Sharp discrepancies between nuclear and conventional toxic waste: Technical analysis and public perception
Metadata only
Datum
2021-07-15Typ
- Journal Article
Abstract
Partly due to failed approaches in nuclear waste (NW) governance, years of high levels of attention have resulted in novel, more participatory avenues in Switzerland and other countries. What can be said about the case of conventional hazardous waste (CHW) from households? What technical and legal aspects are similar to or different from those of the NW domain? How does the public perceive CHW and its handling? We address these (so far) open questions in this study that comprises multiple methodological approaches. We combine a technical and system assessment with a societal (perception) assessment, based on a representative survey (N = 3082) among the German-speaking population of Switzerland. We draw some conclusions for a possible way forward in hazardous waste policy and governance. We find a remarkable disparity between technical analysis and public perception. The community should discuss whether the current NW management is forward-looking and may serve as a model for CHW. For CHW, the multiplicity of agents and the heterogeneity of substances may make the situation too complex, non-transparent, and thus less salient in the public perception. Paradoxically, the ubiquity of conventional waste, traditional community landfills, and everyday handling of some waste may make it appear less alarming than NW. Mehr anzeigen
Publikationsstatus
publishedExterne Links
Zeitschrift / Serie
Journal of Hazardous MaterialsBand
Seiten / Artikelnummer
Verlag
ElsevierThema
Conventional hazardous waste; Governance; Nuclear/radioactive waste; Risk perception; Technical safety assessmentOrganisationseinheit
02351 - TdLab / TdLab