Waste Generation from Natural Resource Use
The use of natural resources in domestic, industrial, and agricultural activities generates large amounts of waste, which can be classified based on source (where it comes from) and type (its characteristics).
Waste management is crucial for reducing pollution, conserving resources, and protecting human health and ecosystems.
Sources of Waste
Domestic Waste (Household Waste)
- Generated from homes and communities.
- Includes food waste, packaging, plastics, textiles, and e-waste.
- Can be biodegradable (food, paper) or non-biodegradable (plastics, metals).
The U.S. generates ~292 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, with food waste being the largest component.
Industrial Waste
- Comes from factories, construction, and manufacturing processes.
- Can include chemical waste, heavy metals, plastics, and e-waste.
- Often hazardous and difficult to dispose of safely.
- Textile industry produces toxic dyes and wastewater, polluting rivers.
- Electronics manufacturing generates e-waste containing lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Agricultural Waste
- Produced from farming, livestock, and forestry.
- Includes crop residues, pesticides, animal manure, and food waste.
- Can lead to soil and water pollution if not managed properly.
Excess fertilizer use in farming causes nutrient runoff, leading to dead zones in water bodies (e.g., Gulf of Mexico).
Types of Waste
E-Waste (Electronic Waste)
- Includes discarded phones, laptops, batteries, and appliances.
- Contains hazardous metals (lead, mercury, cadmium) and precious metals (gold, silver, palladium).
- Poor disposal leads to toxic pollution and health risks.
China and Ghana are major e-waste dumping sites, where informal recycling exposes workers to toxic chemicals.
Food Waste
- Includes uneaten food from households, restaurants, and supermarkets.
- Contributes to methane emissions when dumped in landfills.
- A major problem in both developed (overconsumption) and developing (poor storage) countries.
One-third of all food produced globally (~1.3 billion tons per year) is wasted, while millions face food insecurity.
Biohazardous Waste
- Medical and biological waste from hospitals, labs, and research centers.
- Includes infectious materials, used syringes, and contaminated PPE.
- Improper disposal can spread diseases and harm wildlife.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in medical waste, with discarded masks and gloves polluting oceans.
Solid Domestic Waste (SDW)
Solid domestic waste
Solid Domestic Waste (SDW) refers to non-liquid waste generated from households and residential areas.
It includes a variety of materials such as paper, plastics, organic waste, and metals, and is commonly known as municipal solid waste (MSW).
Types of Solid Domestic Waste
Paper and Cardboard
- Includes newspapers, magazines, office paper, and packaging materials.
- Easily recyclable but contributes significantly to waste volume.
- Issue: If mixed with food waste, it becomes non-recyclable.
The U.S. generates ~67 million tons of paper waste annually, but only ~66% is recycled.
Glass
- Includes bottles, jars, and windows.
- 100% recyclable without quality loss.
- Issue: If broken, it can be dangerous and hard to separate.
Sweden recycles ~94% of its glass waste, reducing landfill use.
Metal
- Includes aluminum cans, tin cans, and scrap metal.
- Highly recyclable and energy-intensive to produce.
- Issue: Some metals (e.g., coated cans) are difficult to recycle.
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours.
Plastics
- Includes bottles, packaging, bags, and containers.
- Difficult to degrade, contributing to ocean and land pollution.
- Issue: Many plastics are non-recyclable due to contamination or mixed materials.
Only ~9% of global plastic waste has been recycled. The rest is in landfills or the ocean.
Organic Waste (Kitchen & Garden Waste)
- Includes food scraps, fruit peels, and garden trimmings.
- Biodegradable and can be used for composting.
- Issue: In landfills, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Composting organic waste can reduce methane emissions by up to 50%.
Packaging Waste
- Includes wrappers, styrofoam, plastic films, and paper packaging.
- Often single-use and hard to recycle due to mixed materials.
- Issue: Contributes significantly to landfill waste and ocean pollution.
Amazon generated 321 million kg of plastic packaging waste in 2021.
Construction Debris
- Includes bricks, cement, wood, and tiles from renovation and demolition.
- Recyclable, but often ends up in landfills due to poor sorting.
- Issue: Contains hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos, lead paint).
China generates 1.5–2 billion tons of construction waste annually, with low recycling rates.
Clothing & Textiles
- Includes old clothes, shoes, and fabric waste.
- Fast fashion has increased textile waste dramatically.
- Issue: Many clothes are made of synthetic fibers, which are non-biodegradable.
The fashion industry generates ~92 million tons of textile waste annually.
Factors Affecting the Volume and Composition of Waste
- The volume and composition of waste vary across time, locations, and societies due to multiple factors.
- These include socio-economic, political, environmental, and technological influences.
Socio-Economic Factors
Economic development, income levels, and lifestyle choices play a crucial role in waste generation.
Higher-income countries:
- Generate more packaging waste, electronics, and food waste due to consumerism.
The United States produces 2 kg of waste per person daily, with high levels of plastic and e-waste.
Lower-income countries:
- Generate less waste, but waste management infrastructure is weaker.
- More organic waste due to reliance on fresh, unpackaged food.
Rural India produces more biodegradable waste but lacks proper disposal methods.
