Waste Hierarchy Essay

The most universally accepted definition of sustainability, emanated from a 1987 report by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (UNCED). Sustainability was defined as a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is a known fact that humans are undermining their own survival on a robust and unforgiving planet and this seems to be falling on deaf ears (O 'Riordan, 2004). The remarkable growth of the world population in recent decades has led to a number of serious environmental problems. Heavy consumption which is an associated problem to the increased disposal of solid waste have jointly contributed to the depletion of our

Prince and Joseph (2000), defined Waste hierarchy as a tool for sustainable waste management which identifies the options most likely to deliver the best overall environmental outcome. Waste management achievements and successes may not be entirely credited to the application of the waste hierarchy. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the waste hierarchy has had its influence, since it has enjoyed wide support in most developed countries as a guide for waste management (Dijkgraaf and Vollebergh, 2004). The waste management hierarchy can be traced back to the 1970s, when the environment movement argued that rubbish was made up of different material and as thus should be treated differently rather than being buried as a homogenous mass. (Schall 1992). In Australia, the adoption of the waste hierarchy was established under the 1992 National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (the National Strategy for ESD) by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The waste hierarchy is a preferential order of waste treatment options that aims to reduce environmental impacts by prioritizing prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery over landfill (Hultman and Corvellec, 2012). The ACT may be described as the leading jurisdictions in waste management in Australia however, in 2010-11, the ACT generated 2.6 tonnes of waste per capita which was the equal highest with Western Australia (WGRRiA, 2013). There is also concern towards the growing population of not just the ACT, but also Queanbeyan and surrounding region which the ACT acts as a regional waste hub. (Hamilton, Denniss & Baker,