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Global Waste Patterns:

The global waste patterns of the disposal of waste between HIC’s and LIC’s indicates that due to a wealthy population and disposable income HIC’s tend to dispose of waste 5 times more than LIC’s. We could argue that this could be because of many reasons, but is it one thing that led to such a conclusion? HIC’s such as Britain may be 10th in the world for the most waste produced, however, with Ireland and Norway being in the top two places generating up to 780 - 800 kg of waste per person yearly; the two can be confirmed as HIC’s, but; they are also placed high in the Human Development Index – (for example Norway who is first in the HDI).

 

Furthermore, since the HIC’s are a large consumer society they are more common to the factor of “large” products instead of “small packaged” products. Therefore, for suitability throw away and single-use items are preferred. Also, instead of fixing “obsolete” and potentially broken items they discard of them and then buy new ones, (throw-away society) without the contemplation of recycling or reusing.

 

However, low-income countries have low wages due to a poor economy, thus, they do not have a sizeable disposable income, so, they are limited to essential purchases that are expected to last long. Likewise, they are to keep prices to a minimum and utilize little packaging. Additionally, the disposable and single-use items HIC’s have are thought to be wasteful luxuries that are rarely and/or occasionally used. Similarly, unlike HIC’s, LIC’s simply replace their broken or outdated assets merely if needed; and, try all efforts to reuse, recycle and restore all objects.