topic 7.3: solid waste
image from www.scrd.ca
Solid waste, commonly known as trash or garbage (US), refuse or rubbish(UK) is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. The organic waste potions consist of food and kitchen waste, yard trimmings or other garden waste. Inorganic waste consists of paper, corrugated cardboard, plastic, glass, wood, and metal products such as drink cans.
In this unit we will look at your contribution to domestic waste as well as the waste contributed by our community. We will also look at different management strategies in dealing with domestic waste.
The SL unit is a minimum of 2 hours.
In this unit we will look at your contribution to domestic waste as well as the waste contributed by our community. We will also look at different management strategies in dealing with domestic waste.
The SL unit is a minimum of 2 hours.
Guiding Questions
- How can societies sustainably manage waste?
- What are the most effective strategies for minimizing the environmental impact of solid waste disposal?
- How can technological innovations and policies be integrated to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of waste management systems?
Understanding:
Sources of solid waste
8.3.1 Use of natural resources generates waste that can be classified by source or type.
- Define solid domestic waste
- List examples of solid domestic waste
- Describe and explain the changes in the volume and composition of SDW over time
In industrialized countries, waste generation has reached alarming levels, with significant wastage of natural resources. For instance, it is estimated that nearly one-third of all food produced globally is wasted, amounting to approximately 1.3 billion tons annually, much of it in developed nations.
Additionally, the rapid turnover of electronic devices has led to a surge in e-waste, with millions of tons discarded each year, often without proper recycling or disposal. These practices contribute not only to the depletion of finite natural resources but also to environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable consumption and waste management practices in line with SDG 12
Additionally, the rapid turnover of electronic devices has led to a surge in e-waste, with millions of tons discarded each year, often without proper recycling or disposal. These practices contribute not only to the depletion of finite natural resources but also to environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable consumption and waste management practices in line with SDG 12
Classification of Waste by Source:
- Domestic Waste:
- Description: Waste generated from households, including everyday items like packaging, food scraps, old appliances, and furniture.
- Examples: Paper, plastics, glass, food waste, and old electronics (e-waste).
- Impact: Discuss how domestic waste contributes to landfill and pollution if not managed properly.
- Industrial Waste:
- Description: Waste produced by manufacturing and industrial processes. This can include materials used in production, by-products, and discarded equipment.
- Examples: Chemicals, scrap metals, packaging materials, and e-waste.
- Impact: Highlight the environmental challenges posed by hazardous industrial waste, including contamination of soil and water.
- Agricultural Waste:
- Description: Waste generated from farming and agricultural activities, including crop residues, animal manure, and chemicals used in farming.
- Examples: Pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste, and plant residues.
- Impact: Explore the potential environmental issues such as nutrient pollution, methane emissions, and soil degradation.
https://sisu.ut.ee/waste/11-definition-and-classification-waste/
Classification of Waste by Type:
- E-Waste:
- Description: Discarded electronic devices and components, such as computers, smartphones, and televisions.
- Examples: Circuit boards, batteries, and old electronics.
- Impact: Discuss the challenges of e-waste recycling, toxic elements like lead and mercury, and the importance of proper disposal to prevent environmental contamination.
- Food Waste:
- Description: Organic waste that includes discarded food from households, restaurants, and supermarkets.
- Examples: Spoiled food, kitchen scraps, and uneaten leftovers.
- Impact: Highlight the environmental consequences of food waste, including methane emissions from landfills and the wastage of resources used in food production.
- Biohazards Waste:
- Description: Waste that poses a risk of infection, including medical waste from hospitals and research laboratories.
- Examples: Used syringes, blood-soaked materials, and laboratory waste.
- Impact: Discuss the potential health risks and the importance of stringent regulations for the disposal and treatment of biohazardous waste.
image from https://blogs.anderson.ucla.edu/global-supply-chain/2014/08/win-win-win-in-e-waste-management.html
Linear economy is a system in which people buy a product, use it, and then throw it away.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-linear-economy-The-take-make-and-waste-approach-of-production_fig2_323809440
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7.3.2 Solid domestic waste (SDW) typically has diverse content.
- Define solid domestic waste (SDW)
- Identify three common materials found in solid domestic waste (SDW)
https://datatopics.worldbank.org/what-a-waste/trends_in_solid_waste_management.html
Solid domestic waste (SDW) refers to waste generated from households. It includes a wide variety of materials discarded in daily life. Understanding the composition of SDW is crucial for effective waste management, recycling, and reduction strategies.
Components of Solid Domestic Waste:
- Paper and Cardboard:
- Description: Includes newspapers, magazines, office paper, cardboard boxes, and packaging materials.
- Recycling Potential: Paper and cardboard are highly recyclable and can be reused to produce new paper products, reducing the demand for virgin materials.
- Glass:
- Description: Comprises glass bottles, jars, and broken glass items.
- Recycling Potential: Glass is 100% recyclable without loss of quality, and recycled glass can be used to make new containers, reducing energy consumption.
- Metal:
- Description: Includes aluminum cans, tin cans, and other metal household items.
- Recycling Potential: Metals are valuable recyclable materials. Recycling metals like aluminum saves significant energy compared to producing them from raw ore.
- Plastics:
- Description: Encompasses various types of plastic packaging, containers, bottles, and bags.
- Recycling Challenges: While some plastics are recyclable, others are not, leading to challenges in sorting and processing. Plastic waste is a significant contributor to environmental pollution, particularly in oceans.
- Organic Waste (Kitchen or Garden):
- Description: Consists of food scraps, vegetable peelings, garden clippings, and yard waste.
- Composting Potential: Organic waste can be composted to create nutrient-rich soil, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and lowering methane emissions.
- Packaging Materials:
- Description: Includes various materials used to protect and contain products during shipping, such as foam, plastic wrap, and bubble wrap.
- Environmental Impact: Packaging is often single-use, leading to a large volume of waste. Reducing packaging waste is a key focus of sustainable waste management.
- Construction Debris:
- Description: Comprises materials like bricks, concrete, wood, and metal from home renovations and repairs.
- Recycling and Reuse: Some construction debris can be recycled or reused, reducing the demand for new construction materials and minimizing landfill use.
- Clothing and Textiles:
- Description: Includes discarded clothing, fabrics, and shoes.
- Recycling Potential: Textiles can be recycled into new fabrics or repurposed for other uses, but textile waste is a growing concern due to fast fashion and the short lifecycle of clothing.
Activity: Make a list of all the waste you and your family produce in a week. Categorize them in terms of recyclable, biodegradable, hazardous or toxic, waste electric and electronic equipment
7.3.3 The volume and composition of waste varies over time and between societies due to socioeconomic, political, environmental and technological factors.
- State two socioeconomic factors that influence the composition of waste in high-income countries.
- Outline how political regulations can influence the composition of waste in a given society.
- List three types of waste commonly found in urban areas of developed countries
https://www.nature.com/articles/502615a
In the past, with smaller populations and limited resource use, waste generation was minimal and easily absorbed by local ecosystems. Non-biodegradable materials, such as tools, were treasured and often passed down through generations, contributing little to waste.
However, the Industrial Revolution and urbanization brought rapid population growth and increased resource consumption, leading to a significant rise in waste production. Today, the volume and composition of waste vary widely across societies, shaped by a mix of socioeconomic, political, environmental, and technological factors. These variations reflect the diverse ways societies manage resources and interact with their environments..
However, the Industrial Revolution and urbanization brought rapid population growth and increased resource consumption, leading to a significant rise in waste production. Today, the volume and composition of waste vary widely across societies, shaped by a mix of socioeconomic, political, environmental, and technological factors. These variations reflect the diverse ways societies manage resources and interact with their environments..
For many years, most manufacturers and production facilities have operated using a linear economy. This ‘take, make, dispose’ method of manufacturing means that instead of recycling the raw materials and any waste associated with the production process, they are disposed of instead.
Not only does a linear economy product a huge amount of unwanted, and sometimes dangerous landfill waste, it also puts a lot of pressure on the country’s plummeting resources as new raw materials need to be found and utilized
Not only does a linear economy product a huge amount of unwanted, and sometimes dangerous landfill waste, it also puts a lot of pressure on the country’s plummeting resources as new raw materials need to be found and utilized
Volume of Waste
The volume of waste changes over time and varies between societies due to a combination of socioeconomic, political, environmental, and technological factors. For example, in high-income countries like the United States, waste generation has significantly increased, with the average American producing about 4.9 to 7 pounds (2.3 to 3.1 kg) of waste per day, totaling over 2,555 pounds (1,158.9 kg) annually. In contrast, low-income countries like those in sub-Saharan Africa generate much less waste, with an average of 0.85 pounds (0.39 kg) per person per day
Upper-middle and high-income countries provide nearly universal waste collection, and more than one-third of waste in high-income countries is recovered through recycling and composting. Low-income countries collect about 48% of waste in cities, but only 26% in rural areas, and only 4% is recycled. Overall, 13.5% of global waste is recycled and 5.5% is composted
Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the average American produces about 4.9 pounds (2.3 kg) of waste daily. However, the Trash in America study suggests this figure could be even higher, with each American generating approximately 7 pounds (3.1 kg) of garbage per day, totaling 2,555 pounds (1,158.9 kg) annually. For an average American family, this amounts to around 18 pounds (8.16 kg) of waste each day and more than 6,570 pounds (2,980 kg) per year. Although Americans make up just over 4 percent of the world’s population, they are responsible for generating between 12 and 30 percent of the planet’s total waste, depending on the data source. In comparison, the global average daily waste per person is 1.63 pounds (0.74 kg), equating to 595 pounds (270 kg) annually.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-11/documents/2014_smm_tablesfigures_508.pdf
https://changeoracle.com/2013/08/21/americas-top-10-most-wasteful-states/
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https://changeoracle.com/2013/08/21/americas-top-10-most-wasteful-states/
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Composition of Waste
The composition of waste varies significantly between societies and over time, influenced by a range of socioeconomic, political, environmental, and technological factors. For instance, food waste constitutes a large portion of waste in both developed and developing countries, but the reasons differ. In high-income nations like the United States and the United Kingdom, around 30-40% of food is wasted at the consumer level, often due to over-purchasing and strict aesthetic standards for produce. In contrast, in low-income countries, food waste occurs primarily during production and transportation, where inadequate infrastructure leads to spoilage.
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Activity: Choose an LIC and an HIC. Investigate the reasons for the production of that waste in that country
managing solid waste
7.3.4 The production, treatment and management of waste has environmental and social impacts, which may be experienced in a different location from where the waste was generated.
- Discuss the waste disposal options - landfill, incineration, recycling and composting.
Waste is an inevitable byproduct of human activity. Whether it’s food scraps, plastic packaging, or electronic devices, waste is generated at every stage of production and consumption. While we can minimize the waste we produce or choose how to dispose of it, the idea of simply "throwing it away" is a myth. Waste does not just disappear; it persists, often with long-lasting environmental and social impacts.
The Illusion of "Away": When waste is discarded, it is out of sight, but it continues to exist in the environment, whether in landfills, oceans, or as air pollution. This underscores the importance of carefully considering how we manage waste and the choices we make in its disposal.
The Illusion of "Away": When waste is discarded, it is out of sight, but it continues to exist in the environment, whether in landfills, oceans, or as air pollution. This underscores the importance of carefully considering how we manage waste and the choices we make in its disposal.
Impacts of Waste Management:
- Recycling and the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle):
- Overview: Recycling involves converting waste materials into new products, reducing the need for raw materials, and minimizing waste sent to landfills. The 3Rs framework—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—emphasizes the importance of minimizing waste generation from the start. This has since changed to the 6 Rs, Refuse, Rethink, Repurpose, Repair, Remanufacture, Recover and Refurbish
- Environmental impacts:
- Landfills: Soil contamination, methane emissions.
- Incineration: Air pollution from harmful emissions (e.g., dioxins).
- Plastic pollution: Non-biodegradable waste in oceans, harming marine life.
- Social impacts:
- Health risks: Poor communities exposed to hazardous waste (e.g., informal e-waste processing in Ghana).
- Environmental injustice: Waste often exported from high-income to low-income countries, where it is poorly managed.
The Global Movement of Waste:
- Transboundary Waste: Despite efforts to manage waste locally, significant amounts of waste are transported across borders, typically from high-income to low-income countries. This is particularly common with electronic waste (e-waste) and plastic waste, which are often shipped to developing countries for recycling or disposal.
- Environmental and Social Justice: The movement of waste across borders raises serious ethical concerns. Low-income countries often lack the infrastructure to manage hazardous waste safely, leading to severe environmental degradation and health risks for local communities. This creates an environmental injustice, where the negative impacts of waste are disproportionately borne by those who are least responsible for its generation.
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations:
- Global and Local Responses:
- Basel Convention: The Basel Convention seeks to regulate the transboundary movement of hazardous waste and its disposal, aiming to protect human health and the environment. While it has made strides in reducing illegal waste exports, enforcement remains a challenge.
- National Policies: Countries like China and India have implemented strict regulations to curb the import of foreign waste, forcing exporting countries to rethink their waste management strategies.
- Responsibility and Choice: The responsibility for waste management lies not only with governments but also with individuals and corporations. By choosing sustainable practices—such as recycling, reducing waste, and supporting policies that promote environmental justice—societies can mitigate the negative impacts of waste on both local and global scales.
Case Study: Germany's Waste Segregation System
https://crosswrap.com/waste-management-in-germany/
Germany is recognized as one of the global leaders in waste management and recycling. The country has implemented a comprehensive system for household waste segregation, where households are provided with color-coded bins to ensure that waste is sorted correctly at the source. This system plays a critical role in Germany's efforts to reduce landfill use, increase recycling rates, and promote environmental sustainability.
The Waste Segregation System: German households are typically allocated several bins, each designated for a specific type of waste. The most common color-coded bins include:
The Waste Segregation System: German households are typically allocated several bins, each designated for a specific type of waste. The most common color-coded bins include:
- Yellow Bin (Gelber Sack or Gelbe Tonne):
- Purpose: For packaging waste that is recyclable, such as plastics, metals, and composite materials (e.g., Tetrapaks).
- Details: Items like plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and empty packaging materials are placed in this bin. The contents are then sent to recycling facilities where they are sorted, cleaned, and processed into new materials.
- Blue Bin (Blaue Tonne):
- Purpose: For paper and cardboard waste.
- Details: Newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, and other paper products are placed in the blue bin. These materials are recycled to produce new paper products, which reduces the need for raw materials and saves energy.
- Brown Bin (Braune Tonne):
- Purpose: For organic waste, including food scraps and garden waste.
- Details: Organic waste, such as vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and grass clippings, is placed in the brown bin. This waste is typically composted or used in anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and compost, contributing to sustainable soil management and energy production.
- Black or Gray Bin (Restmülltonne):
- Purpose: For residual waste that cannot be recycled or composted.
- Details: This bin is for non-recyclable waste, such as diapers, certain textiles, and broken items that cannot be repaired. The waste in this bin is often sent to incineration facilities, where it may be used in waste-to-energy schemes, or to landfills if incineration is not feasible.
Activity: Research various types of plastics, identify their specific advantages and disadvantages. Ccompare them to see if they share common traits.
- specific type of plastic (e.g., PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, etc.).
- Research the assigned plastic type, focusing on its common uses, advantages (e.g., durability, cost-effectiveness, flexibility), and disadvantages (e.g., environmental impact, recyclability, health concerns).
7.3.5 Ecosystems can absorb some waste, but pollution occurs when harmful substances are added to an environment at a rate faster than they are transformed into harmless substances.
- Define the term "biodegradability"
- Outline the concept of a substance's half-life
- State two environmental impacts of non-biodegradable waste in ecosystems
Ecosystems have the ability to absorb, break down, and recycle certain types of waste through natural processes. For example, organic waste like dead plants and animal matter is decomposed by microorganisms, returning nutrients to the soil.
However, the ability of an ecosystem to absorb waste is limited. When the amount of waste exceeds the ecosystem’s capacity to process it, pollution occurs. This leads to the accumulation of harmful substances in the environment, causing detrimental effects on both ecosystems and human health.
Pollution occurs when harmful substances are introduced into the environment at a rate that exceeds the ecosystem’s ability to transform them into harmless substances. This can happen due to excessive waste production, the introduction of non-biodegradable materials, or the release of substances with long half-lives
However, the ability of an ecosystem to absorb waste is limited. When the amount of waste exceeds the ecosystem’s capacity to process it, pollution occurs. This leads to the accumulation of harmful substances in the environment, causing detrimental effects on both ecosystems and human health.
Pollution occurs when harmful substances are introduced into the environment at a rate that exceeds the ecosystem’s ability to transform them into harmless substances. This can happen due to excessive waste production, the introduction of non-biodegradable materials, or the release of substances with long half-lives
- Biodegradability:
- Definition: Biodegradability refers to the ability of a substance to be broken down by natural processes, particularly by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. Biodegradable substances, such as food waste, paper, and some types of plastics (like PLA, a biodegradable plastic made from cornstarch), decompose relatively quickly, reducing their potential to cause long-term environmental harm.
- Non-Biodegradable Materials: Substances that are non-biodegradable, such as conventional plastics, metals, and certain chemicals, persist in the environment for long periods, contributing to pollution.
- Examples:
- Biodegradable: Food scraps, paper, cotton, and wood.
- Non-Biodegradable: Plastic bottles, glass, and synthetic chemicals like pesticides.
- The Concept of Half-Lives:
- Definition: The half-life of a substance is the time it takes for half of the substance to break down or be eliminated from the environment. This concept is particularly important for understanding the persistence of pollutants, especially hazardous substances like radioactive materials, heavy metals, and certain synthetic chemicals.
- Environmental Implications: Substances with long half-lives remain in the environment for extended periods, leading to prolonged exposure and accumulation in living organisms (bioaccumulation) and ecosystems (biomagnification). This persistence can have significant environmental and human health impacts.
- Examples:
- Short Half-Life: Organic waste like food scraps typically has a short half-life, decomposing within days to weeks.
- Long Half-Life: Radioactive materials like uranium-238 have half-lives of millions of years, making them persistent environmental hazards. Similarly, synthetic chemicals like DDT (a pesticide) have long half-lives, leading to their accumulation in the environment and food chains.
Environmental Impacts:
Human Impacts:
Examples of Ecosystem and Human Impacts:
- Water Pollution: Excess nutrients from agricultural runoff, such as nitrates and phosphates, can cause eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. This leads to algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels in the water, killing fish and other aquatic life. Non-biodegradable pollutants like plastics can persist in water bodies, harming marine life through ingestion and entanglement.
- Soil Contamination: Non-biodegradable waste and substances with long half-lives, such as heavy metals and certain pesticides, can accumulate in soils, reducing soil fertility and harming plant and microbial life. This contamination can also lead to the disruption of local ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity.
- Air Pollution: Pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), which are released from burning fossil fuels, can lead to acid rain. Acid rain harms forests, lakes, and streams, and accelerates the weathering of buildings and monuments. Additionally, airborne pollutants can be transported over long distances, affecting regions far from the original source.
Human Impacts:
- Health Risks from Contaminated Water: Pollution of water sources with harmful substances like heavy metals, pesticides, and pathogens can lead to serious health problems for humans. Contaminated drinking water can cause diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and lead poisoning. Long-term exposure to toxic substances in water can also lead to chronic health conditions, including cancer and neurological disorders.
- Exposure to Airborne Pollutants: Air pollution, particularly in urban areas, can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues. Particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides are known to exacerbate asthma and other lung conditions. Long-term exposure to polluted air can reduce life expectancy and increase mortality rates.
- Food Chain Contamination: When pollutants like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate in the food chain, they can reach dangerous levels in humans through the consumption of contaminated food. This can lead to bioaccumulation, where harmful substances build up in the body over time, causing serious health effects, including developmental and reproductive issues.
Examples of Ecosystem and Human Impacts:
- Plastic Pollution in Oceans: Non-biodegradable plastics, which can take hundreds of years to break down, accumulate in the world’s oceans, forming massive “garbage patches” and harming marine life through ingestion and entanglement. These plastics can also enter the human food chain through the consumption of contaminated seafood, potentially leading to health risks.
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Chemicals like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) have long half-lives and are resistant to environmental degradation. They can bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, leading to serious health effects in wildlife and humans. For example, exposure to POPs has been linked to cancer, immune system damage, and reproductive disorders.
- Radioactive Contamination: The Chernobyl disaster released large amounts of radioactive materials with long half-lives into the environment. Decades later, these substances still pose significant health and ecological risks in the affected areas. Humans exposed to radiation suffered from cancers, birth defects, and other health problems, while the local environment remains severely contaminated.
7.3.6 Preventative strategies for waste management are more sustainable than restorative strategies.
- Define what is meant by a preventative strategy in waste management
- State two reasons why reducing consumption is considered the most sustainable waste management strategy.
- Outline the differences between preventative and restorative waste management strategies
Waste management strategies can generally be divided into two categories: preventative and restorative. Preventative strategies aim to reduce waste and pollution before they occur, while restorative strategies focus on cleaning up and restoring environments after they have been damaged. While both approaches are important, preventative strategies are generally more sustainable, as they address the root causes of waste and pollution.
Preventative Strategies for Waste Management:
Sustainability of Preventative vs. Restorative Strategies:
Preventative Strategies for Waste Management:
- Altering Human Behavior:
- Reduced Consumption: One of the most effective ways to prevent waste is to reduce the consumption of goods. This can be achieved through conscious consumer choices, such as buying less, choosing products with minimal packaging, and opting for durable, long-lasting items. Reduced consumption directly leads to less waste generation, lowering the overall environmental impact.
- Public Awareness and Education: Educating the public about the environmental impacts of waste and promoting sustainable practices (such as the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) can significantly alter behavior. Awareness campaigns can encourage people to make more environmentally friendly choices, such as using reusable bags, avoiding single-use plastics, and composting organic waste.
- Controlling the Release of Pollutants:
- Effective Waste Disposal: Proper waste disposal methods, such as segregating recyclable materials, composting organic waste, and safely disposing of hazardous substances, help prevent pollution. By controlling the release of pollutants at the source, the overall burden on ecosystems is reduced.
- Regulation and Policy: Governments can implement regulations and policies that limit the production and release of pollutants. Examples include banning single-use plastics, imposing taxes on high-pollution activities, and setting strict emissions standards for industries. These measures help control the flow of harmful substances into the environment.
- Restoration of Damaged Systems: Restorative strategies involve cleaning up polluted environments and attempting to restore ecosystems to their original state. This can include efforts like cleaning up oil spills, removing plastics from oceans, and rehabilitating contaminated land. While these actions are necessary to mitigate the damage that has already occurred, they are often costly, time-consuming, and less effective than prevention.
- Challenges of Restoration: Restorative strategies face significant challenges, including the difficulty of fully restoring ecosystems to their original state, the high financial and resource costs, and the fact that some environmental damage may be irreversible. For example, efforts to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive accumulation of plastic waste in the ocean, are ongoing, but the scale of the problem makes complete restoration extremely challenging.
Sustainability of Preventative vs. Restorative Strategies:
- Long-Term Sustainability: Preventative strategies are more sustainable because they focus on reducing waste and pollution at the source, thereby preventing environmental degradation before it occurs. By addressing the root causes, preventative measures reduce the need for costly and resource-intensive restorative actions.
- Reduction in Consumption: The most sustainable preventative strategy is to reduce the overall consumption of goods, which directly leads to a decrease in waste production. This can be achieved through lifestyle changes, such as adopting minimalist living, supporting a circular economy, and prioritizing experiences over material possessions. By consuming less, individuals and societies can significantly reduce their environmental footprint.
Comparison of Prevention vs. Restoration Strategies
Examples of Preventative and Restorative Strategies:
- Preventative:
- Single-Use Plastic Bans: Several countries and cities have implemented bans on single-use plastics, such as plastic bags and straws, to reduce plastic waste at the source.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): EPR policies require manufacturers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including disposal. This incentivizes companies to design products that are easier to recycle or that generate less waste.
- Restorative:
- Ocean Cleanup Projects: Initiatives like The Ocean Cleanup aim to remove plastic waste from the oceans, particularly in areas like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. While these efforts are crucial for mitigating the impact of marine pollution, they are resource-intensive and address only the symptoms, not the cause of the problem.
- Brownfield Remediation: Brownfield sites, which are areas of land that have been contaminated by industrial activity, require extensive clean-up efforts to remove pollutants and make the land safe for use again. This process is necessary for environmental and public health, but it is costly and time-consuming.
7.3.7 Different waste disposal options have different advantages and disadvantages in terms of their impact on societies and ecosystems.
- List two advantages and two disadvantages of using landfills as a waste disposal method
There are eight major groups of waste management methods, each of them divided into numerous categories. Those groups include source reduction and reuse, animal feeding, recycling, composting, fermentation, landfills, incineration and land application. You can start using many techniques right at home, like reduction and reuse, which works to reduce the amount of disposable material used
- Landfills - Throwing daily waste/garbage in the landfills is the most popularly used method of waste disposal used today. This process of waste disposal focuses attention on burying the waste in the land.
- Incineration/Combustion - a type disposal method in which municipal solid wastes are burned at high temperatures so as as to convert them into residue and gaseous products. The biggest advantage of this type of method is that it can reduce the volume of solid waste to 20 to 30 percent of the original volume, decreases the space they take up and reduce the stress on landfills.
- Recovery and Recycling - process of taking useful discarded items for a specific next use. These discarded items are then processed to extract or recover materials and resources or convert them to energy in the form of useable heat, electricity or fuel.
- Composting - a easy and natural bio-degradation process that takes organic wastes i.e. remains of plants and garden and kitchen waste and turns into nutrient rich food for your plants.
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Strategies for dealing with SDW:
Composting
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Disadvantages
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Recycling
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Advantages
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Incineration
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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Landfills
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Anaerobic Digestion
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7.3.8 Sustainable options for management of SDW can be promoted in societies.
- List two strategies that can be used to promote sustainable management of solid domestic waste (SDW) in societies.
- State one advantage of implementing a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system for waste management.
Sustainable management of Solid Domestic Waste (SDW) is crucial for minimizing environmental impacts and conserving resources. Promoting sustainable practices requires a combination of strategies that influence behavior, encourage responsible waste management, and provide the necessary infrastructure for proper disposal and recycling.
Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Waste Management:
Examples of Successful Sustainable Waste Management Initiatives:
Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Waste Management:
- Taxes and Financial Incentives:
- Waste Disposal Taxes: Governments can impose taxes on waste disposal, particularly for non-recyclable materials, to discourage excessive waste generation. These taxes create a financial incentive for households and businesses to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste rather than sending it to landfills or incinerators.
- Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) Schemes: PAYT programs charge households based on the amount of waste they produce, encouraging waste reduction and proper sorting of recyclables. This system has been successfully implemented in various cities around the world, leading to significant reductions in waste generation.
- Subsidies and Grants: Offering subsidies or grants for the purchase of eco-friendly products, composting bins, or energy-efficient appliances can incentivize sustainable behavior and reduce waste at the source.
- Legislation and Regulation:
- Mandatory Recycling Laws: Implementing laws that require the separation and recycling of waste materials, such as paper, glass, plastics, and metals, can significantly increase recycling rates. For example, in some European countries, households are required by law to separate their waste, leading to high recycling rates.
- Bans on Single-Use Plastics: Legislation banning or restricting the use of single-use plastics, such as bags, straws, and cutlery, can reduce plastic waste and promote the use of reusable alternatives. Such bans have been effective in reducing plastic pollution in several countries.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): EPR policies hold manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, including end-of-life disposal. By requiring producers to take responsibility for recycling or disposing of their products, EPR encourages the design of more sustainable and recyclable products.
- Social Policies and Community Initiatives:
- Community Composting Programs: Establishing community composting facilities can help manage organic waste sustainably, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills while producing valuable compost for local gardens and agriculture.
- Waste Reduction Goals: Governments and organizations can set ambitious waste reduction targets, such as zero-waste initiatives, to drive collective action towards sustainable waste management. These goals can be supported by policies, incentives, and public education campaigns.
- Education and Awareness Campaigns:
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness about the environmental impact of waste and the importance of sustainable waste management can change public attitudes and behaviors. Campaigns can focus on topics like reducing food waste, avoiding single-use plastics, and the benefits of recycling.
- School Education Programs: Integrating waste management education into school curriculums can instill sustainable practices in children from a young age. Activities such as recycling drives, composting projects, and environmental clubs can reinforce these lessons.
- Workshops and Training: Offering workshops and training sessions on topics like composting, waste sorting, and sustainable living can empower individuals and communities to adopt more sustainable waste management practices.
- Improved Access to Disposal and Recycling Facilities:
- Convenient Recycling Centers: Expanding access to recycling centers and providing convenient collection points for recyclable materials can make it easier for people to participate in recycling programs. Curbside collection services for recyclables can further increase participation.
- Hazardous Waste Disposal: Providing safe and accessible facilities for the disposal of hazardous waste, such as batteries, electronics, and chemicals, ensures that these materials are handled properly and do not contaminate the environment.
- Eco-Parks and Resource Recovery Facilities: Establishing eco-parks or resource recovery facilities where waste is sorted, processed, and converted into new products can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and promote a circular economy.
Examples of Successful Sustainable Waste Management Initiatives:
- Sweden's Waste Management System: Sweden is a global leader in waste management, with less than 1% of its waste going to landfills. The country’s success is due to a combination of public awareness, strict regulations, and a strong emphasis on recycling and waste-to-energy practices.
- Singapore's Waste Management Policies: Singapore has developed an integrated waste management system that includes waste-to-energy plants, recycling programs, and public education initiatives. The country has also introduced the Singapore Packaging Agreement, which encourages businesses to reduce packaging waste.
Case Study: Kamikatsu, Japan's Zero Waste Plan
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Kamikatsu, a small town located in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku Island in Japan, has gained international recognition for its ambitious zero waste plan. With a population of approximately 1,500 residents, Kamikatsu was the first municipality in Japan to make a public declaration to achieve zero waste by 2020. Although the town has not fully reached its goal, it has made remarkable progress and serves as a model for sustainable waste management.
The Zero Waste Declaration:
In 2003, Kamikatsu officially launched its zero waste campaign, aiming to eliminate the need for incineration and landfill use by 2020. The town's motivation stemmed from the environmental and health risks associated with traditional waste disposal methods, particularly incineration, which releases harmful pollutants into the air. The community decided to take a proactive approach by drastically reducing waste through rigorous sorting, recycling, and composting.
Waste Management Practices in Kamikatsu:
The Zero Waste Declaration:
In 2003, Kamikatsu officially launched its zero waste campaign, aiming to eliminate the need for incineration and landfill use by 2020. The town's motivation stemmed from the environmental and health risks associated with traditional waste disposal methods, particularly incineration, which releases harmful pollutants into the air. The community decided to take a proactive approach by drastically reducing waste through rigorous sorting, recycling, and composting.
Waste Management Practices in Kamikatsu:
- Extensive Waste Sorting:
- 45 Categories of Waste: Kamikatsu's residents are required to sort their waste into 45 different categories, including paper, metals, plastics, glass, and organic waste. This meticulous sorting process ensures that each type of material can be properly recycled or composted.
- Recycling Stations: The town has set up a central waste collection facility where residents bring their sorted waste. At the facility, residents further separate materials into specific bins. This system minimizes contamination and increases the efficiency of recycling efforts.
- Community Involvement: The success of Kamikatsu's waste management program relies heavily on the active participation of its residents. Educational workshops, regular community meetings, and a strong sense of local pride have helped maintain high levels of compliance and enthusiasm for the zero waste initiative.
- Composting Organic Waste:
- Home Composting: To reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, residents are encouraged to compost food scraps and garden waste at home. The town provides composting bins and offers guidance on how to compost effectively.
- Community Composting: For those unable to compost at home, Kamikatsu offers community composting facilities where organic waste can be processed into nutrient-rich compost, which is then used by local farmers and gardeners.
- Reuse and Upcycling:
- Kuru-kuru Shop: Kamikatsu operates a "Kuru-kuru Shop," where residents can drop off items they no longer need, such as clothing, kitchenware, and furniture. These items are then available for other residents to take for free, promoting reuse and reducing the need to purchase new products.
- Upcycling Initiatives: The town encourages creative upcycling of waste materials. For example, old kimonos are repurposed into bags, and glass bottles are transformed into decorative items. These initiatives help reduce waste and support local artisans.
- Educational and Community Engagement:
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Kamikatsu regularly organizes educational events, workshops, and campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of waste reduction and recycling. The town's efforts to engage its residents have been key to the program's success.
- Transparency and Accountability: The town's progress towards its zero waste goal is publicly tracked, and residents are kept informed about their achievements and areas for improvement. This transparency fosters a sense of collective responsibility and motivates continued efforts.
- Logistical Challenges: Sorting waste into 45 categories can be time-consuming and requires a high level of commitment from residents. To address this, the town has invested in educational initiatives to ensure that residents understand the importance of the sorting process and how to do it correctly.
- Economic Viability: Operating a zero waste program in a small, rural town presents economic challenges, particularly in terms of funding for facilities and ongoing operations. Kamikatsu has sought to overcome this by leveraging its zero waste status to attract eco-tourism and by developing partnerships with businesses and non-profits interested in supporting sustainable initiatives.
- High Recycling Rates: Kamikatsu has achieved a recycling rate of over 80%, significantly reducing the amount of waste sent to incineration and landfills. This is a remarkable achievement, considering the town's rural location and small population.
- Global Recognition: Kamikatsu's zero waste efforts have garnered international attention, inspiring other communities around the world to adopt similar practices. The town has become a symbol of grassroots environmentalism and a model for sustainable living.
7.3.9 The principles of a circular economy provide a holistic perspective on sustainable waste management.
- Outline the role of recycling in a circular economy, using an aluminum beverage can as an example.
- State two methods of resource recovery in a circular economy and briefly describe how they contribute to sustainable waste management.
The circular economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and maximize the use of resouces. Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a "take, make, dispose" pattern, the circular economy focuses on keeping resources in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value while they are in use, and then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their life cycle.
Key Principles: The circular economy is based on three key principles:
Holistic Perspective: This model provides a holistic perspective on sustainable waste management by emphasizing the continuous use of resources, reducing the need for raw materials, and minimizing environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle of a product.
Essential Components of Resource Recovery in a Circular Economy:
Key Principles: The circular economy is based on three key principles:
- Designing out waste and pollution.
- Keeping products and materials in use.
- Regenerating natural systems.
Holistic Perspective: This model provides a holistic perspective on sustainable waste management by emphasizing the continuous use of resources, reducing the need for raw materials, and minimizing environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle of a product.
Essential Components of Resource Recovery in a Circular Economy:
- For a circular economy to work, the resource needs to be recovered and re-enter the production cycle. This recovery can be accomplished through various methods, each contributing to sustainability in different ways:
- Reusing: Products or components are used again for the same purpose, extending their life and reducing the need for new materials.
- Repairing: Broken or damaged products are fixed, allowing them to continue being used and preventing them from becoming waste.
- Refurbishing: Products are restored to a good condition, often involving cleaning, repairing, and updating to meet current standards.
- Remanufacturing: Products are disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt using a combination of reused, repaired, and new parts, often with a warranty similar to a new product.
- Cannibalisation: Useful parts from discarded products are salvaged and used to repair or build other products.
- Recycling: Materials from products are processed and converted into new raw materials for manufacturing, closing the loop in the product lifecycle.
Example of a Circular Economy in Practice: The Path of an Aluminum Beverage Can
- Raw Material Extraction:
- Bauxite Mining: The process begins with the extraction of bauxite, the primary ore used to produce aluminum. In a traditional linear economy, mining generates significant waste, leading to environmental degradation. In a circular economy, efforts are made to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact at this stage, such as through more efficient mining techniques and land rehabilitation.
- Manufacturing:
- Aluminum Production: Bauxite is refined into alumina and smelted to produce aluminum, which is then used to manufacture beverage cans. In a circular economy, the manufacturing process is optimized to reduce waste, energy consumption, and emissions. Closed-loop systems are employed to recycle water and minimize chemical use.
- Product Design: The cans are designed with recovery and recycling in mind. Aluminum is chosen for its recyclability, durability, and light weight, ensuring it can be efficiently reused in future production cycles.
- Consumer Use:
- Product Consumption: After the beverage is consumed, the empty can is discarded. In a circular economy, consumers play a crucial role by participating in recycling programs, ensuring that the can is recovered and re-entered into the production cycle.
- Collection and Recycling:
- Recycling Process: The discarded cans are collected through recycling programs or deposit return schemes. At the recycling facility, the cans are cleaned, shredded, and melted down to produce new aluminum. This process uses only 5% of the energy required to produce aluminum from raw bauxite.
- Resource Recovery: The recovered aluminum is then reused in the production of new beverage cans, showcasing a successful application of the recycling principle in a circular economy. This closed-loop process reduces the need for virgin aluminum, conserves resources, and minimizes waste.
- Product Recovery and Regeneration:
- Reusing, Repairing, Refurbishing, and Remanufacturing: Even if the can is not directly recycled, aluminum has a high scrap value, encouraging its recovery. The material can be reused or remanufactured into new products, ensuring that the resource remains in circulation.
- Cannibalisation and Recycling: If the can is damaged or no longer usable in its original form, it can still be cannibalized for parts or materials that are recycled into new products. The circular economy emphasizes the recovery of resources at every stage to prevent waste.
- Regeneration of Natural Systems: The circular economy also includes efforts to regenerate natural systems, such as restoring mined lands through reforestation and soil rehabilitation, thus creating a positive environmental impact beyond mere resource conservation.
Benefits of a Circular Economy:
Challenges and Considerations:
- Resource Efficiency: By keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, the circular economy reduces the demand for new raw materials, conserving natural resources and reducing environmental degradation.
- Waste Reduction: The circular economy minimizes waste by designing products for longevity, reusability, and recyclability. This reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, decreasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Economic Opportunities: The circular economy creates new business opportunities through the development of innovative products, services, and business models that prioritize sustainability. This includes the creation of jobs in recycling, remanufacturing, and product refurbishment.
- Environmental Protection: By reducing the extraction of raw materials, minimizing waste, and regenerating natural systems, the circular economy helps protect ecosystems and combat climate change.
Challenges and Considerations:
- Implementation Challenges: Transitioning from a linear to a circular economy requires significant changes in business practices, consumer behavior, and regulatory frameworks. It involves rethinking product design, production processes, and waste management systems.
- Consumer Participation: The success of a circular economy depends on active participation from consumers, who must be willing to recycle, repair, and reuse products. Education and awareness campaigns are essential to encourage responsible consumption and waste management.
- Systemic Change: Achieving a circular economy requires collaboration across industries, governments, and communities. It involves systemic changes that align economic incentives with environmental sustainability, such as through extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies and circular procurement practices.
Key Terms
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solid domestic waste
upcycling humus diseases trash-to-energy linear economy |
incineration
composting hazardous waste sanitary landfill biodegradable reuse |
landfill
vericomposting mercury chemicals inert repurpose |
composting
wasteful methane organic waste circular economy WEEE |
recycling
leachate community e-waste reduce |
Classroom Materials
| Subtopic 7.3 Solid Waste Presentation.pptx |
| Subtopic 7.3 Solid Waste Workbook.docx |
Correct use of terminology is a key skill in ESS. It is essential to use key terms correctly when communicating your understanding, particularly in assessments. Use the quizlet flashcards or other tools such as learn, scatter, space race, speller and test to help you master the vocabulary.
Useful Links
What a Waste: An Updated Look into the Future of Solid Waste Management
Urban Environmental and Waste Management - Urban Environmental Management
Municipal Solid Waste - EPA
Composition of Waste in the UK - Marden Edwards Journal
Solid Waste - Learner
Composting - Planet Nature
Waste Generation Scheme - Grida
How Landfills Work - How Stuff Works
Recycling Facts - Recycling Revolution
Hazardous Waste Nat Geo: Half Life Dealing with Nuclear Waste
In The News
More than 1.5 billion masks believed to have entered oceans in 2020, The Denver Channel, 24 Dec 2020
How Big Oil and Big Soda kept a global environmental calamity a secret for decades, Rolling Stone, 3 March 2020
Solar Panel Waste: The Dark Side of Clean Energy, Discover, 14 Dec 2020
Plastic To Dust - Science Daily 12 May 2014
NASA Warms Up To Maryland's Trash - NASA 8 May 2003
More Emphasis Needed on Recycling and Reuse of Li-ion Batteries - Science Daily 22 May 2013
eWaste - National Geographic Jan 2008
International-mindedness:
- Pollution can be transborder, the pollution from one country may affect another
- Differences in development level of countries can influence the amount and type of SDW they generate
TOK
- The circular economy can be seen as a paradigm shift-does knowledge develop through paradigm shifts in all areas of knowledge?
Video Clips
Trashed - No Place For Waste with the participation of Jeremy Irons, looks at the risks to the food chain and the environment through pollution of our air, land, and sea by waste. The film reveals surprising truths about very immediate and potent dangers to our health
It's time to get back out into the world because online shopping is killing us, psychologically and environmentally.
Where do all our easy and free online returns really end up? We bought products from Amazon and then returned them with tracking devices hidden inside to follow the trail. Next, we posed as buyers in the lucrative liquidation marketplace where we bid on a truckload of returned products. How much can we resell compared to what will get trashed?
Economic growth across developing Asian countries has led to a sharp increase in consumption. With higher levels of waste now generated, local governments struggle to cope with solid waste management
Commercial waste recycling in Devon, U.K.
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. It's hard to comprehend the amount of plastic waste humans produce every single day. But the impact is impossible to ignore. However, the answer is not recycling -- it's reuse
It’s important for everyone to go green and work together in creating a sustainable future. One of the best ways to help save Mother Earth is to recycle. But it’s not always easy to tell what can and can’t be recycled, especially when it comes to plastic. You’re probably wondering: What do the numbers on plastic mean? What numbers of plastic are recyclable
Rajan Ahluwalia has been in the recycling business since 1989. He is from Mumbai (Bombay) India
18-year-old Boyan Slat combines environmentalism, entrepreneurism and technology to tackle global issues of sustainability.
Lauren is an Environmental Studies graduate from NYU and former Sustainability Manager at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and the amount of trash that she has produced over the past three years can fit inside of a 16 oz. mason jar.
Engineer Toby McCartney explains how his Scottish start-up MacRebur is persuading councils to use local waste plastic to build roads. Two English councils have already started building roads this way.
