Domestic and trade wastes in Malaysia

Abstract

History Domestic and trade waste problems have been closely associated with human settlement development. Lacking efficient means of cleansing the environment domestic wastes accumulated and provided an abundant food source for sa- prophytic and disease causing organisms as well as insect and animal disease vectors. Trade wastes, mostly of "solid" nature also accumulated and where settle- ments persisted, successive layers often led to the formation of "mounds" which are of interest to archaeologists today. Health conditions were usually so bad that the death rate exceeded the birth rate, and the settlements depended upon immigration of rural people for their survival. However, man's efforts to build urban centres have persisted and grown into today's huge metropolitan areas, and the variety and quantity of trade wastes have increased tremendously. Methods of Pollution Prevention and Control 2. The single most effective human innovation used in the resolution of the waste problem has been the introduction of pressurised, piped, clean water, which through its unique dissolving and carrying capability allows for adequate atten- tion to human hygiene, clothes washing, home cleaning and home sanitation, and cleansing of food and utensils. The quantity of water available as well as its quality was and is still important to achievement of its vital cleansing role. Water also allowed for new processes in Trades and increased the volume of liquid trade wastes.