2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination              2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination 
        Waste is an Environmental Problem…
                                                         Limits to Waste Absorption
                                                     Waste and the environment:
                                    Environment:     1. Waste contains hazardous 
                                   resource base        materials that affect the 
                                   Environment          environment
                                   as waste sink
                          Waste                      2. Natural environment has a 
                        Residuals                       certain assimilative 
                        (Pollution)                     capacity; pollution = 
                                                        residual flow > assimilative 
                                                        capacity 
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                                                     2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination              2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination 
        Waste is an Economic Problem…
            Waste is a flow or a stock of materials with a negative economic 
            value, which implies it is cheaper to discard these materials than to 
            use (Pichtel 2005)
 Materials economic value curve
 Materials economic value curve
                                                     Waste and the economy:
                                                     1. Waste is lost economic 
  Economic 
  Economic                                              value
   capital
   capital
                                                     2. Waste causes nuisance, 
                                                        odour and is a threat to 
                                                        aesthetics
                                                     3. Waste disposal entails 
                                                        considerable costs
                                       Time
                                       Time
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                                                                 2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination                          2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
  2 – Waste, its origin, its destination 
          Waste of Today Causes a Future Problem…
               Waste residuals of today are the problems of tomorrow,…next 
               year,…next century…
      Review (1.5)…                                          Waste and the future:
      Review (1.5)…
      Pollution problems depend on:
      Pollution problems depend on:                          1. Waste has potential long-term 
           •                                                     impacts 
           Environmental impact potential of materials 
           •
            Environmental impact potential of materials 
           •
           Spatial scale of impact                               Typical example: nuclear waste
           •
            Spatial scale of impact 
           •
           Damage potential (severity of hazards) 
           •
            Damage potential (severity of hazards)           2. Future generations bear the 
           •                                                     consequences of today’s waste 
           Degree of exposure 
           •
            Degree of exposure 
           •                                                     discharge 
           Remediation and reversibility time
           •
            Remediation and reversibility time
           •                                                     Typical examples: global GHG 
           Quantity of materials used (throughput)
           •
            Quantity of materials used (throughput)              emissions and climate change, 
                                                                 leachate from landfills
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                                                     2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination              2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination 
   …therefore, Waste Imposes a Threat to Sustainability
                            Review (1.5):
                             Review (1.5):
                                               …Sustainable 
                       People                  development is 
        Waste                                  development that meets 
               e                               the needs of the present 
               c                   i
              n                    n
              e                     te         without compromising 
             d                       rd
             n                       e
            e                         p
           ep                         e        the ability of future 
           d                           n
          ter                          de      generations to meet 
         n                              n
         i                               ce    their own needs …
                       Decisions
                                               WCED Our Common Future
  Planet                                    Profit
                    interdependence
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                                                     2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination              2.1 – Characterization of Waste 
 2 – Waste, its origin, its destination 
        We Need Effective Waste Management
         •  To protect the environment
         •  To ensure economic development
         •  To reduce potential impacts on future generations
        Effective waste management involves understanding of the 
        waste problem and thus a clear characterization and 
        classification of waste types
         •  To assign its impacts (environmental, economic and societal)
         •  To improve stakeholder involvement (we all produce waste)
         •  To guide adequate management (technologies and strategies)
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