(a) Toxic environmental hazards can be viewed through several different constructs; developed versus developing world, occupational versus background exposure, traditional versus new threats, natural versus non-natural compounds, visible versus hidden pollutants, toxicity of compounds versus health outcomes. On a global scale, the traditional environmental hazards such as biologically contaminated water, poor sanitation, indoor smoke from biomass burning, and rampant disease vectors (for example, malaria) remain the primary source of ill health in children Solving these problems is predominately dependent on political will, rather than on further evaluation of published data. By contrast, significant scientific uncertainty remains about the long term consequences of “modern” toxic threats to health from air, water, and soil pollution produced by unsustainable level of production and consumption. This form of environmental contamination may either be from natural compounds that are concentrated by industrial processes, or from exclusively non-natural substances. Non-natural toxic threats alone represent a major potential problem.

(b) Technology options including resource recovery are reviewed with special emphasis on constraints arising particularly in developing countries. Cost control and recovery is complex, and it has rarely if ever been demonstrated that a potential exists for making a solid waste management project profitable in its entirity. Solid waste management represents a net cost which