Waste Management: From Trash to Treasure

Waste generation is a global issue, with waste piles increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. The total amount of waste generated annually worldwide is predicted to reach 2.2 billion tons by 2025. Addressing this crucial issue, this new book, Waste Management: From Trash to Treasure, is a comprehensive guide to waste management-its types, characteristics, regulations, and management and reuse strategies. The book first introduces waste, its history, types, characteristics, regulatory development, and legislation. It then discusses various ways to convert waste into useful materials, starting with waste from fruits and vegetables and agricultural wastes, and moving on to various other types of waste, such as plastics and electronics. The book discusses how food and agro-waste can be effective tools for the preparation of functional materials. Various mitigation strategies are discussed, such as the use of termites in waste management, employing microbial enzymes aid in bioremediation, and vermicomposting. Also explored is the use of artificial intelligence in waste management as a time and money saver. A chapter discusses bioplastics and biopolymers-the ideal versus the reality. Finally, the harmful health impacts of unscientific waste disposal are discussed, such as from indiscriminate dumping that leads to the emission of poisonous methane gas and that can lead to fires and extreme air pollution. Compiled with contributions from experts in industry and academia, this volume is a comprehensive introduction and guide to waste management and will a valuable resource for students and researchers working in the area of waste management as well as industry professionals–