The Environment in the City 125
trimmings (25%), plastics (12%), metals (8%), glass (5%), and other (16%).
In South and East Mediterranean countries, the USW contains a higher
percentage of organic fermentable (43–70%); a lower amount of paper and
cardboard (11–23%) and metals (4–6%); and more or less similar amounts
of plastics (11–16%) and glass (2–9%). In Mediterranean countries, USW
contains a larger proportion of water (around 37% by weight) as well as
a significant proportion of organic carbon (31%) due to the high proportion of compostable substances (biowaste from vegetables, fruits and other
foods). USW may contain small concentrations of iron, sulphur, chlorine,
lead, zinc, fluoride, chromium, nickel, copper etc. The various metals present in USW, along with the toxic organic substances produced during the
decomposition, can seriously pollute the environment, particularly underground water, and also damage health.
Integrated management of USW must include provision for satisfactory
solutions at all stages, through optimisation of overall organisation. The
stage of final disposal should not be the sole focus of management efforts.
Integrated management of USW must aim mainly at minimising the quantity of unusable waste (“rubbish”) and valorizing them to the maximum
as raw materials or sources of energy. In particular, metals, glass, paper,
plastic and construction waste may be recycled and serve as raw materials.
Fermentable waste can also become useful when not admixed with other
substances. Exploitation requires the separation of USW at the time it is
generated (sorting at source); in effect partially eliminating the concept of
waste and considering USW as an exploitable raw material from the outset.
Along with sorting at source, integrated management includes an attempt
to reduce the quantity and potential hazardousness of the USW generated,
in accordance with the principle of environmental impact prevention. The
quantity is reduced through efforts to avoid superfluous packaging, make
better use of foods, re-use used objects, and in general through reducing
unnecessary consumer wastefulness. Potential hazardousness is reduced by
avoiding the use of products that contain toxic substances, timely separation of toxic or harmful substances from other USW, etc.
6.7 indoor Pollution
Particular attention has been paid in the last 25 years to the quality of
the air in all types of indoor spaces, such as houses, offices, schools, hospitals, waiting rooms and vehicles. Serious threats to human health have
existed since the 19th century in the industrial work environment. There
were manifestations of the problem of pollution as far back as prehistoric
times, as attested by soot on the walls of caves that served as dwellings.
Nowadays indoor air pollution is a serious problem in homes and enclosed
spaces in industrial as well as developing countries. Indoor air pollution in
trimmings (25%), plastics (12%), metals (8%), glass (5%), and other (16%).
In South and East Mediterranean countries, the USW contains a higher
percentage of organic fermentable (43–70%); a lower amount of paper and
cardboard (11–23%) and metals (4–6%); and more or less similar amounts
of plastics (11–16%) and glass (2–9%). In Mediterranean countries, USW
contains a larger proportion of water (around 37% by weight) as well as
a significant proportion of organic carbon (31%) due to the high proportion of compostable substances (biowaste from vegetables, fruits and other
foods). USW may contain small concentrations of iron, sulphur, chlorine,
lead, zinc, fluoride, chromium, nickel, copper etc. The various metals present in USW, along with the toxic organic substances produced during the
decomposition, can seriously pollute the environment, particularly underground water, and also damage health.
Integrated management of USW must include provision for satisfactory
solutions at all stages, through optimisation of overall organisation. The
stage of final disposal should not be the sole focus of management efforts.
Integrated management of USW must aim mainly at minimising the quantity of unusable waste (“rubbish”) and valorizing them to the maximum
as raw materials or sources of energy. In particular, metals, glass, paper,
plastic and construction waste may be recycled and serve as raw materials.
Fermentable waste can also become useful when not admixed with other
substances. Exploitation requires the separation of USW at the time it is
generated (sorting at source); in effect partially eliminating the concept of
waste and considering USW as an exploitable raw material from the outset.
Along with sorting at source, integrated management includes an attempt
to reduce the quantity and potential hazardousness of the USW generated,
in accordance with the principle of environmental impact prevention. The
quantity is reduced through efforts to avoid superfluous packaging, make
better use of foods, re-use used objects, and in general through reducing
unnecessary consumer wastefulness. Potential hazardousness is reduced by
avoiding the use of products that contain toxic substances, timely separation of toxic or harmful substances from other USW, etc.
6.7 indoor Pollution
Particular attention has been paid in the last 25 years to the quality of
the air in all types of indoor spaces, such as houses, offices, schools, hospitals, waiting rooms and vehicles. Serious threats to human health have
existed since the 19th century in the industrial work environment. There
were manifestations of the problem of pollution as far back as prehistoric
times, as attested by soot on the walls of caves that served as dwellings.
Nowadays indoor air pollution is a serious problem in homes and enclosed
spaces in industrial as well as developing countries. Indoor air pollution in