Is sustainable waste management just a buzzword, or can it truly mitigate the relentless issue of industrial waste?
Sometimes, navigating through the essential processes of reducing, reusing, and recycling to curb waste’s environmental toll while uncovering economic and social advantages can be tricky.
This article outlines actionable strategies and great examples for organisations seeking to make impactful, responsible waste choices.
What is Waste Management?
Traditionally, waste management refers to three waste management methods – collecting, transporting, and disposing of waste materials. Traditionally, waste generated is collected and sent off to landfill sites or incineration facilities. However, this method mainly deals with the aftermath of waste generation, rarely addressing the root cause of the problem.
Sustainable waste management takes things a step further than getting rid of waste. It’s not just about removing the waste from a facility but about achieving sustainable waste management aims, such as:
- reducing the amount of waste generated in the first place
- reusing where possible
- recycling what can’t be reused
- selling what we can (‘one man’s waste is another man’s treasure)
- only then, disposing of what’s left
Sustainable waste management looks for solutions that don’t harm the environment or human health and focus on reducing natural resource consumption.
The process of sustainable waste management encompasses a few key steps:
- Collection of waste
- Sorting and processing
- Recovery of materials or energy from waste
- Recycling into new products
The Importance of Sustainable Waste Management
This all sounds very good, but why does sustainable waste management matter?
Primarily, sustainable waste management aids in reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. It also yields substantial economic and social benefits.
Let’s explore further the reasons why it’s not just beneficial but an essential practice for industrial and commercial waste management.
Grasping the significance of sustainable waste management isn’t solely about recognising its benefits but also observing its practical implications. For a more detailed view, let’s break down the environmental, economic, and social benefits of sustainable waste management.
Environmental benefits
We live in a world where pollution is a major concern, and waste significantly contributes to this issue. The good news is that sustainable waste management can help mitigate these problems. By focusing on waste reduction and the conservation of natural resources, we can improve air and water quality, greatly reducing pollution levels.
Sustainable waste management plays a vital role in reducing carbon emissions. In the UK, waste is either incinerated or sent to a landfill and there is much debate as to which is cleaner. The ideal is to try and prevent all waste ending up in either landfill or incineration. By educating the public at large, and encouraging responsible recycling, the percentage of potential recyclables in black bag waste could be reduced for example. By combining education with the implementation of better waste prevention techniques, we can positively contribute to a meaningful reduction in CO2 emissions.
And then there’s the issue of conserving natural resources. By recycling materials like paper and paperboard, we can reduce the need for deforestation and decrease the consumption of energy and water. This, in turn, helps to mitigate environmental stress and ensures that our resources are used more efficiently.
Economic benefits
Moving on to the economic aspect, sustainable waste management can undoubtedly result in substantial cost savings. For instance, the UK-wide plastic packaging tax encourages businesses to use more recycled materials in their packaging, helping them avoid additional costs.
Moreover, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, incentivises businesses to reduce the use of harder-to-recycle materials, promoting efficiency in material use.
On the consumer side, the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) motivates recycling and promotes efficient resource use by adding a deposit cost to the price of drinks sold in containers, which customers get back when they recycle. On the industrial side, there are financial gains to be made by commoditising waste streams that may be currently running at a financial loss, for example, the baling of cardboard or the use of anaerobic digestion for food waste.
Social benefits
Finally, we must reflect on the social benefits that sustainable waste management can bring. One of the most significant benefits is improved public health. By reducing pollution and improving air and water quality, sustainable waste management helps prevent diseases caused by poor waste management and makes cities more liveable.
Beyond health, sustainable waste management also:
- Creates job opportunities in areas like waste collection, sorting, and processing
- Helps raise awareness of environmental issues
- Reduces the emissions from associated transport costs as well as the transport costs themselves
- Encourages people to support environmentally friendly waste disposal methods
- Encourages people to take actions that benefit the environment
Types of Waste Requiring Sustainable Management
Having comprehended the significance of sustainable waste management and its benefits, it’s time to explore the types of waste that necessitate sustainable management. These include:
- Hazardous waste
- E-waste
- Medical waste
- Industrial waste
- Demolition waste
Hazardous waste is a particular concern, as it can pose a threat to both people and the environment. This type of waste includes materials that can easily catch fire, corrode other materials, or react dangerously, among other characteristics. To manage hazardous waste sustainably, adherence to strict regulations and usage of approved transporters and disposal facilities is imperative.
Medical or clinical waste produced during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunisation of humans or animals is another type of waste that requires careful management. Various strategies are used to manage this waste effectively, including:
- Sorting and coding
- Following county-specific disposal rules
The Circular Economy and Waste Management
The concept of the circular economy plays a significant role in sustainable waste management. In a circular economy, waste is not just discarded but is treated as a resource that can be brought back into circulation with the help of recycling and recovery technologies.
The primary principles of the circular economy in waste management revolve around eliminating waste and pollution, reusing products and materials, and restoring nature. This approach promotes sustainability by encouraging the reuse, repair, and remanufacturing of goods and using low-carbon technologies.
One such example is the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), which invests in a circular economy growth capital fund and accelerator to support companies growing the circular economy in London.
Sustainable Waste Management Strategies
Sustainable waste management isn’t just about understanding the importance and benefits of waste reduction and recycling. It’s also about implementing sustainable waste management solutions and effective waste management strategies.
Let’s explore some key strategies, encompassing the waste hierarchy, waste-to-energy technologies, and zero-waste initiatives.
Waste hierarchy
The waste management hierarchy is a fundamental practice in sustainable waste management. The three R’s – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – form the backbone of this hierarchy. Prevention is the top step of the waste management hierarchy, focusing on avoiding and minimising waste through various methods.
Cutting down on consumption, saying no to single-use products, and reducing packaging are some ways to reduce waste. On the other hand, where a product is absolutely needed, reuse is an option to create a more sustainable waste process. Finally, recycling helps save energy, reduces the need for new materials, and helps create new products.
Waste-to-energy technologies
Waste-to-energy technologies, such as energy recovery, are another key strategy in sustainable waste management. They involve turning waste into useful heat, electricity, or fuel. Combustion is one such method that involves burning waste at high temperatures, which helps reduce carbon emissions and decreases the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Anaerobic digestion is another waste-to-energy technology that treats organic waste and sludge by fermenting it without oxygen. This process produces methane, a significant part of biogas, a renewable energy source that can be used for cooking, heating, and generating electricity.
For example, anaerobic digestion can transform food waste into a reusable resource rather than just being disposed of.
Zero waste initiatives
Zero waste initiatives are an ambitious yet achievable strategy in sustainable waste management. These initiatives aim to eliminate waste altogether through reduction, reuse, recycling, and redesigning systems and processes.
Zero waste initiatives can be put into action by:
- Decreasing consumption
- Encouraging the reuse and repair of products
- Setting up recycling and composting programs
- Designing products and packaging to be easily disassembled and recycled
The importance of product design in achieving zero waste cannot be overstated. Effective design can reduce waste and encourage the use of sustainable materials, making it easier to recycle products and put them back into the resource loop.
Successful Sustainable Waste Management Practices
Sustainable waste management extends beyond theoretical concept – it’s a tangible and practical strategy that finds successful implementation worldwide, owing to the collaborative efforts of:
- Individuals
- Businesses
- Organisations
- Governments
Examples of successful sustainable waste management practices are numerous. Some examples include:
- Germany’s leading recycling scheme
- New recycling technologies
- Waste-to-energy systems
- Pay-as-you-throw programs
London has ambitious plans to become a zero-waste city by 2026, aiming to ensure that no biodegradable or recyclable waste ends up in a landfill and that 65% of municipal waste is recycled by 2030.
Tips for Implementing Commercial Sustainable Waste Management
For businesses aiming to implement sustainable waste management, several practical steps exist. First and foremost, conducting waste audits can provide invaluable insights into your specific waste challenges and opportunities.
Setting realistic waste management goals based on your audit results is another important step. Collaboration with stakeholders can also play a critical role in successfully implementing sustainable waste management.
Lastly, adopting waste reduction and recycling practices can significantly contribute to your sustainability efforts.
Summary
Sustainable waste management is essential for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world. It’s not just about getting rid of waste but about transforming our perspective – viewing waste not as a problem but as a resource.
From implementing the waste hierarchy to exploring waste-to-energy technologies and striving for zero waste, there are numerous strategies we can employ.
The journey towards sustainable waste management requires commitment, innovation, and dedication, but the payoff – a waste management process that’s a few shades greener – is worth every effort.
At Waste Mission, our drive for a greener future fuels our vision to empower businesses to adopt sustainable recycling solutions. Speak to one of our team members today to find out how we can help you transform your waste management.
