History of waste management

Waste management has been a concern for human civilizations throughout history. The earliest known wastewater management system dates back to around 6500 BCE in present-day Syria, featuring sophisticated gutter systems and settling chambers. Ancient civilizations like the Roman Empire developed complex waste removal systems, including the Cloaca Maxima, which emptied into the Tiber River. The Maya of Central America had monthly rituals for burning garbage. However, access to these early waste management systems was often limited to higher socioeconomic classes. The Industrial Revolution led to a rapid deterioration of sanitation in urban areas, particularly in England. The first organized solid waste management system appeared in London in the late 18th century with the 'dust-yards' system. In the mid-19th century, Edwin Chadwick's report on sanitary conditions spurred legislation like the Nuisance Removal and Disease Prevention Act 1846. The first incinerator was built in Nottingham in 1874, despite initial opposition. New York City became the first U.S. city with public-sector garbage management in 1895. Early garbage removal trucks were horse-drawn, later evolving into motorized vehicles with hydraulic compactors by the 1930s.