Management of Industrial Waste

Introduction

Al kind of substances left directly or indirectly into the environment which may cause harm to human health and the environment, are regarded waste. Waste generation happens because of daily activities during production of goods and after their use by consumers. A proper waste management is crucial for the societies due to decrease or eliminate its bad effects onto the environment. In this chapter, waste and waste management concepts are explained focusing to solid waste management and recycling and various examples are given in five sub chapters.

In the first sub chapter historical aspect of waste and waste management is explained starting with antiquity and coming to nowadays, and some landfill disasters are mentioned. Second sub chapter contains explanations of basic concepts and components and change of waste management approaches in context with “change” models and the “cultural” connections.

In the third sub chapter solid wastes are explained as the major concern of the chapter in two main sections. Fourth sub chapter deals with industrial waste management connected with life cycle of industrial goods or “artifacts” and relationships between life cycle and waste generations and its management.

Fifth and last sub chapter is left to the “recycling” concept and, “recycling of plastics” is chosen due to its great importance on the everyday life and on the environment related with small and medium size entrepreneurs in plastic recycling area.