Disposal Of Used Packaging

Abstract

Modern packaging has given the public what it was demanding, quicker shopping, less frequent shopping, more choice, lower prices, better hygiene; modern supermarkets could not function without the sophistication of packaging today. This has led to the ‘throw away’ society where the majority of packaging has become one trip and then thrown away. However, there is now a change taking place, governments in both developed and developing countries are introducing legislation which requires used packaging to be collected and reused or recycled. A growing concern about the amount of household waste being generated in the United States in the 1980s led to a vigorous spread of mandatory recycling laws covering producers and users of all packaged goods. The waste disposal problem and shortage of landfill sites for disposal of rubbish was highlighted when the mayor of New York arranged for a load of the city’s garbage to be taken to the Caribbean and back. Whilst New York has a shortage of landfill sites, this is not generally the case elsewhere in the United States. In Europe, there are problems in the Netherlands and countries where the geology is unsuitable, but again many countries have more than adequate suitable landfill sites and so could continue present methods of disposal. Used packaging is perceived as one of the principal constituents of waste mainly because of its high profile. People are very aware of the high level of used packaging in their garbage bins but in reality, used packaging only represents approximately 1–1.5% of the total tonnage of waste produced in Europe each year. Used packaging accounts for a quarter by weight of household waste and a similar amount by volume of landfilled waste. Even if all packaging were removed, there would still be a waste problem.