Solid Waste Management: Scenarios and Emerging Technologies

Cities are fertile ground for science and technological innovation, economic growth, acculturation, and overall individual creativity. However, cities are also places where a myriad of problems, ranging from pollution, environmental degradation, indiscriminate dumping of waste, crime, and unemployment, just to mention a few, are concentrated. Environmental conservation anywhere is incomplete if it lacks efficient solid waste management. The more industrialised and commercialised a city is, the greater the solid waste challenges, as industries and other commercial activities produce a lot of waste. This book is designed to help students, planners, waste management companies, staff of local governments, and other relevant stakeholders in solid waste management (SWM) understand some of the basic concepts in municipal solid waste (MSW) management. It highlights solid waste management scenarios in developing nations (Malaysia and Thailand) and developed nations (the United States of America). Also, how emerging technologies (smart waste technologies) have been deployed in solid waste management to address some of the challenges faced by the traditional method of waste management is examined. By the time the reader is through with the book, it is expected that his/her knowledge on the best practices in solid waste management would be enhanced.