The volume of waste produced by human activity continues to grow, but steps are being taken to mitigate this problem by viewing waste as a resource. Recovering a proportion of waste for re-use immediately reduces the volume of landfill. Furthermore, the scarcity of some elements (such as phosphorous and the rare-earth metals) increases the need for their recovery from waste streams.
This volume of Issues in Environmental Science and Technology examines the potential resource available from several waste streams, both domestic and industrial. Opportunities for exploiting waste are discussed, along with their environmental and economic considerations. Landfill remains an unavoidable solution in some circumstances, and the current situation regarding this is also presented. Other chapters focus on mine waste, the recovery of fertilisers, and the growing potential for compost.
In keeping with the Issues series, this volume is written with a broad audience in mind. University students and active researches in the field will appreciate the latest research and discussion, while policy makers and members of NGOs will benefit from the wealth of information presented.
Industry Reviews
Evezy year, massive and ever-increasing amounts of waste are generated worldwide. This is giving rise to the dual
problem of diminishing resources and overflowing landfills. However, waste can be used as a resource to make new
products, while simultaneously saving landfill space. This book addresses an array of different waste streams (e.g.,
plastic packaging, food wastes, mine wastes, and wastewater) as well as numerous issues associated with converting
waste materials into useful resources. Chapter contributors discuss the use of these diverse waste steams in a
practical manner and from a commercial perspective, rather than in a lab-based research context. They address
chemical and engineering issues in a multidisciplinary approach, but at a level that makes the book more suited to a
teclmical readership than a general audience. Besides describing the chemical, technical, and engineering issues
associated with collection and use of waste streams, a noteworthy feature of this book is that in several chapters, the
authors specifically examine economic and policy issues associated with waste as a resource. Therefore, while the
readership for this book is likely to be multidisciplinary, it is also likely to be a higher-level readership. Summing
Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners.-- P. G. Heiden,
Michigan Technological University -- P. G. Heiden * CHOICE - Vol. 51 No. 10 *
