Hazardous waste
A problematic area in terms of waste management is the disposal of hazardous waste. Effective control of the generation, treatment, storage, recycling and reuse, transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes is of paramount importance for proper health, environmental protection and natural resource management, as well as sustainable development.
One of the key issues here is that large quantities of hazardous waste accumulate in countries that do not have the capacity or knowledge to deal with waste in an environmentally correct manner. However, countries like Sweden have chosen to tackle the issue from its inception by imposing restrictions on the production and export of hazardous waste.
Sweden is also party to The Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, which was adopted in 1989 and came into force in 1992. The Convention aims to protect human health and the ecosystem from irresponsible movement and disposal of hazardous waste.
Sweden, an environmentally sensitive nation which recycles an astounding 99 percent of locally-produced waste, believes that hazardous waste must not be dispersed in nature or be re-introduced into the cycle of society. Therefore, such toxic waste is kept separate from other types of waste as far as possible, and is required to be separated at the source of generation or at the next link in chain.
Growing reliance on digital technology leads to large quantities of hazardous e-waste, including computers, television sets, electronic cars, batteries etc. Some of the European countries with the best waste management systems have tackled the issue by imposing producer responsibility, meaning, the manufacturer or importer of electronics bears the responsibility of collection and disposal.
Moreover, manufacturers are encouraged to manufacture products that contain less environmentally hazardous components, or would be required to bear the cost of collection, recycling and treatment.
