An Overview on Solid Waste Generation and Management: Current Status in Chile

Romina Cayumil, Rita Khanna, Yuri Konyukhov, Igor Burmistrov, Jumat Beisembekovich Kargin and Partha Sarathy Mukherjee
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Romina Cayumil: Facultad de Ingenieria & Centro de Investigación Para La Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 7500000, Chile
Rita Khanna: School of Materials Science and Engineering (Ret.), The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Yuri Konyukhov: Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow 119049, Russia
Igor Burmistrov: Engineering Centre, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow 117997, Russia
Jumat Beisembekovich Kargin: Department of Technologies Commercialization, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
Partha Sarathy Mukherjee: Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (Ret.), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bhubaneshwar 751013, India

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: The widespread generation of, ever increasing volumes of and the sustainable management of solid wastes are global issues of great concern. Due to wide variations in composition and associated complexities, significant efforts are required for their collection, processing and environmentally safe disposal in a cost effective manner. An overview of solid wastes is presented in this article with a specific focus on municipal solid wastes and industrial waste from the iron/steelmaking and aluminium industries. Key waste issues such as its sources, compositions, volumes, the factors affecting waste generation and waste processing are first discussed, followed by a further discussion regarding recycling, resource recovery, disposal and the associated environmental impacts. In a special case study, waste generation and management in Chile is presented in greater detail. Detailed information is provided on government initiatives and legislation for integrated solid waste management and its movement towards a circular economy. Measures include regulations on waste management framework which concerns the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, persistent organic pollutants, the closure of mining activities and installations and restrictions on plastics disposal. With Chile being world’s largest producer of copper, significant efforts for mining waste management, its infrastructure and procedures are being put in place to reduce the environmental impact of the mining sector and its associated waste generation.

Keywords: solid wastes; MSW; industrial wastes; iron/steel sector; aluminium sector; copper mining (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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