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Integrated waste management
Book chapter

Integrated waste management

R. Hughes, M. Anda, G. Ho and K. Mathew
The International Handbook on Environmental Technology Management, pp.405-421
Edward Edgar
2006
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Abstract

The concept of integrated waste management (IWM) has been developed to provide a means towards sustainability. Population growth coupled with increasing consumption have increased the amount of waste generated across the world while also facilitating the use of IWM to divert waste from landfill toward more long-term sustainable options such as reuse and recycling programmes — programmes that also maintain the longevity of a products life and reduce pressure on natural resources (Figure 26.1) (Ami et al., 2002). The other major factor influencing the formation of IWM strategies is social pressure Huang et al., 2001), Social pressure has been found to cause authorities to implement IWM strategies even where landfill space is available Barth. 2000) and has originated with increased education levels among consumers about current unsustainable and sustainable waste practices (Clarke et al., l99; Huang et al., 2001). The success of IWM strategies is largely attributed to the degree of social acceptance, such that the landfill problem associated with high population density areas has been found to stem from a low social acceptance of reuse and recycling programmes, rather than their absence (Ami et al.. 2002; Bradshaw and Ozores-Hampton, 2002: Mohee, 2002: Poon et al., 2001). An assessment of the social acceptance of IWM strategies is now a precursor for most new programmes and the technologies chosen for 1W M may he dependent on social factors (Kwawe, 2002).

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