Final answer:
Global waste is a substantial economic sector due to the costs of managing it and the economic opportunities it presents through recycling, waste-to-energy projects, and waste management services, contributing to employment and economic growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Rucevska, global waste is a substantial economic sector. This assertion can be understood in several ways. First, the accumulation of waste represents a significant cost as societies must manage, process, and dispose of it. In developed countries, waste generation per capita has significantly increased, indicating higher levels of consumption and, subsequently, higher levels of waste. Proper management of waste is crucial to avoid detrimental health and environmental impacts.
Furthermore the global waste industry also represents a large economic sector in terms of the economic opportunities it presents. These include recycling waste-to-energy projects and other waste management services which offer employment and contribute to economic growth. Moreover the international nature of waste management, including trade in recyclable materials and technological exchange, reflects its role in the global economy. The increasing generation of waste and the subsequent need to handle it effectively ensures the waste industry's position as a significant, if often under-acknowledged, sector of the economy.