CHAPTER 15 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS: WASTES AND POLUTON 491 TYPES OF WASTES AND POLLUTION The types of wastes and pollution discussed below include solid wastes, hazardous wastes,air pollution, water pollution, radiation, and noise pollution. While some types of wastes may merely lower the aesthetic value of the environment, others constitute either an immediate or longterm threat to human health and well being Solid Waste Household trash, grass clippings, tree trimmings, manure, excess stone generated from mining, and steel scraps from automobile plants are all examples of solid waste.Today we are generating solid wastes in record quantities. In the last 40 olid fom years, the daily solid waste production per person in the United States jumped agriculture, and from just over 2.5 pounds to almost 4.5 pounds. Many communities have used up businesses all available space to bury their solid waste. If they cannot find a neighboring com- munity to accept their waste they must ship it elsewhere(see Figure 15.3) Sources of Solid waste Most solid waste can be traced to five major sources: agriculture, mining, industry, municipalities(domestic sources) and utilities. By far, agriculture generates the greatest volume of solid waste, more than 50% of the total (see Figure 15.4). Examples of agricultural wastes include crop residues, manures, and other vegeta tion trimmings. Most solid waste generated by farming will decompose, enriching FIGURE 15.3 Solid waste is becoming such a problem in some areas that it is shipped elsewhere