As the world hurtles toward its urban future, the amount of
municipal solid waste (MSW), one of the most important by-products of an urban
lifestyle, is growing even faster than the rate of urbanization. Ten years ago
there were 2.9 billion urban residents who generated about 0.64 kg of MSW per
person per day (0.68 billion tonnes per year).
This report estimates that today these amounts have
increased to about 3 billion urban residents generating 1.2 kg solid waste per person per day
(1.3 billion tonnes per year). By 2025 this will likely increase to 4.3 billion
urban residents generating about 1.42 kg/capita/day of municipal solid waste
(2.2 billion tonnes per year).
Via www.web.worldbank.org
The amount of municipal waste generated in a country is
related to the rate of urbanisation, the types and patterns of consumption,
household revenue and lifestyles. While municipal waste is only one part of
total waste generated in each country, its management and treatment often
absorbs more than one third of the public sector's financial efforts to abate
and control pollution.
The main concerns raised by municipal waste are the
potential impact from inappropriate waste management on human health and the
environment (soil and water contamination, air quality, land use and landscape).
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