Urban Waste Flashcards
What are the 3 types of urban waste?
-Industrial
-Commercial
-Personal
What is industrial waste?
Water produced in the manufacturing process (power plants or building sites).
Including scrap metal and chemicals which can be toxic.
What is commercial waste?
Any waste produced by businesses including food, paper and plastic.
What is personal waste?
Any waste produced by private homes including plastic bottles and food waste.
What odd the largest component of waste?
Organic material (46%)
What is a waste stream?
The flow of waste from its origin through to its eventual disposal.
-Some is recycled
-Others need to be broken down and disposed of separately
What are the three factors of waste streams and components?
-Economic characteristics
-Lifestyles
-Attitudes
Describe how economic characteristics affect waste streams?
As people get richer they generate more waste meaning developed countries produce more waste.
How much waste does a developed country produce per person?
2.1kg per person
How much waste does a developing country develop produce per person?
0.6kg per person
What are the main components of waste in developed countries?
Developed:
paper, organic material (28%) and plastic are highest.
Developing:
Organic material (64%)
How do waste streams differ in developed and developing countries?
No clear link it depends on the country.
Most developing countries do not have waste recycling systems but many people collect recyclable goods and sell them to make a living.
How does lifestyle affect the type of waste produced?
Rural: organic waste
Urban: Manufactured waste
How do facilities impact waste streams?
Of recycling facilities are easily accessible and people are encouraged to recycle they will be more likely to.
How does diet as a lifestyle factor affect waste streams and components?
Processed foods create more packaging waste while organic food waste can be composted.
How can attitude affect waste streams?
Throw away cultures in developed countries have made it easy to buy something and throw it away after one use. This causes high waste creating a long complex waste stream.