One of a series which examines issues concerning people and the environment, examining the threats posed to our planet and the international measures taken to protect it. In this book the author seeks to examine our changing attitudes towards waste and how this affects our environment. Having pointed out that people tend to be much more wasteful than they could be, she suggests that recycling could play a much bigger role than at present. In this way much of our domestic waste - scrap metal, glass bottles, paper and cardboard - could be re-used. Industrial and agricultural waste can seriously harm our environment. Several chapters are devoted to describing the often controversial methods of disposing of hazardous waste, such as toxic chemicals, radioactive waste and contaminated medical waste. Finally the author suggests how industry could control and clean up its chemical emissions and how the reader can help by using waste wisely and recycling it where possible. The book contains several case studies and activities. - from Amzon