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Introduction The problem of what to do with waste has increased throughout history. As man has become more sophisticated and prosperous, the material he produces and throws away reflects a changing society. To begin with, the problem was manageable, but as the population increased and lifestyles changed, measures had to be taken to tackle the growing problem. The production of waste in general and domestic waste in particular is one of the most characteristic features of the development of our society this century. The quantity and composition of our waste are indicators of our habits as consumers and of our concern for the environment. It has been said that analyzing the contents of a bag of rubbish can be illustrative of the living standards, way of life and even the age and sex of the people who have helped to fill it. Man has always produced waste, but the problems caused by high levels of production and low levels of recycling have never been as serious as they are now. Background At some point, man realized that he had to keep his home clean. He accomplished this by throwing his waste outside to accumulate around his house. It seems that this practice was so widespread that cities literally buried themselves in trash, sometimes having to rebuild repeatedly on top of the accumulation of past years. The problem was so acute in some of the densely populated medieval cities that refuse had to be removed outside the community, rather than merely outside one's own home. Laws were passed requiring that people who brought goods or produce into a city should carry solid wastes away with them for disposal in the countryside. Presumably, this action was taken because of the nuisance of trash, rather than any realization of the connection between vermin, insects, and disease. People began to produce and consume more, and although materials were reused and recycled, as an economic measure, the problem of what to do with rubbish increased. Rising population in the United States, increasing urbanization of this population, industrial growth, and the unparalleled affluence of American society have resulted in ever-increasing volumes of wastes that must be regularly collected, transported, and ultimately, disposed of.
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