APES Unit 8.10 Waste Reduction Methods

Reduce

seeks to cut waste by reducing the use of potential waste materials in the early stages of design and manufacturing

Why is Reduce #1?

increases energy efficiency because the manufacturing produces less waste to begin with and can minimize disposal process

Reduce Implementation

1. Individuals: Providing two page assignments on double-sided paper

2. Companies: CD Packaging that provides the same amount of protection to the product with less material

3. Substitution:

Reuse

Using a product or material that would otherwise be discarded

The Cost of Reuse

generates waste and expenditure energy

• ex. mailing envelope can be reused but involves repairing item

Reusing in Modern Markets

• Reuse newspaper for animal bedding or art projects

• Businesses and universities have surplus equipment agents who help find a

home got items no longer needed

• ebay, facebook market, depop, flea markets, thrift shops

Recycle

Process by which material destined to become MSW are collected and converted

into raw materials that are used to produce new objects

Closed-Loop

Recycling products into the same product

Open-Loop

Recycling products into new products

Recycling Economic Shift

Many towns and cities cannot afford the rising costs, so they are reducing the items they recycle or completely ending the recycling programs

Composting

breakdown of organic matter (food scraps, paper, yard waste) into a

stable, organic-rich material called humus

Why Avoid Landfills?

1. They take up space

2. Absence of oxygen in landfills causes the organic material to decompose

anaerobically = produces METHANE gas (more potent GHS than CO2)

Requirements For Success

• ratio of carbon to nitrogen

• aeration: pile of food and yard waste in the corner of a yard

  - Compost boxes and drums that can be rotated to ensure mixture and aeration

  • ➔ Mixture is necessary to ensure that decomposition processes are

  aerobic and to maintain appropriate moisture levels (otherwise it will

  produce methane and a foul odor

Drawbacks

• Does take time and space

• Separating materials can be an inconvenience or not possible

• Can attract flies

• Can attract unwanted animals such as rats, skunks, raccoons, and even bears

E-Waste Risks

may contain hazardous chemicals, including heavy metals such as lead and mercury,

which can leach from landfills into groundwater if they are not disposed of properly

Waste to Energy

Converting waste energy into heat and electricity for surrounding buildings

Restoration

restoring habitat on former landfills for use as parks

Cradle to Grade Analysis

A system tool that examines the materials used and released throughout the

lifetime of a product - from the product design and procurement of raw materials

through their manufacture, use, and disposal

Limitations of Life-Cycle Analysis

not being able to determine the overall environmental impact of a specific material

Goal of IWM

An approach to waste disposal that employs several waste reduction,

management, and disposal strategies to reduce their costs and reduce the

environmental impact of MSW

• ex. recycling, composting, landfills, etc.

Reduce Pro

No additional energy made

Reduce Con

Does not address continued use of toxic chemicals

Reuse Pro

Does not make additional waste

Reuse Con

Takes energy to reuse

Recycle Pro

No additional resource extraction

Recycle Con

Requires more energy than reducing/reusing

Compost Pro

enhances soil structure, cation exchange capacity, fertility for lawns and gardens

Compost Con

Time, space, inconvenient to separate materials, attracts pests and big animals

Why is "Reduce" considered more environmentally sustainable than "Recycle," even though recycling is more commonly practiced in many American households?

Reduction is more sustainable than recycling because it does not make additional energy to extract resources nor expend energy to convert objects because no product is used.