Waste treatment

Abstract

Climate protection and the efficient use of resources are major challenges facing modern society. There is a need for waste management solutions based on efficient recycling and treatment strategies to replace end-of-pipe solutions. Depending on the economic development of a country, its inhabitants produce from 70-800 kg of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year. The amount of waste generated is often linked directly to income level and lifestyle. Higher incomes lead to increased consumption and thus more waste - a problem also faced by industrialised economies, which have to find ways to avoid, minimise or recycle the waste they produce. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.