Short description
Illustrates practical approaches to recycling solutions, and provides guidance to public officials and other interested parties. This book addresses both art and science aspects of recycling.
Long description
Unlike most other technically based fields, recycling and solid waste management can be as much an art as science. There is no doubt that factual assessments of recyclables and waste availability, project economics, equipment performance data, detailed facility design and environmental analyses provide a major portion of the basis for decision making. However, public perception, political winds, and regulatory ramifications often become the driving force behind recycling and solid waste management programs. The recycling and solid waste manager must be equipped to anticipate and understand the emotional influences, while prepared with factual information to make decisions that, in the end, best serve the community or business providing funding for the program. This book addresses both art and science aspects of recycling. From the factors that influence the community's true recycling potential, including institutional issues that limit community latitude, to strategy for public involvement, the equipment selection process and alternatives for collection, when cloaked in flexibility, the combination of lessons should yield programs that offer the best possible economics and odds for success. Many Americans believe that recycling will pay for itself. In fact, the claims that new industries and related job opportunities will be created could be viewed as an implied promise, yet to be fully realized. Certainly, more and more material recovery facilities are being opened and material manufacturing industries are retooling to accept recyclables. However, as communities strive to broaden their recycling efforts, the associated costs have risen and are often not offset by the developmentof a new industry. With recycling and solid waste management costs outpacing those associated with crime, education, child care, infrastructure and welfare, it is easy to see why public officials would be looking for greater results from recycling. Many communities are faced with difficult choices when it comes to expanding or maintaining current recycling efforts. How will they pay for the service while state and federal financial support disappears? The answer often comes down to a choice between other central services like police and fire protection or even street cleaning and recycling. It is a difficult choice because pressure is growing to force recycling programs to be efficient and to some extent, self-sustaining. Given uncertainties relative to cost, markets and net reduction in waste to be disposed of, what then is the proper role of recycling in cur- rent solid waste management? What new technologies must be developed to efficiently collect recyclable materials? What can be done to open up the markets for these materials and return them to the manufacturing sector as raw materials for new products? Recycling and solid waste practitioners who witnessed the birth of recycling for political, philanthropic or romantic reasons will soon see recycling overcome by economic, environmental and technical realities. Recycling programs will survive if they are truly responsive to public needs and provide legitimate environmental justification. The authors have served as solid waste consultants to many communities and have written widely on the issue of integrated solid waste management. This book illustrates practical approaches to recycling solutions, and will provide neededguidance to public officials and other interested parties.
Review
In this book, readers will find practical approaches to solid waste recycling...A number of case studies are included... - The Haz. Waste Consult.