Waste is one of the planet's last great resource frontiers. From
furniture made from up-cycled wood to gold extracted from computer
circuit boards, artisans and multinational corporations alike are
finding ways to profit from waste while diverting materials from
overcrowded landfills. Yet beyond these benefits, this "new" resource
still poses serious risks to human health and the environment.
In this unique book, Kate O'Neill traces the emergence of the global
political economy of wastes over the past two decades. She explains how
the emergence of waste governance initiatives and mechanisms can help us
deal with both the risks and the opportunities associated with the
hundreds of millions - possibly billions - of tons of waste we generate
each year. Drawing on a range of fascinating case studies to develop her
arguments, including China's role as the primary recipient of recyclable
plastics and scrap paper from the Western world, "Zero-Waste"
initiatives, the emergence of transnational waste-pickers' alliances,
and alternatives for managing growing volumes of electronic and food
wastes, O'Neill shows how waste can be a risk, a resource, and even a
livelihood, with implications for governance at local, national, and
global levels.
