Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste Infrastructure

Abstract

Proper waste management is essential to protect human health, ecosystems, and economic prosperity. Between 2001 and 2003, the St. Louis Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers evaluated the environmental infrastructure in the metropolitan St. Louis region: four counties in Illinois, six counties in Missouri, and St. Louis City. This paper addresses the findings for hazardous waste management and solid waste management from that study. The three general factors considered were: (1) Capacity versus need, (2) funding versus need, and (3) system performance. Data were gathered from regulatory agency surveys as well as online and printed sources. At times, the published data conflicted, indicating a need for caution when using it, and there are well-known problems associated with quantifying recycling and pollution prevention activities. Recognizing these problems, general conclusions were drawn from the study, including that both the hazardous and solid waste management systems were functioning adequately, although there is room for improvement.