It is inevitable that modern households will produce some waste, but the increasing volumes
of refuse over recent years present a challenge for us all. There seem to be two main problems
stemming from this situation, and also two steps we could take to address it fully.
Possible the major problem is the huge question of how to collect, process and dispose of this
material. Household waste comprises elements ranging from foodstuffs to metal, paper and plastics,
and local authorities sometimes struggle to handle such a diverse mix of material. The historical
solution has been incineration or landfill, but the problems of pollution and long-term ground contamination which arise have led to widespread efforts to recycle at least some of the waste. This
leads us to the second concern, which is the high cost of disposing of refuse in an ecologically sound
manner. We would all wish as much as possible of our rubbish to be recycled (for example by paper
pulping or reusing plastics) but the expense involved must be met by higher taxes and charges for
households.
Regarding possible solutions, probably the most immediate short-term solution would be to
divert far more government funds into waste processing and recycling facilities at a local level. This
would reduce the environmental impact of the waste by reducing pollution, and also lower our
demand for raw materials, as more recycled products would consequently be produced. A further,
longer-term solution might be to raise the level of public understanding for the need to consume less
material in households, especially in terms of packaging and wasted food. A campaign of education
along these lines would gradually lessen the volume of waste, especially if reinforced by incentives
for consuming less and penalties for excessive waste, as we see being trialled in the UK at present.
Overall, the main problems are both environmental and financial. The possible solutions
involve more immediate investment in facilities, and also encouraging long-term changes in
household behaviour. 
It is inevitable that modern households will produce  
some
  waste
,  
but
 the increasing volumes
of refuse over recent years present a challenge for us all. There seem to be two main problems
stemming from this situation, and  
also
 two steps we could take to address it  
fully
.
Possible the major problem is the huge question of how to collect, process and dispose of this
material. Household  
waste
 comprises elements ranging from foodstuffs to metal, paper and plastics,
and local authorities  
sometimes
 struggle to handle such a diverse mix of material. The historical
solution has been incineration or landfill,  
but
 the problems of pollution and long-term ground contamination which arise have led to widespread efforts to recycle at least  
some of the
  waste
. This
leads us to the second concern, which is the high cost of disposing of refuse in an  
ecologically
 sound
manner. We would all wish as much as possible of our rubbish to  
be recycled
 ( 
for example
 by paper
pulping or reusing plastics)  
but
 the expense involved  
must
  be met
 by higher taxes and charges for
households.
Regarding possible solutions,  
probably
 the most immediate short-term solution would be to
divert far more  
government
 funds into  
waste
 processing and recycling facilities at a local level. This
would  
reduce
 the environmental impact of the  
waste
 by reducing pollution, and  
also
 lower our
demand for raw materials, as more recycled products would  
consequently
  be produced
. A  
further
,
longer-term solution might be to raise the level of public understanding for the need to consume less
material in households,  
especially
 in terms of packaging and wasted food. A campaign of education
along these lines would  
gradually
 lessen the volume of  
waste
,  
especially
 if reinforced by incentives
for consuming less and penalties for excessive  
waste
, as we  
see
 being  
trialled
 in the UK at present. 
Overall
, the main problems are both environmental and financial. The possible solutions
involve more immediate investment in facilities, and  
also
 encouraging long-term  
changes
 in
household  
behaviour
.