Page 50 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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2 A Brief History of Waste

Management

Man is everywhere a disturbing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the harmonies of nature are turned
to discords.
George Perkins Marsh, 1874

2.1 INTRODUCTION
When early man roamed the Earth, solid waste was probably composed of the remains from hunt-
ing, gathering, and food preparation. Human fecal matter comprised the other category of the pre-
historic waste stream. When wastes accumulated, nomadic people would simply move to another
location. Natural processes of scavenging and microbial decomposition easily absorbed and incor-
porated such wastes. As a result, and also due to the very low human populations extant at the time,
the characteristic problems associated with wastes such as disease, air pollution, and groundwater
contamination were probably insignificant.
When man began inhabiting caves, wastes were piled near entrances, and when the heap
became too large, inhabitants would simply move on to another dwelling. In about 9000 B.C.E., peo-
ple began to abandon nomadic life and created permanent communities. Humans advanced from
hunters and gatherers to farmers and craftsmen, and became civilized and urbanized. Waste quanti-
ties increased and began to accumulate for longer periods. As a result, wastes became more harm-
ful to health and to natural environments. Stationary human societies have since had to confront the
logistical problem of how to manage their residues.
The types of materials predominantly in use by early societies, such as tools, weapons, and
handiworks, have helped to identify various eras: for example, the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, Iron
Age, etc. When archaeologists excavate and examine the villages of ancient peoples, they search the
waste piles, cooking hearths, tombs, and structures of the former inhabitants. By sorting through the
refuse of ancient habitations, archaeologists have gained insights into the lifestyle, diet, and social
order of the inhabitants of early societies. For example, Stone Age humans left behind nondegrad-
able items such as tools, weapons, and utensils. During times of economic decline, the Mayans of
Central America buried defective utensils, ornaments, and other household items no longer useful
in homes in their royal tombs. Some wastes appear to have been recycled as well — debris such as
broken pots and ceramics have been found within the high platforms and walls of some temples
(Alexander, 1993).

2.2 EARLIEST CIVILIZATIONS
When civilizations arose in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and elsewhere, the effects of solid wastes became
significant; as a result, certain rules and practices emerged to encourage some rudimentary
programs of waste management. As early as 8000 to 9000 B.C.E., dumps were established away
from settlements, probably located so that wild animals, insects, and odors would not migrate to
populated areas (Bilitewski et al., 1997). The Minoans (3000 to 1000 B.C.E.), placed their wastes,

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