Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
First Priority
Second Priority
Last Priority
Figure 17-3 Solutions: priorities
suggested for dealing with material
use and solid waste. To date, these
waste-reduction priorities have not
been followed in the United States
and in most other countries. Instead,
most efforts are devoted to waste
management (bury it or burn it).
Critical thinking: why do most coun-
tries not follow these priorities? (Data
from U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and U.S. National Academy
of Sciences)
Primary Pollution
and Waste Prevention
• Change industrial
process t o eliminate
use of harmful
chemicals
Secondary Pollution
and Waste Prevention
• Reuse products
Waste Management
• Treat waste to reduce
toxicity
• Repair pr o ducts
• Recycle
• Compost
• Buy reusable and
recyclable products
• Incinerate waste
• Bury waste in
landfills
• Release waste into
environment for
dispersal or dilution
• Purchase different
products
• Use less of a harmful
product
• Reduce packaging
and materials in
products
• Make products that
last longer and are
recyclable, reusable,
or easy to repair
Sixth, eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging.
From an environmental standpoint, the preferred hier-
archy for packaging is no packaging (nude products),
minimal packaging, reusable packaging, and recyclable
packaging. Canada has set a goal of using the first three
of these packaging priorities to cut excess packaging
in half.
Figure 17-4 lists some ways you can reduce your
output of solid waste.
Solutions: Reducing Solid Waste
Reducing consumption and redesigning the products
we produce are the best ways to cut waste production
and promote sustainability.
Here are six ways to reduce resource use, waste, and
pollution—what we might call the sustainability six.
First, consume less. Before buying anything, ask
questions such as these: Do I really need this or do I just
want it? Can I buy it secondhand (reuse)? Can I borrow
or rent it (reuse)?
Second, redesign manufacturing processes and prod-
ucts to use less material and energy. A skyscraper built to-
day includes about one-third less steel than one of the
same size built in the 1960s because of the use of lighter-
weight but higher-strength steel. The weight of cars has
been reduced by about one-fourth by using such steel
along with lightweight plastics and composite materi-
als. Plastic milk jugs weigh 40% less than they did in the
1970s, and soft-drink cans contain one-third less alu-
minum. All of these changes involve savings in energy
use as well as materials. And we can do much better.
Third, redesign manufacturing processes to produce
less waste and pollution. Most toxic organic solvents can
be recycled within factories or replaced with water-
based or citrus-based solvents (Individuals Matter,
p. 386). Hydrogen peroxide can be used instead of
toxic chlorine to bleach paper and other materials.
Fourth, develop products that are easy to repair, reuse,
remanufacture, compost, or recycle. A new Xerox photo-
copier with every part reusable or recyclable for easy
remanufacturing should eventually save the company
$1 billion in manufacturing costs.
Fifth, design products to last longer. Today's tires
have an average life of 97,000 kilometers (60,000
miles). Researchers believe this use could be extended
to at least 160,000 kilometers (100,000 miles).
What Can You Do?
Solid Waste
• Follow the four R's of resource use: Refuse, Reduce,
Reuse, and Recycle.
• Ask yourself whether you really need a particular item.
• Rent, borrow, or barter goods and services when you can.
• Buy things that are reusable, recyclable, or compostable,
and be sure to reuse, recycle, and compost them.
• Do not use throwaway paper and plastic plates, cups,
and eating utensils, and other disposable items when
reusable or refillable versions are available.
• Use e-mail in place of conventional paper mail.
• Read newspapers and magazines online.
• Buy products in concentrated form whenever possible.
Figure 17-4 Individuals matter: ways to reduce your output
of solid waste. Critical thinking: which three of these actions do
you believe are the most important? Which things in this list do
you do or plan to do?
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