7517 Principles of Sustainable Resource ManagementUnit 209 Understand the principles of the Waste and Recycling Industry

Learning outcomes There are three learning outcomes to this unit. The

learner will: 1. Understand the purpose of the waste and recycling

industry 2. Understand the flow of waste and other materials 3. Understand waste minimisation

Purpose of the Industry The UK consumes natural resources at an

unsustainable rate and contributes unnecessarily to climate change. Each year we generate approximately 290 million tonnes of waste, which causes environmental damage and costs businesses and consumers money.

Global warming There has been a clear decreasing trend in Arctic

summer sea ice levels since records began in 1979.

Sea levels around the UK rose by 10cm during the 20th century.

The earth’s surface has warmed by about 0.4°C on average since the 1970s.

In 160 years of records, the 10 hottest years have all been since 1997.

Global warming The main cause of this warming is the emission of

“greenhouse gases”, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide.

Human activity over the past 250 years, including the burning of fossil fuels, land use change, and agriculture, has increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere.

As these gases build up in the atmosphere, they strengthen what is known as the ‘“greenhouse effect’”.

C02 Emissions – latest stats Between 1990 – 2009.... 20% higher Increase of 35% between 1995-2005 Decrease of 9% 2008-2009

Carbon footprint increased by 12% over period

CO2 Emissions Agriculture Fluorinated gases Waste industry Transport Industry household

Waste Sector Mainly methane that escapes into the atmosphere from

landfill sites. Caused by biodegradable waste, like food and wood,

decomposing in landfill sites and giving off methane gas. Much of this gas is captured at landfill sites, but the

methane that does escape is estimated to make up about 3% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions.

Of that figure, 89% arises from landfill, 10% from waste-water handling and 2% from waste incineration (these figures are rounded).

Actions EU/National/Local Targets for recycling recycling and composting of household waste – at least 40% by 2010, 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020

Where waste comes from...

Figures for England

Commercial & Industrial/Trade - Combined 47.9 tonnes

Household Waste - 23.5 million tonnes

Commercial and Industrial Waste

Household recycling has increased The proportion of household waste sent for

recycling, composting or reuse 2010/11 in England was 41.2 %, increasing from 39.7% in 2009/10

Waste generation per person has decreased

Household waste generated April 2010 to March 2011 in England was 449 kg per person. 185 kg was recycled, composted or reused whilst 264 kg was not.

Recycling rates improved

The proportion of local authority collected waste being recycled, composted or reused continued the long term trend by increasing to 40.1 per cent between the years 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Local Authority % to landfill decreased

2000/01 – 78% 2010/11 – 43.4%

England sends approx 49% of its waste to landfill

Why is this important – The EU Waste Framework Directive requires the UK to recycle, compost or reuse 50 per cent of waste from households by 2020

Sanctions Fines

Landfill Tax £64 per tonne, and

will increase £8 per year until 2014.

£2.50 per tonne for lower rate waste

EU Environmental Policy ‘Polluter Pays’ principle Framework for liability

with a view to preventing and remedying damage to the environment

Group task Research and present:

Zero waste/waste minimisation

Waste Hierarchy

Recycling targets/figures for Organisation

Waste Minimisation Process and the policy of reducing the amount of

waste produced by a person or a society Using fewer natural resources ‘Zero waste’

A few facts We throw away more than 7 million tonnes of food and

drink every year from our homes - most of which could have been safely consumed.

By pursuing opportunities for re-use, the UK could reduce its reliance on raw materials, including rare earths, by as much as 20% by 2020.

Our research shows doubling the number of sofas re-used, could save 52,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. At the moment, 83% of sofas are not re-used and are sent to landfill or recycled.

Tip of the iceberg……

Activities within the Waste/Recycling Industry

RecyclingKerbside CollectionSortingWaste transferTransporting

Recovery IncinerationTreatmentDischargeLandfill

Task Research and present:

Where waste and materials go to

Illegal Waste Disposal

Bring sites

Civic Amenity Site

Materials Recovery Facility

Waste Incineration – Energy Recovery Facilities Approx 9% of waste is incinerated in England

UK - The dustbin of Europe

"The Dustbin of Europe" was how the UK was described in 2007. Almost five years ago, Britain was reported as disposing of more rubbish in UK landfills than any other EU state. The Local Government Association (LGA) estimated the UK put 27 million tonnes of waste into landfills every year, 7 million more than any other country and that the area given over to landfill space was about the size of Warwick. Not just that, but we would run out of landfill space by 2016.

Landfill One tonne of waste tipped in a landfill produces

between 200 and 400 cubic metres of landfill gas. Landfill sites released 32% of the UK's methane

emissions in 2009. Methane is about 21 times more potent than carbon

dioxide and allowing methane to escape into the atmosphere has significant global warming implications.

How does a landfill site work?

(1) When waste arrives, it is weighed and its' contents checked to ensure it complies with the landfill operating licence.

(2) This waste is then tipped into the ‘tipping face' of the landfill.

(3) This is then compacted by specialist machinery and covered with layers of cover material, such as soil. This layer helps to reduce odour produced by the waste and deter scavengers, like rodents, flies and birds. At the end of each day the operational area of the landfill is completely covered with a layer of cover material.

(4) A common misapprehension is that waste is simply dumped and buried in landfills, but actually much of it is naturally broken down by microbes under anaerobic (absence of oxygen) conditions. This decomposition, combined with rainwater filtering through the landfill, results in the production of liquid, called leachate, and gas.

(5) This gas is mostly carbon dioxide and methane and due to its harmful nature is often burnt off or directed to an on-site energy generation plant, where it is converted into electricity, which is most commonly exported to the National Grid.

(6) The liquid is pumped into storage tanks where it is treated and cleaned before being discharged into the sewer.

Hazardous Waste Facilities

Laboratory chemicals Solvents Aerosols Batteries Fluorescent tubes Household hazardous waste Oils Paints Pharmaceutical waste Photographic and printing waste WEEE (Waste electrical & Electronic Equip)

Treatment Inorganic treatment Recovery Storage & Disposal High temperature

incineration

Illegal Waste Disposal Fly tipping Unlicensed carrier Burning Dumping Storing Site licence issues

Thousands of incidents daily Visible - public concern Affect amenity of public spaces Risk to public health

Local authorities, Environment Agency, other land managers, the police, Inland Revenue

Policies and Legislation Environmental Protection Act Duty of Care Hazardous Waste Regulations Waste Carriers Regulations Waste Strategy for England 2007 Waste Regulations 2011