Chapter 1 - Solid waste and wastewater management: A social and global perspective

Abstract

Over the past decade, the sustainability of waste management has been debated. Sustainability is not the same from one nation to another. There are several drivers influencing sustainability and, depending on political, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, the effect varies from one country to another. The impact of waste management, as can be seen by climate change and environmental degradation, may be local, regional, or global. Waste governance is being regionalized and formalized worldwide. Waste appears to be handled officially on municipal and regional levels in developed countries where people generate much more waste than other countries. A variety of environmental benefits, including climate change mitigation, are offered by many waste management practices, technologies, and behaviors. Key challenges in waste management include the integration of the informal sector, decreasing consumption in developed countries, optimizing waste data collection and managing the waste efficiently while protecting people and the environment. The chapter explores how it can contribute to changes in solid waste and wastewater management practices by applying a systemic approach that considers sociological variables comprised of community engagement, public participation, social understanding, attitudes, gender roles, and public acceptance.