, which could minimally include clean fi ll if problem materials such as wood mixed with lead paint or asbestos are extracted.
• Slaughterhouses: These facilities produce animal waste and various excreta that must be properly managed.
