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Polymeric particle composites are materials, which utilize the synergic effect of their two phases. In this paper, one phase - matrix - is represented by epoxy, the second phase - filler - is represented by a secondary material, corundum - based waste (Al2O3). With the merging of these two different components, a qualitatively new material is created, which also utilizes waste and therefore can be viewed not only with material engineering in mind, but also as a possible sensitive way of recycling. Replacing the filler of primary raw material by a filler of secondary material brings the possibility of economical recycling with regard to the environment and as such should be preferred. At the same time, a qualitatively new material is created, the mechanical properties of which must be described to specify the areas of application. The paper describes the often overlooked mechanical property of these systems - impact strength. The study of impact strength here also considers the potential degrading processes the above mentioned system can encounter during its life cycle. One of the possible areas of application of the waste-based polymeric particle composites is the area of agribusiness. For that reason, the media chosen to represent degrading environments were such, which are common in agribusiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with packing problems from the waste production, the packing efficiency and the sustainable progress point of view. The research aim was to evaluate methods of compacting the drinking PET packing and to suggest a press eliminating a necessity to release a cap of a pressed drinking packing. The second part of the research focused on an experimental study dealing with a chemist packing, its weight, a used and an unused content regarding the price point of view at the same time. A low efficiency of the packing materials is one of essential problems from the sustainable progress of human society point of view. The efficient compacting of the drinking packing leads to solving a problem with often filled up containers, financial means savings in the sphere of the waste economy and not last to the general aesthetic appearance and hygienic standards around a salvage place. The experiment results showed that a high compacting rate was reached by a manual press. When evaluating packing some packing was found out to be solved constructionally very differently, although the products do not differ from each other with their composition or consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of chemical recycling of waste plastics by decomposition reactions in sub- and supercritical water is reviewed. Decomposition reactions proceed rapidly and selectively using supercritical fluids compared to conventional processes. Condensation polymerization plastics such as PET, nylon, and polyurethane, are relatively easily depolymerized to their monomers in supercritical water. The monomer components are recovered in high yield. Addition polymerization plastics such as phenol resin, epoxy resin, and polyethylene, are also decomposed to monomer components with or without catalysts. Recycling process of fiber reinforced plastics has been studied. Pilot scale or commercial scale plants have been developed and are operating with sub- and supercritical fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste-recycling (FWR) wastewater was evaluated as feedstock for two-stage anaerobic digestion at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The FWR wastewater tested contained high concentrations of organic materials and had chemical oxygen demand (COD) >130 g/L and volatile solids (VS) >55 g/L. Two identical two-stage anaerobic digesters were operated to investigate the performance at six HRTs ranging from 10-25 days. In the acidogenic reactor, the total carbohydrate reduction efficiency and volatile fatty acid production dramatically decreased when acidogenic HRT was <2.5 days (i.e., total two-stage HRT = 15 days). High organic removal ratios of 75.5-85.9% for COD and 68.8-83.6% for VS were achieved throughout the two-stage process. Methane production rate of 1.7-3.6 L-gas/L-reactor·d was observed. These results suggested that two-stage anaerobic process was successful at the laboratory scale with FWR wastewater as feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-Waste is one of the silent degraders of the environment in the fast-growing world. This paper explores briefly the ultra-modern problem of E-Waste. After enumerating the causes and effects of the E-Waste, it focuses on management of the E-waste using modern techniques. The paper also deals with the responsibilities of the governments, industries and citizens in reducing E-waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry was used to measure dose effects on the raw stock material of borosilicate container glass from different geographical locations. Effects were studied at times up to 60 days post-irradiation at doses from 0.15 to 20 Gy. The minimum detectable dose using this technique was estimated to be 0.15 Gy which is roughly equivalent to a 24 hr irradiation 1 cm from a 50 ng source of 60Co. Two peaks were identified in the TL glow curve, a relatively unstable peak around 125°C and a more stable peak around 225°C. Differences in TL glow curve shape and intensity were also observed for the glasses from different geographical origins. We investigate radiation induced defects in glass to further develop the technique of intrinsic dosimetry-the measurement of the total absorbed dose received by the walls of a container holding radioactive material. Intrinsic dosimetry is intended to be used as an interrogation tool to provide enhanced pathway information on interdicted or newly discovered waste containers of unknown origin or history by considering the total absorbed dose received by a container in tandem with the physical characteristics of the radioactive material housed within that container. One hypothetical scenario is presented to illustrate the application of intrinsic dosimetry to waste management and nuclear forensics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key features common to the most African cities, Cotonou is currently facing severe waste management challenges despite numerous national and international legislative regulations undertaken by the country. At national level, waste management in Cotonou is a matter of several ministerial departments that operating with very little relationships between each other but also a deep-seated motivation of private communities organised through Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Unfortunately, the channel of Waste management in Benin is facing many socio-political, administrative and legislative constraints. At uphill, the very low purchase rate of the households unable them to effectively pay their charge to the waste gathering protocol established by the NGOs. At downhill, only one official recycling centre exist due to the high rate of implantation costs and the very low outputs. The NGOs themselves are operating through bilateral collaborations financial supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid waste platform is a key institutional intervention in the process of modernisation of waste management. Platforms have contributed substantially to the impact of the Urban Waste Expertise Programme (UWEP), a nine-year co-operation programme focused on recycling, solid waste, micro and small enterprises, and the informal sector. The paper introduces the programme, the concept of integrated sustainable waste management, and the solid waste platform, a multi-actor, multi-purpose institutional intervention. The key features of the platform, especially its informal character, permeable boundaries, and flexibility, allow it to provide a safe social space for stakeholders with differing interests and influences to work together on broad-based the modernisation of waste systems. The platform is even more important as an "owner" of the physical, social, and knowledge infrastructure generated, and it can play a key role as the kind of collective institutional memory essential to sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling is generally thought to be a relatively recent activity that is environmentally beneficial and achieved, to varying degrees, by those who place materials and products into various collection systems. In reality it is millennia old. Recycling produces major economic benefits, but it is not being maximized. This paper will define recycling, outline its history and benefits, identify issues that discourage recycling, and pinpoint attitudinal changes and actions that are required in order to achieve true recycling. In particular, it will address the ignorance and perceptions that have led both individuals and governments to concentrate on just one of the two basic sides of recycling - the supply side. Specifically it proposes actions and changes (such as procurement policies, education, information, and product and material design), that would enable society to focus on the demand side of the equation, thereby increasing recycling and maximizing its benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Municipal Solid Waste Management (MWSM) system was established a century ago to protect public health. It has been modified during the past 40 years in pursuit of public policy objectives of pollution control, resource conservation and, most recently, sustainable development. The authors present data from historical sources and US EPA to show differences in trends in generation, recovery and discards of product wastes and non-product wastes managed in the MSWM system. Analysis is provided to explain why the MSWM system has been less effective in managing product wastes than in managing certain biowastes. We suggest that the emerging policy approach known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) may be more effective for product wastes and that the MSWM system should shift its focus to non-product wastes. Policy approaches within the MSWM system are proposed that support and complement EPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the position that the ecological modernisation of waste management systems, particularly in "South" countries (sometimes called developing countries) or in countries in transition, opens new economic and institutional spaces for improving the living conditions and livelihoods of waste pickers and their children. In contrast, the traditional welfare, development, or rights-based approaches frequently in use by international donors, UN agencies and charities, offer little perspective for change. The paper synthesises data and experiences with waste pickers in 30 countries to sketch a profile of waste pickers and their children, by drawing on the discourses of ecological modernisation theory and development practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined household waste disposal in some areas of Lagos, Nigeria. The study confirmed the inefficiency of municipal services.. Current practices show that households use a variety of unhygienic disposal sites. The willingness of households to pay is negatively related to the bidding price.. Evidence from the estimated logit model indicated that six variables had significant influence on the respondents' willingness to pay. Household income, occupation and asset owned are positive and significant at the 1% level. Amount of WTP is negative and significant at the 1% level. The education and service-type variables are positive and significant at the 5% level. The service type variable indicated a preference for private service., An aggressive environmental clean-up campaign, the use of task-force to accomplish improvement in environmental quality, a decentralization of Waste Management Boards, government intervention in and privatization of some aspects of waste management are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban waste collection services in the developing world can be sporadic and insufficient in some areas of the city. The introduction of community based waste collection (CBWC) systems has proven to be an effective supplement to municipal waste services in some situations. However, there are many obstacles to successful CBWC, including low environmental awareness, low willingness to pay, and logistical difficulties. The study area in Siem Reap, Cambodia faces the additional challenge of being a diverse community located along a river where residents can easily dispose of their household refuse by sending it downstream and out of sight, or by burning, burying, and littering in public spaces. In our research, we administered a questionnaire survey to 300 households as a means of examining the obstacles to CBWC listed above. We also conducted key informant interviews to assess the attitudes and potential contributions of local authorities and other stakeholders. Our results suggest that community awareness raising and mobilization efforts are key to obtaining community buy-in to the introduction of a CBWC program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable waste management is a key environmental target of the UK Government, but there is a growing controversy between stakeholders as to if and how the requirements of the European Community and national legislation should be met. Research was initially carried out to determine the BPEO for municipal waste in Norfolk, using lifecycle assessment. The impact assessment utilized economic valuation followed by multicriteria evaluation that included focus groups to weigh the various impacts. Socio-economic futures research, developed for the UK government, was then used to examine the consequences of alternative futures taking into consideration varying levels of globalisation and consumerism. Stakeholders' interviews were undertaken to explore the consequences of these future scenarios for waste management issues and practices. The results of the discussions informed the LCAs and helped to develop future waste strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the face of it, the issue of waste management does not seem to have much in common with arguments over the death of Irish democratic processes—particularly with respect to debates on globalisation/transnationalisation and democracy. Yet, waste management encapsulates many of the core political arguments facing Ireland today, including illegal dumping, allegations of bribery of public officials, the privatisation of public services, and there is also the issue of the actual use of incineration technology and so-called 'super-dumps' - decisions taken without any meaningful public debate. Lastly, there are key issues relating to Ireland's role in the direction of EU governance. What I hope to do here is to outline the experiences of members of one community that has been directly affected by the governance processes surrounding waste management policy. The community of Ringsend in Dublin currently faces the prospect of having a municipal incinerator located next door to it in the near future. I suggest that current governance processes make it inevitable that the community will turn to campaigns of protest and resistance against the proposed incinerator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the point of view of ecological economics nature provides the service of decomposing organics into nutrients to the benefit of humans. As a natural process and partly supported by costly human preparation for natural processes such as composting, manure collection, etc., natural organisms seemingly do the job of fertilizing soils for free. Humans have traditionally built complex interactions on this capacity to get nutrients back from settlements to fields at minimal costs. In contrast, in modern agriculture, nature services have been strongly substituted, for instance, by mineral fertilizer. As a consequence the initially strongly positive energetic balance of agriculture has come to parity, and organics are dumped. There is a dispute whether modern practices are sustainable. An evaluation is needed. But it is difficult to evaluate services on a market basis, because energy is cheap. We will discuss how nature services can be evaluated more correctly on the basis of a joint concept of integrated evaluation. This concept is based on a principal-agent framework. It allows us to reassess energy based agriculture versus recycling agriculture. We follow a tradition of Liebig who has suggested that urban wastes should be recycled to rural areas and, in modern words, that entropy optimized systems are more sustainable than energy rich systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is the single most pervasive issue facing society today. What role can waste management practices play in this complex issue? Some insights were gained through work conducted for Edmonton's Waste Management Branch: • Climate change mitigation is "core business". Managing climate change related risk is just as important to an organization as safety, financial risk management or other environmental management issues. • Climate change mitigation is "real business". The optimum approach is to adapt traditional financial management principles to climate change related activities. • Climate change mitigation is "risk management". Risk must be managed regardless of our views about climate science. The risk to business is not necessarily a changing climate, but the changing regulatory and social structures that result from government's and society's perception that climate is changing. • While some risk is associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste management practices, for the most part modern waste management practices present significant opportunities for GHG emission reductions and offset trading. • Carbon-based energy usage and GHG emissions are linked. The value of energy and GHG emission reductions should both be part of project feasibility evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past 100 years, the City of Edmonton has journeyed from a simple waste management system of dumping along the river banks and incineration to world renown for one of the most sustainable integrated waste systems in the world. That journey has largely been influenced by public opinion and public demands. In the early 1980s, when the City-owned landfill was nearing its capacity, Edmonton began a lengthy and controversial search for a new landfill site. This was a highly public process with extensive public input. Residents of Edmonton and region made it clear they did not want a landfill located near their residence and demanded a more responsible approach to waste disposal. The City seized the opportunity to develop an entirely new approach to waste management. This reassessment spawned the 30-year Waste Management Strategic Plan - a holistic approach that is environmentally sensitive and responsive to citizens' needs. This presentation will reveal how the Plan was shaped by input from citizens, what the City learned about public engagement and how social marketing affects the operations today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volume of household waste has grown rapidly in recent years and the amount that households are currently generating is increasing at an unsustainable rate. Despite various UK waste strategies highlighting waste minimisation as the top priority, the focus of attention and investment at the level of the householder has been on encouraging participation in recycling. In light of this, the paper focuses on the attitudes and behaviours of householders in relation to waste minimisation. The findings from a large scale postal questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews conducted in a major city in Wales will be presented. Significant literature and research carried out to date on household waste minimisation will be assessed and key recommendations outlined. The research found that householders felt powerless to minimise many wastes, such as product packaging, but they considered themselves better equipped to minimise other wastes, such as plastic carrier bags and junk mail. It is also suggested that the likelihood of a householder minimising their waste was greatly increased if that person regularly recycled most of their waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable waste management programmes is becoming increasingly important to local authorities within Ireland and the UK. For a waste management system to be sustainable, it needs to be environmentally effective, economically affordable and socially acceptable. Indicators are one way to measure whether sustainable waste management has been achieved or not. All Irish waste management plans, (which include ambitious recycling and recovery targets), consider indicators for environmental effectiveness and economic affordability, with very few plans including indicators for social acceptability. Moreover, both the provision of recycling infrastructure and high participation rates are essential to the achievement of national recycling targets. It is now recognised in the UK that the combined participation and material capture rates are too small to enable UK recycling targets to be achieved. To meet this challenge, policies that consider the social aspects of achieving waste management objectives are being developed. Similar problems will be encountered in Ireland unless the reasons for the low rates are understood and acted upon in advance of the problem arising. In order to enhance the understanding of the social issues associated with the implementation of waste management policy in Ireland, a project is underway which examines participation in, perceptions of, and attitudes and responsibilities towards recycling. The results of a pilot study are presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper addresses the potential opportunities for improved environmental and socioeconomic conditions that a combined landfill gas and Solid Waste Management (SWM) program could accomplish in Mexico. Some municipalities hope to generate landfill gas (called "bio-gas") that be used to meet electricity demands. In addition, thousands of informal waste pickers called pepenadores recycle garbage to make a living. This presumably highly unskilled labour force could prove to be both cost-effective and socially beneficial if they were incorporated into proposed landfill gas and energy production activities. In this paper, we discuss the feasibility of SWM in Mexico, with implications for other regions and situations. We conclude by making appropriate recommendations for future study and implementation of innovative SWM approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the new millennium mankind faces various problems concerning the proper manner of sharing, maintaining and preserving the natural resources. Many international conflicts e.g. how to distribute water or oil, human health or economic welfare are expected in the future. To ensure a sufficient level of sustainability in our natural resources management we need sustainable approaches in organising our technical environment. These approaches have to be developed, taught and realised with reference to the basics of an intercultural and interdisciplinary educational process. A modular e-learning based distance education programme is an appropriate and cross border usable instrument to teach postgraduate students as well as academic staff in the professional field of environmental engineering and management. The development of such a study programme with European and Asian academic and professional partners is under way at the Bauhaus-Universitaet Weimar. Core elements are an e-learning platform, a workflow to produce training material such as secured and structured pdf-documents, htmldocuments and ppt-presentations from doc- or sxw-templates, a flexible system of joint curricula in the field of urban infrastructure, environmental engineering and management and an organisational scheme to agree on the internal relations, the copyrights and the financial operations within the acting authors and institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently in Ireland, the building of waste management facilities (under the 1996 Waste Management Act) has led to fierce local opposition. Citing a case study drawn from recent fieldwork undertaken in the historic Boyne Valley, this paper seeks to gain insights into the nature of environmental protest action. Firstly, the mobilisation strategies of the local protest group will be examined in terms of their efforts in stalling the siting of a large landfill facility. Particular attention will be paid to the effect such a dispute has had on the social fabric of a sparsely populated community. Secondly, the NIMBY label within the context of an environmental dispute involving technical controversies. Utilising the social constructivist perspective of social movement framing processes, the paper seeks to explore the emergent and negotiated character of NIMBY claims. Particular stress will be paid to the difficulty of framing processes in technical disputes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste generation from private households and recycling behaviour are determined by individual and situational determinants. While in the past, the majority of the literature has focused upon individual variables, more recent concepts hypothesise that situational determinants have to be regarded primarily, as they restrict the people's scope of action in the first place. This paper analyses the impact of the family life cycle on waste generation and on household processes relevant to waste generation. The concept of family life cycle is commonly used by consumption research in order to explain different consumption habits of households. It was also considered to be an appropriate indicator for explaining waste generation. Results of a case study in six multifamily dwellings in Vienna are presented, and the findings are verified by using data from a prior project. A significant impact of life cycle stage on waste generation could be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1991 the Waste Management Branch of the City of Edmonton has supported an award-winning education outreach initiative—the Master Composter/Recycler Volunteer Program—that selects and trains 30 citizen volunteer "ambassadors" each year. Master Composters work towards a sustainable environment by providing current information and promoting correct participation in waste reduction initiatives. They model appropriate behavior and teach others in their social circle. The personal touch of these Master Composter Volunteers has proved to be an effective means of broadcasting public awareness of the city's efforts to manage its residential waste and helping effect necessary changes in citizen's behaviors. A synopsis of the Door to Door Pilot will highlight the benefits of this one-on-one contact. Details of the 2003 survey results indicate why the program is the one of the longest running programs of its kind. 265 volunteers are still active and have reported over 12,000 hours of volunteer work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In post-Mao China, a private waste management system consisting of an army of rural migrants has become a primary means of waste recovery. Based on empirical data collected from a questionnaire, field mapping and official sources in central China's biggest city, Wuhan, this paper examines the socio-spatial activities of waste recovery. As in other developing countries, the urban fringe in post-Mao China is socially created as the marginal space for rural migrants, and redemption depots are dependent upon this marginal society as the critical condition for their existence in terms of land uses, stable social relations and appropriation of surplus values. While redemption depots are mostly clustered at the urban fringe and residents seldom bring recyclables to depots, junk-buyers have been playing a role of linkage between waste sources and redemption depots. Without rural migrants as door-to-door collectors, the current waste recovery system in China would break down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Capacity Building and Policy Reinforcement in Cambodia in the Field of Waste Management" is the title of the early in 2004 launched AsiaProEco-Project, funded by the European Commission and led by the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. The project aims to support and encourage the Cambodian Ministry of Environment to identify, formulate and implement environmental policies for the promotion of environmental awareness and good practices among the population and the target groups. The main focus will be set on the development of draft policy instruments for the collection, treatment and disposal of solid waste after a training programme in the established training centre of the Cambodian partner NGO. Furthermore, general concepts for public participation and information on environmental issues will be developed and implemented. Therefore several task forces were established consisting of executives and civil servants of the Ministry of Environment, provincial and municipal environmental departments, which are the main target groups. Further target groups include farmers and staff of Cambodian governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the field of waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to rapid economic growth and urbanization in Chongqing, China, a huge and increasing volume of solid waste is been generated. Improving solid waste management has become a priority for local governments. This paper introduces the characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Chongqing, including generated volume and composition. It evaluates the local MSW management situation in terms of its collection and transportation systems, waste treatment system, and the city's Environment & Sanitation Plan. The paper also introduces recycling, which has received increasing attention from the municipality as one of the possible waste diversion methods; there is official pilot recycling program in the Yuzhong and Shapingba districts of Chongqing, and there is also an informal waste recycling program by itinerant buyers and scavengers. The paper analyzes the low recycling rate of the pilot program using Problem Tree Analysis in terms of the supply and demand for recyclable materials. It also explores the relationship between scavenging and the MSW management system, and issues that exist in the informal recycling program. A principle framework for sound MSW management is proposed, which covers regulation, technology, financing strategy, and public participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public opinions about waste management facilities and operations have changed over the past 25 years in part because of historical waste management practices and a more informed public. With more access to information, such as internet resources, citizens are more able to quickly research waste management issues. The easy access to information helps people form opinions and support their arguments. Waste management professionals must be more prepared than ever to remain current in their knowledge and to expect more informed dialogue with the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken for Iran's agricultural sector during 2003, in two parts. First the assessment of agricultural products losses during production to consumption and then their economic analysis and management evaluation was done. For this purpose several main agricultural products of Iran's agricultural sector were selected. Data were collected in order to estimate the quantity and quality of product losses and then on the basis of data the economic value of losses were collected. Results show a high production (about 30%) of returns is lost due to waste management and economic, technical and management approaches and policies can reduce economic and social cost related to agricultural waste products towards sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a survey which was conducted in a municipality of the Thessaloniki urban area in Greece, in order to identify various socio-economic aspects concerning possible implementation of a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) scheme in the particular Hellenic urban or semiurban settings. In this survey, many parameters were considered, investigated and analyzed under the public view (bins' allocation, convenience, illegal dumping, etc.). The main points of the investigation concerned citizens' position towards recycling and waste reduction programs, in the frame of probable illegal waste diversion, under a PAYT scheme. All probable factors which were considered influencial for the individual waste management behaviour were investigated, focusing at illegal dumping of residential waste, as well as (secondly) at individual recycling activities. The results of the survey were statistically analyzed, in order to identify correlations between each individual factor and both the tendency to illegal dumping as well as source separation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the presented work is to develop a model in order to assess the annoyance and the convenience that are caused by waste bins in the proximity of residential blocks and to demonstrate the application of the model in the form of a Geographic Information System (GIS). The model introduces two related indices that are influenced by parameters like the population of the area, the distance between bins and buildings and the number of bins. The model is then applied to a part of the Thessaloniki urban area in Northern Greece. The results of the model are introduced into a Geographic Information System, in order to classify and visualize the annoyance and convenience caused in different residential blocks. The theoretical model presented in the current paper, in combination with a GIS platform, can be a useful tool for municipal authorities responsible for waste management, who want to keep track of bin allocation in their area, minimize annoyance and maximize convenience for all residents. The GIS can also be enriched and combined with modules for the optimization of the routing of collection vehicles and for keeping track of the general characteristics of each area (number of inhabitants, waste production, etc). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to China's municipal solid waste discussions by presenting updated and relatively accurate projections of municipal waste quantities and composition. By 2030, the amount of waste generated in urban areas will grow more than 150 percent. No country has ever experienced as large an increase in such a short period of time. China needs to reassess the methods it uses to collect and dispose of this amount of waste in order to minimize local and global environmental impacts. This report encourages movement up the "waste management hierarchy," promoting waste minimization, reuse, and recycling before other waste disposal methods are pursued. Even after aggressive waste minimization, in the next 20 years 1400 landfills will still be needed. Landfill operations need to be more efficient and wide-scale development of incineration capacity more cautious. Among other recommendations, the report encourages the establishment of 3 'pilot' cities to introduce replicable sustainable waste management models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]