Recycling and Treatment Technologies of Hazardous Waste in Developing and Developed Countries

Abstract

Reducing the illegal discharge and storage of hazardous waste is a serious global challenge. Effective hazardous waste management is essential to protect ecosystems, biodiversity and human health from irreversible damage. Through the comparative analysis of existing literature and the cases of four representative countries, China, India, the UK and the USA, this article discusses the development and application of hazardous waste treatment technology. The study found that developing countries are facing challenges such as a surge in waste generation, insufficient formal treatment facilities, weak law enforcement, and the dominance of the informal recycling industry. Although developed countries have advanced technology, they are trapped by problems such as ageing infrastructure, stagnation of investment, dependence on cross-border disposal and lack of supervision of emerging pollutants. Common treatment methods - including physical/chemical pre-treatment, pyrolysis, incineration and biological treatment - each face inherent technical challenges, such as complex and changeable waste composition, high cost, exhaust gas treatment problems and secondary pollution risks. In summary, effective hazardous waste management needs to adopt a comprehensive strategy, combine the national conditions of each country, and work together in terms of appropriate technology selection, strengthening law enforcement, infrastructure investment, informal industry standardization and international cooperation.