8.3 Solid domestic waste

Solid domestic waste (SDW) is increasing as a result of growing human populations and consumption.
Both the production and management of SDW can have significant influence on sustainability.

There are different types of SDW, the volume and composition of which changes over time.
The abundance and prevalence of non-biodegradable pollution (such as plastic, batteries or e-waste) in particular has become a major environmental issue.
Waste disposal options include landfills, incineration, recycling and composting.
There are a variety of strategies that can be used to manage SDW (refer to figure 3) influenced by cultural, economic, technological and political barriers. These strategies include:
- altering human activity – for example, through a reduction of consumption and composting of food waste.
- controlling the release of pollutant – governments create legislation to encourage recycling and reuse initiatives and impose taxes for SDW collection and on disposable items
- reclaiming landfills, using SDW for waste-to-energy programmes, implementing initiatives to remove plastics from the Great Pacific garbage patch (cleanup and restoration).

Evaluate SDW disposal options.
Compare and contrast pollution management strategies for SDW.
Evaluate, with reference to figure 3, pollution management strategies for SDW by considering recycling, incineration, composting and landfills.

Pollution can be transborder; the pollution from one country may affect another.
Differences in development level of countries can influence the amount and type of SDW they generate.

The circular economy can be seen as a paradigm shift—does knowledge develop through paradigm shifts in all areas of knowledge?

Sustainability (1.4)
Humans and pollution (1.5)
Flows of energy and matter (2.3)
Water pollution (4.4)
Soil degradation and conservation (5.3)
Acid deposition (6.4)