Introduction to waste management in Environment

Introduction to waste management

1. Faiza Shamshad 21021502-001 Hira Zaman. 21021502-049 Mahrukh Ilyas. 21021502-020 M. Adeel Nasir 21021502-023 Umm –e- Aimen 21021502-010

2. Topic : Waste management, importance of recycling and waste reduction Introduction to waste management : Waste management refers to the various schemes to manage and dispose of wastes. It can be by discarding, destroying, processing, recycling, reusing, or controlling wastes. The prime objective of waste management is to reduce the amount of unusable materials and to avert potential health and environmental hazards.

3. Waste can be solid, liquid, or gases and each type has different methods of disposal and management. Waste management deals with all types of waste, Including industrial, biological, household, municipal, organic, biomedical , radioactive wastes. Sources of waste : Sources of waste can be broadly classified into four types: Industrial, Commercial, Domestic, and Agricultural.

4. Industrial Waste : These are the wastes created in factories and industries. Most industries dump their wastes in rivers and seas which cause a lot of pollution.   Example : plastic, glass, etc. Commercial  Waste : Commercial wastes are produced in schools, colleges, shops, and offices. Example: plastic, paper, etc.

5. Domestic Waste : The different household wastes which are collected during household activities like cooking, cleaning, etc. are known as domestic wastes. Example: leaves, vegetable peels, excreta, etc. Agricultural Waste : Various wastes produced in the agricultural field are known as agricultural wastes. Example: cattle waste, weed, husk, etc.

6. Types of Waste : Commonly waste is classified into two types:  Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable waste These two kinds of wastes are explained below : Biodegradable waste : These are the wastes that come from our kitchen and it includes food remains, garden waste, etc

7. Biodegradable waste is also known as moist waste. This can be composted to obtain manure. Biodegradable wastes decompose themselves over a period of time depending on the material.   Examples of biodegradable waste are :  waste food and fruits, wood, vegetables etc Non-biodegradable waste : These are the wastes which include old newspapers, broken glass pieces, plastics, etc. Non-biodegradable waste is known as dry waste. Dry wastes can be recycled and can be reused. Non-biodegradable wastes do not decompose by themselves and hence are major pollutants.

8. Examples of non-biodegradable waste : Glass, metals, electronic devices, computer parts, batteries, medical waste, plastic bags, plastic bottles, tetra packs, and carbon paper are a few examples of non- biodegradable materials . Waste hierarchy / Principles of Waste management : The waste management hierarchy replaces the traditional waste management approach of “the three Rs ” (reduce, reuse and recycle), expanding it into a five-step process where the most preferred actions are at the top and the least preferred are at the bottom of the inverted pyramid. 

9. Reduce : The waste management hierarchy places top priority on reducing or preventing as much waste generation as possible. This stage encourages industries, communities and governments to reduce their use of virgin raw materials to produce goods and services.  Reuse When waste is created, the waste hierarchy prioritises reuse. Where possible, reusing products and materials before it becomes waste is the next best option. By cleaning, repairing and refurbishing items, we can significantly increase the number of things we reuse.

10. Recycling Recycling is the most environmentally friendly solution when it comes to disposing of waste. Recycling essentially turns our waste into a new item or product, reducing the amount of raw materials required. Today, the majority of items we use can now be recycled. Everyday products that we can recycle include paper, cardboard, glass, wood, metal and most plastics.

11. Recovery : Recovery is the next best option when we can't apply the first 3 Rs of waste management in the waste hierarchy. For waste that we can't recycle, it may be possible to recover energy in the form of "waste to energy". Waste to energy is the process of incinerating non-recyclable waste to produce electricity.  WtE helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and decreases carbon emissions. Disposal : The least sustainable option in the waste hierarchy and our last resort is landfill and incineration when energy recovery isn't possible. In the UK, landfill is highly taxed by the government to help promote more sustainable methods in the waste hierarchy.

12. What is recycling : Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into reusable objects to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, energy usage, air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by decreasing the need for “conventional” waste disposal and lowering greenhouse gas emissions compared to plastic production. Types of recycling : There are 3 basic types : Mechanical recycling Energy recycling

13. Chemical recycling 1. Mechanical recycling : One of the most globally used methods of giving residues new usages is mechanic recycling. This method is used to recycle plastics, either obtained from industrial scrap, or domestic, or commercial disposals. The residues are mechanically transformed into new materials without changing their chemical structures.  2. Energy Recycling The method used to convert plastics into both thermal and electric energy is called energy recycling. The process is done by leveraging, through incineration and the heat is released in the form of fuel.

14. 3.Chemical Recycling Among all types of recycling, chemical recycling is the most complex method. In this process, the chemical structures of plastics are modified after reprocessing them. The final product is produced to be used as raw material in different Industries. 4. plastic recycling? Plastic recycling reduces the need to extract new, raw materials from the earth as it reuses the stuff that's already processed and protects natural resources. This can help reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. It also prevents adding more rubbish to landfills.

15. 5. Paper recycling : Paper recycling pertains to the processes of reprocessing waste paper for reuse. Waste papers are either obtained from paper mill paper scraps, discarded paper materials, and waste paper material discarded after consumer use. Examples of the commonly known papers recycled are old newspapers and magazines. 6. Glass recycling : Glass recycling, or glass reprocessing, is the process of turning waste glass back into usable products. This involves washing, crushing and melting used glass before moulding it back into bottles and jars. This cycle can be repeated endlessly with no loss in quality to the end product.

16. 7. Metal recycling : Metal recycling is simply the process of taking waste metal, processing it and creating new metal material. This recycled metal can be used to make metal products which can then be recycled once used or not needed. There are many advantages to recycling metal, including environmental benefits as well as energy savings. 8.Electroni recycling : Electronic waste recycling, electronics recycling or e-waste recycling is the disassembly and separation of components and raw materials of waste electronics; when referring to specific types of e-waste, the terms like computer recycling or mobile phone recycling may be used.

17. 9. Textile recycling : Textile recycling is the process of recovering fiber, yarn, or fabric and reprocessing the material into new, useful products. Textile waste is split into pre-consumer and post-consumer waste and is sorted into five different categories derived from a pyramid model . 10. Organic waste recycling : Organic recycling refers to a closed loop activity where natural materials are converted from organic waste to energy, gas, water, and biomass.

18. 11. Battery recycling : Battery recycling is a recycling activity that aims to reduce the number of batteries being disposed as municipal solid waste. 12. Tire recycling : Tire recycling, or rubber recycling, is the process of recycling waste tires that are no longer suitable for use on vehicles due to wear or irreparable damage. These tires are a challenging source of waste.

19. 13. Water recycling : Water reuse (also commonly known as water recycling or water reclamation) reclaims water from a variety of sources then treats and reuses it for beneficial purposes such as agriculture and irrigation, potable water supplies, groundwater replenishment, industrial processes, and environmental restoration.

20. Phase 2: Processing In this phase, the items reach the MRF (Material Recovery Facility). The sorting, cleaning, and processing occur at the facility. Thus, they separate the reusable materials. The separation happens in two ways: Manual separation of the items Machines sort the items Phase 3: Manufacturing After sorting the recyclables, they bundle them into cubes. The facility sends the cubes to the manufecturers .

21. The recycling plants use the shipped products to make recycled materials. Since each material is different, the recycling method also differs. Importance of recycling : 1. Protects Ecosystems and Wildlife. When we recycle, we lessen disruption to the natural world. When we cut down fewer trees and forests, we are preventing harm to animals. 2. Conserve of natural resourse : Some of the world’s natural resources are in short supply, and when we recycle, we help conserve these natural resources

22. 3. Saves Energy : Making products from recycled materials requires less energy than making them from new, raw materials. 4. Reduces the Need to Harvest New Materials . When we recycle, we reduce the possibility of damaging someone else’s land or community. 5. Reduces Carbon Emissions Recycling takes up less energy, which reduces our carbon footprint and emissions

23. Different ways to reduce waste: So many decisions we make in our daily lives have impacts on our planet. The average American produces about 4.4 of trash per day. Explore our tips for ways you can make small changes that are eco-friendly and will have a lasting effect on the environment. 1. Use a reusable bottle/cup for beverages on-the-go : You might already have a reusable water bottle, but do you use it all the time? You can put that reusable bottle to use, save money and reduce waste. By taking your own water with you, you will also reduces the chances of purchasing expensive beverages on to go.

24. . 2. Use reusable grocery bags, and not just for groceries Just like a reusable water bottle, you may already have a reusable grocery bag, though it’s often forgotten at home. Try writing BAGS on the top of your grocery list to help you remember, or keep them in the back seat where they aren’t as easy to forget. 3. Purchase wisely and recycle You can reduce the amount of waste you produce by purchasing products that come with less packaging and/or come in packaging that can be recycled

25. 4 . Compose it : Your fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, grass clippings and leaves can all be composted. While composting requires more effort than the previously mentioned lifestyle changes, it will provide you with a beneficial return on your investment of time and effort. 5. Avoid single-use food and drink containers and utensils Whenever possible, try to avoid single-use coffee cups, disposable utensils, straws and napkins. Some businesses will even give you a discount on your coffee for bringing your own mug. Keep a set of silverware at work along with a plate, bowl and cup that you can wash and reuse.

26. 6. Buy secondhand items and donate used goods : Before you go buy something new, consider buying it used which can also save you lots of money. By purchasing secondhand items you’ll be supporting local charities in addition to saving items from ending up in the dump. 7. Shop local farmers markets and buy in bulk to reduce packaging : Shopping at your local farmers market is a win-win. First, you’ll be supporting local farmers while also getting fresher ingredients than you might find in the big-box grocery store.

27. 8. Curb your use of paper: mail, receipts, magazines : In today’s digital world, most companies offer bills by email, and some even offer incentives to do so. More stores are offering e-receipts, too, which are great because they’re harder to lose if you need to make a return. Consider digital subscriptions for your favorite magazines that you can read on your tablet or computer. Digital subscriptions are often a little cheaper than the hard-copy version, as well.