ZERO WASTE MANAGEMENT.pdf

ZWM

1. ZERO WASTE MANAGEMENT

Introduction:
Zero Waste -
→ Zero Waste is a whole system approach to resource management centred on
reducing, reusing, and recycling.
→ To make recycling work for everyone, we need to buy products made from
the materials we recycle.
→ This reduces the need to utilize non-renewable resources by reusing
materials that have already been consumed.
→ Producing recycled materials uses less energy and saves more trees than
producing "virgin" materials.

The goal of Zero Waste is to:

→ Maximize recycling
→ Minimize waste
→ Reduce consumption
→ Ensure products are made to be reused, repaired, or recycled
→ Purchase sustainable products
Zero Waste systems reduce greenhouse gases by:

→ Saving energy -- especially by reducing energy consumption associated with
extracting, processing, and transporting raw materials and waste
→ Reducing and eventually eliminating the need for landfills and incinerators.

NOTE:
It is necessary to realise that the term Zero Waste does not mean reduction
of production of all waste to zero - this is not possible in a society oriented
on International POPs Elimination Project – IPEP Website- www.ipen.org
5 consumption. The term means elimination of the present way of waste
disposal by depositing to landfills and incineration.

Implementation of the Zero Waste concept requires:

2. → To determine the year in which we want to achieve this aim - usually, this
concerns a period of 15 to 20 years, the final aim should be planned in
several stages.
→ To involve the public in the intention - local representatives,
entrepreneurs, inhabitants. The public campaign must be a permanent
part of the plan. The campaign may include issuance of a leaflet for each
household, intensive campaign in the media, opinion polls, lectures, often it
is necessary to personally contact households, from door to door,
competitions for schools, exhibitions, notice boards on municipal
authorities.
→ To promote and support projects for prevention of production of wastes, and
for their re-use - local deposit system, second-hand store selling furniture,
building materials, electronics, etc.
→ To start biological waste composting - if possible, to support composting in
households and communities in the first stage, and, later, a system of
collection of biological waste and its composting in the municipality.
→ To create good conditions for separated collection of dry recyclable wastes
for the inhabitants - to ensure sufficient number of containers for recyclable
components; in the districts of family houses, a sack system and collection
from door to door may be introduced.
→ To introduce collection of high-volume, hazardous wastes, and to set a
system of building waste management
→ To motivate households - provide for introduction of just fees according
to the amount of produced waste; in the case of lump-sum fees, a lower fee
may be offered to people who participate in the system
→ To increase fees for landfilling and incineration of wastes - the income from
these fees should be used for setting up the Zero Waste system
→ To support take-back programmes - to convince the local tradesmen to
introduce a take-back system for their products, in accordance with the
local conditions
→ To refuse construction of an incinerator and landfills - incinerators are
demanding from the economic point of view, and the investments do not
stay in the region.

3. Zero Waste Hierarchy – Canada

→ The Zero Waste Hierarchy describes a progression of policies and strategies
to support the zero-waste system, from highest and best to lowest use of
materials.

→ It is designed to be applicable to all audiences, from policy-makers to
industry and the individual. It aims to provide more depth to the internationally
recognized 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle); to encourage policy, activity and
investment at the top of the hierarchy; and to provide a guide for those who
wish to develop systems or products that move us closer to zero waste.

→ It enhances the zero-waste definition by providing guidance for planning and
a way to evaluate proposed solutions.

→ All over the world, in some form or another, a pollution prevention hierarchy
is incorporated into recycling regulations, solid waste management plans,
and resource conservation programs.

→ In Canada, a pollution prevention hierarchy otherwise referred to as the
Environmental Protection Hierarchy was adopted.

→ This Hierarchy has been incorporated into all recycling regulations within
Canada and is embedded within all resource conservation methods which all
government mandated waste prevention programs follow.

→ While the intention to incorporate the 4th R (recovery)prior to disposal was
good, many organizations focused on this 4th R instead of the top of the
hierarchy resulting in costly systems designed to destroy materials instead of
systems designed to reduce environmental impact and waste.

→ Because of this, along with other resource destruction systems that have been
emerging over the past few decades, Zero Waste Canada along with the Zero
Waste International Alliance have adopted the only internationally peer
reviewed Zero Waste Hierarchy that focuses on the first 3Rs; Reduce, Reuse
and Recycle including Compost.

4. Usual methods assisting ZWM:

• Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Redesign
• Reduce Waste, Toxicity, Consumption, and Packaging
• Repair, Reuse and Donate
• Recycle
• Compost
• Down Cycle and Beneficial Reuse
• Waste-Based Energy as disposal
• Landfill Waste as disposal


Conclusion -

Zero Waste Management helps in the management of wastes in an efficient
manner and environmentally friendly manner.


While the switch to zero waste can be hard, there can be many benefits for
you on a personal level as well as for household in general, such as:
• Improved physical health
• Improved wellbeing
• Fewer toxic chemicals in your home
• Reduced unnecessary spending


Environmental benefits
Zero waste can be a climate solution. Not only because it reduces the trash
we produce but also embodies waste-free and environmentally friendly
production and distribution. It ensures that the product's entire life cycle
leaves a minimal negative impact on the environment.