Developments in waste management
A technological approach to solid-waste management began
to develop in the latter part of the 19th century. Watertight garbage cans were
first introduced in the United States, and sturdier vehicles were used to
collect and transport wastes. A significant development in solid-waste
treatment and disposal practices was marked by the construction of the first
refuse incinerator
in England in
1874. By the beginning of the 20th century, 15 percent of major American cities
were incinerating solid waste. Even then, however, most of the largest cities
were still using primitive disposal methods such as open dumping on land or in
water.
Technological
advances continued during the first half of the 20th century, including the
development of garbage grinders, compaction trucks, and pneumatic collection
systems. By mid-century, however, it had become evident that open dumping and
improper incineration of solid waste were causing problems of pollution and
jeopardizing public health. As a
result, sanitary landfills were developed to replace the practice of
open dumping and to reduce the reliance on waste incineration.
In many countries waste was divided into two
categories, hazardous and nonhazardous, and separate regulations were developed
for their disposal.
Landfills were designed and operated in a
manner that minimized risks to public health and the environment.
New refuse incinerators were designed to
recover heat energy from the waste and were provided with extensive air pollution control
devices to satisfy stringent standards of air quality.
Modern solid-waste management plants in most
developed countries now emphasize the practice of recycling and waste reduction at the
source rather than incineration and land disposal.
