Waste Disposal

Historically, efforts in the management of waste have focused primarily on the disposal part of the waste management. Whilst local governments are now moving towards recovery of resources from waste, disposal is still the most common form of managing waste, including open dumping, landfilling of waste and incineration. In developing countries, infrastructure for waste management may be limited, and waste is often left uncollected or disposed of in inappropriate locations, leading to significant environmental and public health problems.

For example, in India, the Yamuna river, which flows through Delhi, is heavily polluted due to the dumping of untreated waste and sewage. In Nairobi, Kenya, the Dandora landfill site, which was opened in the 1970s, has become a symbol of environmental degradation and pollution due to the lack of proper management and regulation.

Landfilling of waste is also carried out in places where land is available. In many cases, these landfills are unfortunately poorly designed and operated, resulting in environmental pollution and health hazards for the communities living near them. For example, in the Philippines, the Payatas landfill in Quezon City, Manila, is one of the largest landfills in the country, but it is also notorious for the large number of waste-related accidents and illnesses that occur in the area.