This document discusses integrated waste management and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. It emphasizes that waste management conserves resources and energy, reduces pollution, and saves landfill space. The preferred methods are source reduction through purchasing less packaging and durable goods, reuse by repairing or donating items, and recycling to process materials into new products. While disposal through incineration or landfilling is less desirable, recycling and waste-reduction are needed to leave future generations with abundant resources and a clean environment.
This document discusses integrated waste management and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. It emphasizes that waste management conserves resources and energy, reduces pollution, and saves landfill space. The preferred methods are source reduction through purchasing less packaging and durable goods, reuse by repairing or donating items, and recycling to process materials into new products. While disposal through incineration or landfilling is less desirable, recycling and waste-reduction are needed to leave future generations with abundant resources and a clean environment.
This document discusses integrated waste management and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. It emphasizes that waste management conserves resources and energy, reduces pollution, and saves landfill space. The preferred methods are source reduction through purchasing less packaging and durable goods, reuse by repairing or donating items, and recycling to process materials into new products. While disposal through incineration or landfilling is less desirable, recycling and waste-reduction are needed to leave future generations with abundant resources and a clean environment.
This document discusses integrated waste management and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. It emphasizes that waste management conserves resources and energy, reduces pollution, and saves landfill space. The preferred methods are source reduction through purchasing less packaging and durable goods, reuse by repairing or donating items, and recycling to process materials into new products. While disposal through incineration or landfilling is less desirable, recycling and waste-reduction are needed to leave future generations with abundant resources and a clean environment.
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Integrated Waste Management
Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Submitted by . Gagandeep kaur . Class . 11th commerce . School . Peace public school mullanpur. Image: Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Integrated Solid Waste Management: •A set of plans to manage solid waste •Adopted by many governments •A means of achieving sustainability Why Manage Waste? Conserves resources & energy Reduces water & air pollution Saves landfill space Waste = Food In nature there is no waste Cradle to cradle design Product components are recyclable or biodegradable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or Product Stewardship Total US MSW Generation 2008 (by material) EPA Image: Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Source Reduction Source Reduction or “Reduce” • Preferred method: Prevents the generation of waste in the first place • Manufacturer: Decrease materials/energy used during manufacturing/distribution • Consumer: Purchase items with minimal packaging, avoid disposable products • Includes backyard composting Image: Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Reuse Reuse
• Prolonging a product’s usable life
• Repairing items, selling them or donating them to charity • Using durable rather than disposable items (i.e. reusable shopping bags, metal spoons) • Preferable to recycling because item does not need to be collected/reprocessed Metal vs. Plastic Spoon Cost to Purchase: 50 cents for metal vs. one cent for plastic Cost to Produce & Maintain: Resources (metal, petroleum, water, chemicals, etc.) Energy used (in extraction, manufacturing, transportation) External Costs: Pollution (during extraction, manufacturing, transportation) Disposal (landfill, incineration, litter clean-up) Savings from repetitive use of metal spoon: Priceless! Image: Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Recycle Recycle • Taking a product at the end of its useful life and using all or part of it to make another product • Benefits: Saves energy, natural resources, and landfill space, reduces pollution, creates jobs and useful products • Requires collection, processing, remanufac- turing and purchase (Close the Loop!) • EPA estimates 75% of our waste is recyclable Image: Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Last in the Hierarchy Waste Disposal Waste Disposal Resource Recovery Resource Recovery (AKA Waste-to-Energy): Waste is burned to produce energy Preferred to landfilling – reduces bulk of municipal waste to ash and provides energy Downsides: Some items may be difficult to burn or cause potentially harmful emissions Strict regulatory restrictions and high environmental and economic costs Waste Disposal Incineration & Landfilling Strictregulatory restrictions and high environmental and economic costs Items barely decompose in a modern landfill Landfills face capacity restrictions NIMBY syndrome Image: Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Resource depletion, pollution and landfills are not the legacy we want to leave to future generations Recycling/reuse saves precious resources & energy Best solution is to reduce waste in the first place Resources Oklahoma Recycling Association (OKRA) www.recycleok.org Regional Waste Exchange for Business www.zerowastenetwork.org/RENEWDEV Local Waste Exchange for Individuals www.freecycle.org Additional Resources: Thanks