Rethinking Solid Waste Management

The magnitude and negative impacts of solid waste have become increasingly apparent, especially in regard to plastics and their presence in the oceans. As a result, there have been many approaches to rethinking what constitutes waste and how it can be avoided or used/managed in a more sustainable manner. This course explores these emerging approaches to waste management planning and illustrates them with current examples of solid waste management plans and initiatives from various countries around the globe. In the first part of this course, we’ll dig into the impact of our growing waste problem and some methods for rethinking this waste. In the second, we’ll provide guidance for the design of a sustainable community waste management plan.

Upon completion of this course, the Learner should be able to:

• Recall the ways in which waste and waste management impact community health, form, and energy use.
• Utilize waste more effectively as materials or energy.
• Incorporate waste management programs and tactics that view waste as a resource.
• Use the solid waste management principles of rethink/redesign, prevention/reduction, usage/diversion, and disposal to determine key goals and strategies of a solid waste management plan.
• Use international, national, and regional examples to inform and improve solid waste management approaches.

Approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes. Delivered online, at your own pace.

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