Waste Management

Waste management happens around us everyday. It involves the removal, sorting, recycling and disposal of waste materials that have been discarded. This process is generally done to reduce the effects of waste on health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste management is also carried out to recover resources. The most important waste treatments are sorting, recycling and composting.

In Ireland, the generation of waste grew rapidly during the recent economic boom. However, waste generation has decreased during the current economic downturn. In 2009, 2.9 million tonnes of municipal waste was generated, which is less than the 2004 figure. See figure 1 below for recent trends in municipal waste generation.

Figure 1. Trends in municipal waste and GNP, 2004 to 2009
Courtesy of the EPA

Urban litter

Rubbish can accumulate anywhere. Cities are facing increasing problems because of growth in population leading to increasing quantities of waste being generated.

Urban litter

Rubbish can accumulate anywhere. Cities are facing increasing problems because of growth in population leading to increasing quantities of waste being generated.

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Waste treatment options are often controversial and large scale waste infrastructure have generated strong opposition. Overall, the process of handling waste is more complex than the provision of other environmental services, such as water and wastewater management.

The process of waste management may differ according to the country or city you are in, but there are some elements that do not change. Below is a sequence of what happens to your waste from the time it leaves your street.