Waste Management: A Systems Perspective
| Pages | 1-67 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02635579010140584 |
| Published date | 01 May 1990 |
| Date | 01 May 1990 |
| Author | Sushil |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
2 WASTE MANAGEMENT:
A
SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
Abstract
and
Keywords
Waste Management: A Systems
Perspective
Dr Sushil
Economics, India, Resources, Systems Analysis,
Systems Design, Waste
A systems perspective of waste management
allows
an
integrated approach not only to the five
basic functional elements of waste management
itself (generation, reduction, collection, recycling,
disposal), but to the problems arising at the
interfaces with the management of
energy,
nature
conservation, environmental protection, economic
factors like unemployment and productivity, etc.
This monograph separately describes present
practices and the problems to be solved in each
of
the
functional areas of
waste
management and
at the important interfaces. Strategies for more
efficient control are then proposed from
a
systems
perspective. Systematic and objective means of
solving problems become possible leading to
optimal management and a positive contribution
to economic development, not least through
resource conservation.
India is the particular context within which waste
generation and management are discussed. In
considering waste disposal techniques, special
attention is given to sewage and radioactive
wastes.
PREFACE
3
Preface
The problems associated with the management of waste
in today's techno-socioeconomic environment are complex
and diverse in nature. From a system's viewpoint, waste
is visualised as any unnecessary input to or any
undesirable output from any system, encompassing all
types of resources. For effective and orderly management
of waste the fundamental aspects and relationships must
be identified and clearly understood. Waste Management
(WM) is conceptualised as a multidisciplinary activity
involving engineering principles, economic, urban and
regional planning, management techniques and social
sciences to minimise overall wastivity of the system.
"Wastivity" is the ratio of the waste to
input[l,2].
Efficient
WM comprises quick identification of the waste
generated/caused, economic reduction, efficient collection
and handling, optimal reuse and recycling, and effective
disposal leaving
no
environmental
problems.
WM
can thus
be functionally classified into five basic elements:
(1) Generation
(2) Reduction
(3) Collection
(4) Recycling
(5) Disposal.
However, WM should be viewed in its totality taking into
consideration the interrelationship of basic functional
elements/systems
shown in Figure
1.
One of the objectives
of
WM
is to optimise these basic functional systems to
provide the most efficient and economic practices
commensurate with the socio-technological and
environmental constraints imposed.
Further, there are a number of problem areas associated
with the management of wastes. Usually these interface
areas are examined independently, and efforts have not
been
made
to analyse the interrelationships between these.
The problem areas concern the management of energy,
nature conservation, unemployment, and others that are
a consequence of poor
WM,
like environmental pollution.
The relationship of WM and interface problem areas is
diagrammatically portrayed in Figure 2. From a total
systems perspective these interrelationships should be
clearly understood and analysed providing an efficient
solution for each of the interfacing problem areas.
With the above-mentioned objectives in
view,
the present
monograph
is
designed to highlight present practices and
problems in each of the functional areas and at the
important interfaces, and to suggest strategies for
management in a system's perspective.
There are eight chapters. The first is introductory.
Chapters 2-6 take each functional area
in
turn, describing
practices and the area's distinctive problems and
challenges for industrial engineering and management
professionals. The design of effective systems is analysed.
Chapter 7 is concerned with the interfaces of waste
management and develops an integrated approach. The
different themes are drawn together in Chapter 8.
4 WASTE MANAGEMENT:
A
SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
1.
Introduction
General
Nature and the economy interact, intervene with and
derive resources from each other. Man is a critical
element, being a part of nature as well as the economy
and exercising control of
both.
The resources of nature
as
well
as the economy
have
been utilised
by
human beings
since the dawn of civilisation and consequently waste is
generated. During earlier periods when man's needs were
few and resources were plentiful, waste did not pose a
problem. The quest for higher and higher standards of
living
has
multiplied
demands
exhorbitantly, and the earth's
known resources are being depleted at an alarming rate.
The diverse and seemingly boundless developments taking
place in industry bring with them a whole new series of
complexities associated with waste.
Owing to a multitude of
systems
and their complex inter-
relationships, the management of waste in any national
economy
has
become
a
problem of great magnitude, with
respect to ecological and economic compatibility, affecting
economic growth. Increasing technological complexity,
capability and techno-socioeconomic effectiveness has
made it mandatory to see the broad problem
in
its totality
and devise solutions more systematically, objectively and
critically. It is necessary to co-ordinate efforts to solve
this crucial problem from a systems point of
view,
rather
than
by
the narrow sub-system approach which may lead
to further confusion and waste in the long run.
It is proposed that an optimal balance of long-term and
short-term objectives should be defined, and systems
should be designed to achieve this.
Growing urbanisation and industrialisation makes the
collection, treatment and disposal of
waste
a
problem with
serious sociological, ecological and economic implications.
The limited capacity of nature
to
dilute,
disperse, degrade,
absorb or otherwise dispose of unwanted residues poses
problems which only man's technology can resolve. Man
belongs to nature, and he can operate only when systems
are closed or the cycle is complete.
A
sustained effort is needed to restore the socio-ecological
balance of nature
in
order
to
harness optimally the available
resources. On the one hand higher technology is needed
to minimise waste generation, while on the other hand
appropriate technology must be developed for recycling
and treatment of what little waste is generated. WM
systems should be designed in the light of all techno-
socioeconomic, environmental and ecological feasibilities.
Some kind of
social
cost-benefit analysis should be made
prior
to
the implementation of any
WM
programme. Some
of the social and economic benefits of effective WM
programmes and systems will be:
(1) cheaper products due to increased productivity;
(2) reduced scarcity of materials;
(3) economic gains through salvaging waste materials;
(4) introduction of new products by recycling/
reusing wastes;
(5) relief from energy crisis;
(6) a more hygienic, safe and pollution-free
environment;
(7) reduction in diseases;
(8) cleaner and more comfortable
living
conditions,
and
a higher standard of living;
(9) reduced uncertainty, better prediction and control
of natural calamities;
(10) preservation of our heritage — fauna and flora;
(11) more control of unemployment and the
development of a healthier society;
(12) speedier and sustained national development, and
national self-reliance.
A Systems Concept of Waste
In the past, the term waste was mistakenly held to be
synonymous with solid waste, ignoring the broader
perspective. It has not been possible to define the term
waste accurately owing to this broad spectrum of waste
and its heterogeneous character. However, from
a
systems
point of view, the term waste may be defined as:
. .
.any
unnecessary
input
to, or any
undesirable
output,
from
any system
[3].
This includes waste of all types of resource: material,
energy, manpower, capital, services, etc. Waste is a
relative term which depends upon input requirement,
present technology and the definition of system
boundaries. The waste for a sub-system may or may not
be waste for the whole system; it may act as a resource
to other sub-systems. Considering the characteristics of
waste, it can alternatively be visualised as:
Any
lost,
idle,
overconsumed or unutilised (non-recoverable)
resource available to the system, and the auxiliary output
from the system which may or may not be directly usable
or disposable, and may or may not create environmental
pollution and other ecological disturbances is termed as
waste.
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