The problems of waste disposal have always been with us. In
biblical times, the residents of Jerusalem always burnt their wastes
in the hideous Vale of Gehenna. This gave way to burial of waste or
sometimes dumping it in shallow oceans. All too often the sewage
pipes of the seaside towns did not even take the waste to the low
tide mark; and the use ofthe deep oceans as a disposal site has been
almost unknown.
As time has progressed, not only has the number of people increased
hut the amount of waste per person has increased as well. This has
led in the last 10 years to a greater public concern overwaste disposal