Saudi Arabia Waste Management: Types and Environmental Impact
One of the greatest challenges of contemporary society, driven by rapid pace and consumerism, is the control of solid waste. There is solid waste emanating from every one of the activities of our daily lives, from small household chores to even the biggest of industries. Each one of the waste types has specific features and different consequences concerning the environment. Hence, the control of each one of them is a pivotal factor for the achievement of sustainability.
Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is what is popularly known among the lay people as “trash”. It is the mixture of daily waste that is thrown on a daily bases by households, commercial enterprises, and even institutions. It is the food waste, the package waste, the paper and the plastics and other non-hazardous waste.
As per GMI Research, the Saudi Arabia Waste Management Market is predicted to expand at a robust CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period till 2032
Environmental Impact
Municipal Solid Waste is one of the biggest contributors to the landfill. Here, the organic component of the waste decomposes and releases methane, a greenhouse gas which is of great importance in climate change and global warming. Over production of this waste also puts pressure on the natural resources of the world unnecessarily. This is because most of the materials in MSW are recyclable or compostable but, in an MSW scenario, are landfill.
Finding ways to mitigate and ideally eliminate solid waste is a foundational goal for the Isolated and Advanced Communities. Initiatives to mitigate solid waste are supplemented by managing and diverting the organics in a sustainable manner. Advanced composting systems reduce the waste stream sent to landfills, but more importantly, composting organic waste reduces the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by landfills. There are also benefits to establishing waste diversion, sorting, and recycling programs as they encourage the recovery of resources and reduce the demand on landfills.
**Industrial Waste.
** As a subset of solid waste, industrial waste is generated by factories, manufacturing plants, and construction activities. Industrial waste includes, but is not limited to: construction and demolition (C&D) debris, scrap metal, plastics, and various commercial and industrial (C&I) process chemicals.
**Environmental Impact
**. The potential impacts of industrial waste, in particular, are quite severe unless its management is performed reasonably well. Industrial waste can contain highly destructive pollutants and contaminants which, when not disposed of properly, can leach into soil and groundwater, damaging ecosystems and harming people. Furthermore, the impacts of improperly disposed of hazardous waste can compound the issue, causing irreparable impacts.
Solutions. Recycling of metals and other materials, resource recovery and efficient disposal of hazardous wastes, and proactive design and management of waste streams is a step in the right direction, and can allow industries to gain control of their waste management. Deployment of resource efficient separation and hazardous waste treatment systems can eliminate a significant portion of the harmful waste stream while recovering a majority of the useful resources.
**Hazardous Waste
**This class of waste includes those potentially harmful to people or the ecosystem. Hazardous waste includes household materials, like batteries, electronic wastes (e-waste), chemicals, and medical wastes, and those produced by industries.
**Environmental Impact
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If hazardous waste is not properly disposed of, the damage is significant. Chemicals may leach into soil and water, and the ecosystem may suffer from irreversible closure. For instance, a lack of control in the disposal of e-waste will allow the environment to suffer from the toxic (e.g. lead, mercury) and other poisons.
Solutions
Safely recyclable waste is a smaller problem. Hazardous waste's adverse consequences can be lessened if a trade waste disposal system is fully supported by a strong industrial hazardous waste control system.
Organic Waste
This waste stream comes from the domestic, food service, and farming industries, and consists of biodegradable material, especially food leftovers and garden wastes, and plant products.
**Environmental Impact
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Organic waste is a landfill, and so no oxygen fills the space to allow for the degradation to release methane. Compost also is limited from enhancing soil and boosting agricultural output by the safe organic waste, which would otherwise become a lessened.
Organic Waste Solutions
Organic waste is inorganic unsustainable. Erosion can be reduced, and methane can be avoided by recycling the organic while composting.
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