CHAPTER EIGHT - ESCAP

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170CHAPTER EIGHTINTRODUCTIONWaste is an unavoidable by-product of mosthuman activity. Economic development and risingliving standards in the Asian and Pacific Region haveled to increases in the quantity and complexity ofgenerated waste, whilst industrial diversification andthe provision of expanded health-care facilities haveadded substantial quantities of industrial hazardouswaste and biomedical waste into the waste streamwith potentially severe environmental and humanhealth consequences. The CHAPTER discusses thegeneration, treatment, disposal and management ofthe growing volume of waste, which poses formidablechallenges to both high and low-income countries ofthe OF and CharacteristicsA clear appreciation of the quantities andcharacteristics of the waste being generated is a keycomponent in the development of robust andcost-effective solid waste management amongst some of the more developedcountries within the region the quantification andcharacterization of waste forms the basis formanagement and intervention, elsewhere littlepriority is given to the systematic surveying of wastearisings and the quantities, characteristics, seasonalvariations and future trends of waste generation arepoorly understood.

TYPES OF WASTES A. Generation and Characteristics A clear appreciation of the quantities and characteristics of the waste being generated is a key component in the development of robust and cost-effective solid waste management strategies. Although amongst some of the more developed countries within the region the quantification and

  Types