Pollution and waste management

Pollution can be defined as the introduction by humans, deliberately or inadvertently, of substances or energy (heat, radiation, noise) into the environment – resulting in a deleterious effect (O’Riordan, 1995). Contamination is the presence of elevated concentrations of substances in the environment, food, etc., which may not necessarily be harmful or a nuisance. Pollution involves contamination, but contamination need not constitute pollution. Nature can generate toxic or nuisance compounds (e.g. volcanic ash). Waste can be defined as movable material that is perceived, often erroneously, to be of no further value. Once discarded, it may be no problem, or a nuisance or a hazard (Hill, 1998).