7.3.4 The production, treatment and management of waste has environmental and social impacts, which may be experienced in a different location from where the waste was generated.

7.3.1 Use of natural resources generates waste that can be classified by source or type.

7.3.2 Solid domestic waste (SDW) typically has diverse content.

7.3.3 The volume and composition of waste varies over time and between societies due to socio-economic, political, environmental and technological factors.

7.3.7 Different waste disposal options have different advantages and disadvantages in terms of their impact on societies and ecosystems.

7.3.5 Ecosystems can absorb some waste, but pollution occurs when harmful substances are added to an environment at a rate faster than they can be degraded or transformed into harmless substances.

7.3.6 Preventative strategies for waste management are more sustainable than restorative strategies.