Discussion on Session 5

F. PSYK, Aspinwall & Co. Environmental Management Consultants

Paper 13 highlights that waste disposal is indeed a complex problem. This Paper also reinforces that the complexity is derived from the difference in levels of knowledge, interests and effort in solving this problem world-wide. Each location which faces a waste disposal problem needs to balance these differences with the available resources. The references in conference papers so far to the problems associated with population growth, and particularly the concentration of these populations, alarm me! Does nature really understand economies of scale? The Paper's reference to the state of the Delaware River, while possibly teeing an extreme example, again highlights that nature has not responded - even with large investments.