The book provides an overview of best practices in urban waste management in the zero waste framework, assuming a multidisciplinary perspective. By analysing exemplary cases of firms and local governments, significant ownership, governance, and performance issues are discussed, along with key drivers of sustainable urban waste management.

This book compiles many different treatment options and best practices for the treatment and recycling of municipal solid waste from all over the globe, factoring in cost-effectiveness, sanitation, and environmental degradation. Important to professors, researchers, students, policymakers, and municipal offices, this informed book looks into innova

Solid waste was already a problem long before water and air pollution issues attracted public attention. Historically the problem associated with solid waste can be dated back to prehistoric days. Due to the invention of new products, technologies and services the quantity and quality of the waste have changed over the years. Waste characteristics not only depend on income, culture and geography but also on a society's economy and, situations like disasters that affect that economy. There was tremendous industrial activity in Europe during the industrial revolution. The twentieth century is recognized as the American Century and the twenty-first century is recognized as the Asian Century in which everyone wants to earn ‘as much as possible’. After Asia the currently developing Africa could next take the center stage. With transitions in their economies many countries have also witnessed an explosion of waste quantities. Solid waste problems and approaches to tackling them vary from country to country. For example, while efforts are made to collect and dispose hospital waste through separate mechanisms in India it is burnt together with municipal solid waste in Sweden. While trans-boundary movement of waste has been addressed in numerous international agreements, it still reaches developing countries in many forms. While thousands of people depend on waste for their livelihood throughout the world, many others face problems due to poor waste management. In this context solid waste has not remained an issue to be tackled by the local urban bodies alone. It has become a subject of importance for engineers as well as doctors, psychologist, economists, and climate scientists and any others. There are huge changes in waste management in different parts of the world at different times in history. To address these issues, an effort has been made by the authors to combine their experience and bring together a new text book on the theory and practice of the subject covering the important relevant literature at the same time.

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a matter of great concern in the urban areas of developing countries. The municipal authorities who are responsible for managing municipal solid waste are unable to discharge their obligations effectively because they lack the in-house capacity to handle the complexities of the process. It is heartening to see that the World Bank has prepared this book covering all important aspects of municipal SWM in great depth. The book covers very lucidly the present scenario of SWM in urban areas, the system deficiencies that exist, and the steps that need to be taken to correct SWM practices in compliance with Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 ratified by the Government of India. The book shares examples of best practices adopted in various parts of the country and abroad, and very appropriately covers the institutional, financial, social, and legal aspects of solid waste management, which are essential for sustainability of the system. It provides a good insight on how to involve the community, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to help improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the service, and shows how contracting mechanisms can be used to involve the private sector in SWM services. This book will be a very useful tool for city managers and various stakeholders who deal with municipal solid waste management in the design and execution of appropriate and cost-effective systems.

The Subject Of Waste Management Has Been Grown To The Status Of Maturity In All Developed Countries. Every Year, New Techniques Are Being Developed To Recover The Energy And Recycle The Materials. The Nations Like Usa, Australia, Norway And Western Europe Are Handling Their Solid Wastes In A Scientific And Hygienic Way. However, In Most Of The Developing World, Of Africa, Asia And Eastern European Nations, The Collection, Transportation And Disposal Of Solid Waste Is Still At Its Lowest Ebb. In Usa, Though The Technology For Handling Of The Solid Waste Is Available, The Wastes Are Mostly Managed By Land Filling (70%) And Incineration With Or Without Energy Recovery. It Means A Major Share Of The Source Is Wasted. Only 30-31% Of The Waste Materials Are Recovered.In Contrast To This, In Developing Countries Like India 60-70% Of The Materials Are Recovered And Reused Mostly By The Informal Sector Without Application Of Any Art Of Technology. There Is No National Level Data Are Available On Solid Waste Management In Those Countries. Often The Waste Is Open Burnt Or Land Filled In The Low-Lying Areas. The Unscientific Way Of Waste Management Pose The Risk Of Diseases To Humans And Also Degrade The Environment. The Toxic Smoke Containing, Furans And Dioxins Are Released After The Burning Of Trash, Leading To The Rise In Carcinogenic Trace Gases In The Atmosphere.In The Present Context, The Us Is Conveniently Taken As A Representative Of Developed World And India Representing Developing Countries And The Book Is Designed Into 6-7 Chapters. Chapter 1 Deals With The General Aspects And Basic Principles Of Solid Waste Management. Chapter 2 Deals With The Solid Waste Management In Usa And Solid Waste Management In India Is Dealt In Chapter 3 Respectively. Details About Plastic Waste Management In Us, India And Rest Of The World Are Explained In Chapter 4. Management Of Biomedical Waste Is Collated And Provided In Chapter 5 And Chapter 6 Deals With The Hazardous Waste Management.The Subject Of Solid Waste Management And Urban Agriculture Is Provided In Chapter 7 And The Chapter 8 Narrates The Comparative Aspects Of Waste Management In Us And India. It Is Observed That A Good Number Of Books Are Available On The Technologies And Principles Of Waste Treatment, However Meager Titles Exist On Waste Management. Hence Book Is An Appropriate Attempt To Fill The Lacunae. This Book Will Be Useful To Undergraduate And Graduate Students, Environmental Managers And The General Public As Well.