A Brief Note on Waste Management
December 13th, 2009
Waste management and handling of waste materials has seen some dramatic changes over the past few decades. In years gone by we were all dependent on landfills for disposal of most waste materials, including garbage, discarded furniture and appliances, and even hazardous materials such as batteries and items that contained mercury. The planet definitely needed some sort of waste management system in order to remain healthy. Before it is too late we all must learn to:
Reduce the amount of waste materials we need to dispose of
Recycle as much as we can as often as possible
Reuse as much as we possibly can
Recover as much as possible from waste by making it a source of energy
Incineration
Incineration can remove waste and create an energy source at the same time. Burning waste materials converts waste into flue gases, particulates, incinerator bottom ash, and heat. This heat source can be used in turn as a generator of electric power. Flue gases and particulates are filtered free from pollutants before dispersed into the atmosphere. This form of waste to energy technology is “a win win” situation.
While incinerators are found to reduce the amount of original waste by eighty to eighty five percent, compared to compression (in garbage trucks) which is ninety five to ninety six percent, there is less overall to dispose of because it has been burned up and not merely compressed. Ultimately incineration reduces the volume of waste that would otherwise go into the landfill by some seventy percent.
Landfill
Waste disposal into a landfill (dump) entails burying the waste materials and this is still commonly practiced throughout the world. Many landfills were set up in previously unused or abandoned mines, quarries, or pits that had already been dug. When properly managed, a landfill can be an inexpensive and hygienic means of the disposal of waste materials. The majority of the materials buried will eventually break down into gases and dissipate into the atmosphere. Some gases may be pumped from landfills and burned in gas engines, creating electricity. This is cause for concern now days however; as there is concern the gases create greenhouse gas.
Recycling
For the past several decades recycling has come into vogue and is proving to be quite effective when practiced. The idea is to reuse as many items as possible either in their original form or transforming them into something equally useful. Paper products are a popular item to recycle and have proven a most effective means of preserving trees. Plastics and glass are effectively recycled, saving space at the local landfills. Oil used for cooking and frying can be used for a fuel source in many vehicles.
Waste Avoidance
Preventing waste materials from being created in abundance is important as a form of waste management. Reuse of second hand items, repairing instead of replacing with new, manufacturing longer lasting products (cotton bags instead of plastic bags for groceries, etc.), designing items that use less material (smaller, thinner). Less wastage created in food and food handling materials. All can be utilized to achieve less waste of many materials.
Composting (anaerobic digestion)
Many materials such as plant, food scraps, and various paper products can successfully be recycled or even eliminated through composting. An effective compost heap in ones back yard can be turned into mulch and feed for plants and grasses. This biological form of waste management can even be useful as an energy source when the gases (methane) are processed and used to generate electricity. Composting speeds up the process of decomposition of the organic matter.
