Waste MinimisationWaste Management Methods...

Harrison, Emma, Emma, Matt and Josh

The aim of minimisation is to reduce the amount of resources and energy that are used to manufacture products and to reduce the overall volume of waste that households and industry produces.

Waste minimisation does not involve processing waste after it’s created, it aims to reduce the overall amount that ends up in landfill. (Type of prevention)

Landfill waste is always to be avoided as it has the most harmful effects to the environment and is a massive financial burden.

It is a priority option for local waste management organisations and councils because it is environmentally beneficial.

‘Minimisation is the process and the policy of reducing the amount of waste produced by a person and society as a whole’.

The main sources of waste vary from country to country. In the UK, most waste comes from the construction and demolition of buildings, followed by mining and quarrying, industry and then commerce. This is where minimisation methods are mainly implemented and are most effective.

Methods of Reduction - Industry

Product Design - Reducing the number of components used in a product or making the product easier to take apart can make it easier to be repaired or recycled at the end of its useful life. Examples:

Light weighting of beverage cans/bottles Using a smaller amount of plastics in car production Recyclable food packaging Reducing the number of components used for production

(e.g. Computers, laptops and other electronic equipment) Using alternative raw materials to reduce the toxicity of the

product or make it more recyclable (e.g. Production of flat panel displays)

Methods of Reduction - Industry

Durability - Increasing durability will increase the lifespan of a products use. In the long run this saves resources and money. Replacements do not need to be manufactured or bought so frequently which reduces the waste directed to landfill. Examples:

Concrete road surfacing Utilising long life materials (e.g Rubberised tough phones)

Fitting the Intended Use – Designing products that are optimised for their use improves their efficiency and reduces energy use.

Eco-friendly ‘city’ cars Moulded packaging Glass milk bottles

Methods of ReductionHousehold

Household lifestyle affects how much waste is produced by a home and determines how much of it can be reduced.

Re-using second hand products – Reduces the demand for new products and saves resources.

Repairing broken items – Repairing broken items minimises the amount of waste that would be contributed by throwing it away.

Discouraging a ‘disposable’ culture – Using refillable or reusable products saves energy and does not contribute to waste. This includes practices such as composting which turns unwanted bio matter into useful fertiliser.

Recycling – Reduces the amount of waste going to landfill and saves new resources from being used for new production.