A new book, 'The Science of Trash' by Kwak Jaesik, explains the engineering and science behind modern waste management, from sanitary landfills to AI-assisted sorting. It connects waste processing to carbon neutrality, highlighting how electric arc furnaces and battery recycling are reshaping industries in response to climate policy like the EU's CBAM. The book uses South Korea's daily waste output of 41.7 tons per minute as a starting point to explore how cities stay functional. It also examines the growing role of recycling in reducing emissions, particularly in steel and battery manufacturing. For those tracking climate finance and low-carbon industrial shifts, the book offers a concrete look at how waste infrastructure and circular economy practices are becoming part of decarbonization strategies.
