Essay on Municipal Solid Waste

Municipal solid waste is an environmental issue that is discussed by both Laohalidanond et al. (2015) and Scarlat et al. (2015). The two articles agree that municipal solid waste refers to non-hazardous substances that are generated from routine activities involving human beings. There are similarities and differences of information in the two articles. The two articles concur that municipal solid waste could be from household activities, industrial activities, institutional activities, markets, streets, and yards. Laohalidanond et al. (2015) reveal that urbanization, economic growth, and population growth has led to an increase in municipal solid waste in Asian cities. It is revealed that cities that have higher incomes and higher populations tend to generate a higher amount of municipal solid waste. Scarlat et al. (2015) also reveal that there has been an increase in municipal solid waste due to urbanization, economic prosperity and population growth. Laohalidanond et al. (2015) reveal that the composition of municipal solid waste depends on the income of the inhabitants of a given municipality. It was revealed that low-income municipalities tend to produce organic waste that is more organic whereas high-income municipalities tend to produce municipal solid waste that is less organic. Cities that have similar living standards tend to produce municipal solid wastes of an almost similar composition. It is also revealed by the two articles that municipalities tend to have problems when it comes to dealing with municipal solid waste. There tends to be a problem when it comes to infrastructure that is involved in collecting and treating municipal solid waste. However, Scarlat et al. (2015) are emphatic on the energy potential of municipal solid waste.

Scarlat et al. (2015) opine that energy that is recovered from waste can play an important role when it comes to minimizing the impact that municipal solid waste has on the environment. Scarlat et al. (2015) are more objective because it provides suggestions on how municipal solid waste can be harnessed for energy production. On the other hand, Laohalidanond et al. (2015) only discuss the problem of municipal solid waste, but it does not offer concrete solutions to the problem.

TOPIC 2

The video link: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/05/south-carolina-floods-climate-change

News videos that cover an environmental issue often use visual and audio elements in covering the story. Dramatic music is often played to reveal that the issue being discussed is of utmost importance to the public and it deserves a lot of attention. Frightening images of the impact of the environmental issue always accompany a news video covering an environmental subject. Frightening images of floods are used to remind the public about the seriousness of the environmental subject. For instance, in cases of a news video about climate change, images of floods are often shown to make the public understand that if nothing is done to address the issue of climate change; the problem would get out of control.

The images and sounds that are used are those that elicit concern, fear, anxiety and worry among the audience. The images and sounds are often meant to make the audience ponder about the profoundness of the environmental issue. The images and sounds are meant to create an impression that the topic being addressed is a serious issue. The images and sounds are meant to make the public more concerned about the environmental issue and what can be done to address the issue. The images and sounds are also meant to compel the public, civil society groups and non-governmental organizations to pile pressure on the government so that the government may come up with appropriate policies and statutes in addressing the issue.

References

Laohalidanond, K., Chaiyawong, P., & Kerdsuwan, S. (2015). Municipal Solid Waste Characteristics and Green and Clean Energy Recovery in Asian Megacities. Energy Procedia, 79, 391-396.

Scarlat, N., Motola, V., Dallemand, J. F., Monforti-Ferrario, F., & Mofor, L. (2015). Evaluation of energy potential of Municipal Solid Waste from African urban areas. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 50, 2006, 1269-1286.