flow of materials and the associated generation of wastes in a technological society and to consider the direct impact of technological advances on the design of solid waste facilities Materials flow and waste generation An indication of how and where solid wastes are generated in our technological society is shown in the simplified materials flow diagram presented in Fig 1-1. Solid wastes(debris) are generated at the start of the process, beginning with the mining of raw materials. The debris left from strip-mining operations, for example, is well known to everyone. Thereafter, solid wastes are generated at every step in the process as raw materials are converted to goods for consumption It is apparent from Fig. 12-l that one of the best ways to reduce the amount H Residual debris solid wastes that must be disposed of is to limit the consumption ofraw materials and to increase the rate of Manufactuning Residual waste material recovery and reuse of waste materials effecting this change in a modern Processing and technological society has proved recovery manufacturing extremely difficult. Therefore, society has undertaken improved wa management and searched for new Consumer permanent locations in which to place solid waste. Unlike water-borne and air-dispersed wastes, solid products, and recover Where it materials aste materials where it will be found in the f Fig. 12-1 Materials flow and the generation of solid wastes in a technological society The effects of Technological Advances Modern technological advances in the packaging of goods create a constantly changing set of parameters for the designer of solid waste facilities. Of particular significance are the increasing use of which reduce the quantities of food wastes in the home but increase the quantities at agricultural processing plants. The use of packaged meals, for example, results in almost no wastes in the home except for the packaging materials. These continuing changes present problems to the facilities designer because engineering structures for the processing of solid wastes involves such large capital expenditures that they must be designed to be functional for approximately 25 years. Thus. the engineers responsible for the design of solid waste facilities must be aware of trends, even though they cannot of course. predict all the changes in technology that will affect the characteristics of solid wastes On the other hand, every possible prediction technique must be used in this ever-changing technological society so that flexibility and utility can be designed into the facilities. Ideally, a facility should be functional and efficient over its useful life, which should coincide with the maturity of the bonds that were floated to pay for it. But important questions arise: Which elements of society quantities be minimized? What is the role of resource recovery? Can disposal and recovery technology keep up with consumer product technology? 12.3 The Development of Solid Waste Management iscipline associated with the control of generation. storage. collection transfer and transport. processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics. engineering. conservation, aesthetics. and other environmental considerations. and that is also responsive to public attitudes. In its scope. solid waste management includes all administrative, financial. legal. planning and engineering functions involved in solutions to all problems of solid wastes. The solutions may involve comple12-2 flow of materials and the associated generation of wastes in a technological society and to consider the direct impact of technological advances on the design of solid waste facilities. Materials Flow and Waste Generation An indication of how and where solid wastes are generated in our technological society is shown in the simplified materials flow diagram presented in Fig. 1-1. Solid wastes (debris) are generated at the start of the process, beginning with the mining of raw materials. The debris left from strip-mining operations, for example, is well known to everyone. Thereafter, solid wastes are generated at every step in the process as raw materials are converted to goods for consumption. It is apparent from Fig. 12-1 that one of the best ways to reduce the amount of solid wastes that must be disposed of is to limit the consumption of raw materials and to increase the rate of recovery and reuse of waste materials. Although the concept is simple, effecting this change in a modern technological society has proved extremely difficult. Therefore, society has undertaken improved waste management and searched for new permanent locations in which to place solid waste. Unlike water-borne and air-dispersed wastes, solid waste will not go away. Where it is thrown is where it will be found in the future. The Effects of Technological Advances Modern technological advances in the packaging of goods create a constantly changing set of parameters for the designer of solid waste facilities. Of particular significance are the increasing use of plastics and the use of frozen foods, which reduce the quantities of food wastes in the home but increase the quantities at agricultural processing plants. The use of packaged meals, for example, results in almost no wastes in the home except for the packaging materials. These continuing changes present problems to the facilities designer because engineering structures for the processing of solid wastes involves such large capital expenditures that they must be designed to be functional for approximately 25 years. Thus, the engineers responsible for the design of solid waste facilities must be aware of trends, even though they cannot, of course, predict all the changes in technology that will affect the characteristics of solid wastes. On the other hand, every possible prediction technique must be used in this ever-changing technological society so that flexibility and utility can be designed into the facilities. Ideally, a facility should be functional and efficient over its useful life, which should coincide with the maturity of the bonds that were floated to pay for it. But important questions arise: Which elements of society generate the greatest quantities of solid waste and what is the nature of these wastes? How can the quantities be minimized? What is the role of resource recovery? Can disposal and recovery technology keep up with consumer product technology? 12.3 The Development of Solid Waste Management Solid waste management may be defined as the discipline associated with the control of generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations, and that is also responsive to public attitudes. In its scope, solid waste management includes all administrative, financial, legal, planning, and engineering functions involved in solutions to all problems of solid wastes. The solutions may involve complex Fig. 12-1 Materials flow and the generation of solid wastes in a technological society