Waste and Water

Abstract

This chapter provides a detailed understanding of a selection of contemporary and politicised issues associated with waste and water. For waste, it covers household waste production and approaches to recycling, reuse and revaluing household waste. It focuses on reusing and revaluing using specific examples of single-use plastic, batteries and human waste. It problematises infrastructure and waste management within the context of politics and future health policy settings. For water, it describes how water is a human right and essential for human existence, yet unsafe water is a preventable cause of disease. Transboundary water management can be difficult and ultimately can affect the water availability and quality for each country’s population-and thus affect the population’s health. Three types of water contamination are discussed, followed by issues related to water security. Finally, environmental flows are presented, including an example of policy impact with implications for human and planetary health.