Waste Management

Basic Aspects of the Issue

This is a hot issue in the rural-urban dialogue, and as a stand-alone rural issue. Where to put all that urban, toxic, radioactive, and industrial waste?...why not out in the country? What to do with rural and agricultural waste?...why not in the city?!

Rural municipalities are faced with a variety of costs:

• diferential costs
• rising costs (2-5 times)
• averaged costs
• catch-up costs

And, as Abdul and Rounds point out (see below), all with an unstated basis of cost estimates.

Waste is a problem for modern society, and the rural area faces it most directly as it is their back yards where it is most likely to end up. The temptation to accept it is heightened by the prospect of new jobs in depressed areas. The problems of polluted water, air and land loom large for all concerned.

Rural Development Institute Research Studies

• "A Review of the Economics of Regional Waste Management Systems in Manitoba" - Abdul Aziz and Richard Rounds with Michael Baron and Richard Gagnon
  This study notes that the rural municipalities are behind in practice and face a catch up situation. Rural people produce half as much waste as urban but it questions whether this reflects the fact that urban areas are where industrial production takes place. This piece provides a common information base:
  • Curent practices and systems
  • Site Potentials and Status
  • 7 survey proposals
  • A literature review
  • Summary of available data

Other Resources