October 1996, U.K.
How the Problem Arose
Although humankind has made use of chemicals for thousands of years, these were, until the late nineteenth century, direct products of nature. Until then, any waste created was recycled for other uses or was simply degraded into the soil with no ill consequences.
It was breakthroughs in the manufacture of synthetic materials, mainly dyes and pharmaceuticals, that started to pose a potential problem. These new products were non-biodegradable and often toxic, although the initial problem was small due to the relatively low quantities released.
In the latter half of the twentieth century, large amounts of new synthetic products were produced as technology advanced. Amongst the vast range of new products were: nylon, terylene, PVC, polythene, insecticides, herbicides, vast new pharmaceuticals, detergents and paints. Most of these new products do not biodegrade and this poses the problem off what to do with the waste that is created by the chemical industry. To show the level of advancement during the 1970s, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the chemical industry produced 400 million tonnes of products per year and employed over 4 million people - extraordinary growth from virtually nothing.
As well as the new synthetics and the problems they pose, waste as a whole has increased in industry and domestically (220 million tons of industrial waste alone in Japan in 1983, according to the Worldwatch Institute) which should be disposed of through recycling and re-using - which at present we are told, are not economically viable options.
Even agriculture which traditionally recycles now presents problems with inorganic fertilisers and intensive techniques taking over from traditional methods. Attempted 'solutions' to this wide problem have been vast 'landfills' and incineration.
Inadequate Response - Landfill Sites
Landfills have left untold damage to the environment, largely through their leaking hazardous wastes into surrounding ground water supplies. Early landfills proved totally ineffective, as, eventually, have later lined versions with hazardous wastes eventually leaking into the surrounding bedrock. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, lined landfills with leachate treatment facilities will only last 10-20 years. As well as problems with leaching, landfill capacity is nearly exhausted in many countries. In 1991 it was estimated that the Eastern States of USA would have used up all available landfill capacity by the year 2000 (The Ecologist).
However, the most important factor ruling against landfill as a solution has been the cost of cleaning up the mess. Outcry in affected areas and general raising of awareness regarding environmental issues has led to expensive clean up operations. In October 1986, for example, the US government enacted legislation calling for an $8.5 billion fund for the clean up of old waste sites.
Inadequate Response - Incineration
Thus, there has been a significant increase in the use of incineration to deal largely with industrial waste wi