1. Introduction to Waste Management
Definition: The disposal, processing, controlling, recycling and reusing of waste to maintain a habitable environment

2. Two main paths for managing waste
Waste diversion
Waste disposal

3. Waste Diversion
Managing solid waste in a way that reduces the amount of waste that needs to be stored or incinerated (burned)
Includes 3 R’s (reducing, re-using, re-cycling, composting/biodegradation)

4. Waste Disposal Two main options:
Burning (incineration and advanced thermal treatment ATT)
Burying (underground in a landfill)
Issues: environmental drawbacks, expensive (in Canada in 2000, 11 million tonnes disposed at a cost of 6 billion $!!)

5. Basic types of waste
Solid waste (garbage, compost, recyclables etc…)
Liquid waste water (sewage, sludge, biosolids)
Nuclear waste (from uranium)
Gaseous waste (carbon dioxide)

6. Types of solid waste
Can be defined as materials that are unwanted by the producer, by-products from production or a product that is consumed (like a magazine or the packaging from a product like a cereal box)

7. Types of solid waste:
Biodegradable (organic): matter from fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, grains, fats, paper, hair etc…
Recyclable: glass, plastic, paper, some metals etc…
toxic (hazardous): E-waste (computers, cell phones), paint, batteries etc…
Medical waste: needles
Inorganic non-recyclable, non-toxic: plastic wrapping, granola bar wrappers etc… (aka regular garbage)