Technical Development of Waste Sector in Sweden: Survey

MASTER’S THESIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES RESEARCH
other Glass 0,2%
other plastics 0,9%
other metal 0,9%
Textiles 2,3%
Wood 0,5%
other combustible 4,2%
other 4,6%
Hazardous waste 3.6%
RVF (2005)
4.3 Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS)
Ever since urbanization process, waste has been of enormous concern (Ludwing et al., 2003, p6)
although during the same period, the management practices have been established. Solid waste
management is considered on its generation, on-site storage, collection, transfer, transportation,
processing and recovery, and ultimate disposal of wastes (Pichtel, 2005, p12) and is inextricably
linked with economical, ecological and social issues (Ludwing et al., 2003, p2). Thus involving a
diverse stakeholder from different levels of society taking part in waste management programme for
a particular area, such as government, local authority, NGO’s, producers, consumers, technical
experts etc. Ideally waste management system is to reduce or avoid waste generation by developing
or changing production systems and least preferable to manage by disposing waste in landfill. As
waste reduction or recycling has lower environmental impact (Björklund and Finnveden, 2005) and
Landfill or disposal has higher environmental potential impacts, comparison of waste recycling
(Figure 5), with waste management hierarchy shows the least and most preferable conditions.
Most
Preferred
Figure 5: Waste Management Hierarchy (Jaspers, 2003)
Least
Preferred
KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN
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