Environmental Pollution, Solid Waste, and Industrial Society

Abstract

Written by an anthropologist, this article offers a broad reflection on the origin and historical evolution of environmental pollution, distinguishing between natural planetary-disturbance phenomena and human-caused pollution generated by industrial society. The author traces the evolution of human societies from hunter-gatherer cultures to the industrial revolution and today's consumer society, explaining how population and technological growth have intensified the generation of waste and pollutants. It characterizes the different types of solid waste generated by industrial societies and describes the framework for Integrated Solid Waste Management (MIRS) in Colombia, structured into collection, transport, and treatment phases, within the regulatory framework derived from the 1991 Political Constitution.