"To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified."1 - Theodore Roosevelt 26th President of the United States of America. Almost 100 years ago Theodore Roosevelt was already able to foresee and to judge, what the world might be face in the future. After a long period of time, now we are reaching the stage, where we want ´change` and a buildup strategies for a sustainable future.
The past 20 years have seen a growing realization that the current model of development is unsustainable. In other words, we are living beyond our means. The planet is already suffering from our way of life. At the same time world`s population is increasing and over a billion people are living in poverty, on less than a dollar a day. Sustainable development has become essential for humanity, where all people around the world can satisfy their basic needs and a better quality of life. The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations. Generally, sustainable development is interpreted according to the World Commission on Environment and Development as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.
Our project will focus on waste management, which has become a global problem and is still increasing but also has become a phenomenon as a big business opportunity, opportunities in supply chain, beginning with product design and manufacturing, recovery, re-use of materials and many other chances are delivered to all kind of industries. According to United Nations Statistics Division wastes are defined as "materials that are not prime products (that is products produced for the market) for which the generator has no further use in terms of his/her own purposes of production, transformation or consumption, and of which he/she wants to dispose. Wastes may be generated during the extraction of raw materials, the processing of raw materials into intermediate and final products, the consumption of final products, and other human activities. Residuals recycled or reused at the place of generation are excluded."2.
Still, it is an accepted truth among all people around the world, facing these problems locally, that waste is one of the major threats for the environment and fundamentally it should be regarded as a priority. We will try to discuss this global issue and try to give an overview. Waste management is nothing else than the collection, processing, recycling, transport, and monitoring of waste products. What are the current problems: In Europe e-waste is increasing by 3-5 per cent per year. Inefficient waste management results in greenhouse gas and toxic emissions. Is waste-to-energy the future?
The potential impacts on the environment caused by the waste we generate, is tremendously high. It is a well-known fact is that waste, any product or substance with no further use or value for companies, persons and organizations that owns it, can affect badly human health and the environment. Waste management policy should primarily be focused on reducing social and environmental risks. This report will highlight problems, policies and key trends with respect to the sustainable management of waste management.
Different policies are trying to increase the efficiency of waste management. Exemplary, Life Cycle Thinking has become an essential trend in waste management, fundamental aims of this concepts are to reduce the impact on the environment. Over their life-time, products can affect the environment. Life Cycle Thinking can help to provide a solution3. Many other policies will be discussed and the comparison between developed and developing countries will be introduced.
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