Waste minimization (waste reduction)

In 2018, the concept of waste reduction is not something unknown to the general public. Many societies around the world have already adopted the concept of sustainable use of natural resources and waste reduction. The societies, however, consist of many people with separate behaviors and beliefs. In order to achieve a remarkable result, if not all, the majority of citizens have to consolidate an ecocentric environmental protection view. The triptych for each consumer-citizen is based on: Reduction, reuse and recycling (Triple R).

Figure 1. The triptych of waste reduction  

With this education, society establishes a safe environment with a high standard of living and respect for public health. However, each element, refers in what, from this triptych? 

The reduction refers to resources saving, which are not necessarily goods for consumption, but they may still be, due to custom or marketing. For example, there could be only one shopping bag in the house without using many plastic bags. 

Reuse refers to the repeated use of a good. For example, the plastic bag of the supermarket can be used more than once and not discarded after the product has been shipped.

Finally, recycling that converts waste into raw materials, which will then be used to produce new goods. Returning to the example with the bag, when it can no longer be used, it should be recycled and become part of another bag. In all these processes, toxic and pathogenic materials are converted into harmless or less harmful components and, at the same time, material is re-used. More tangible, if we recycle what can we save from the environment?

• Reduce waste and management problems, as pollution of the atmosphere, soil and groundwater is reduced.

• Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 2.30 cubic meters of waste landfills, 4000 kW of energy, and 26.500 liters of water.

• Plastics discarded in the oceans kill 1 million marine animals a year, and when all this fauna is recycled, it would be their life cycle.

• A glass bottle can take as much as 4,000 years to decompose (USI, 2017). 

It is a fact that recycling brings environmental benefits, but there is mistrust for the immediate benefits to the consumer and user of recyclable materials. Some of the benefits are:

• The exploitation of natural resources is stopped, as own resources are shuffled and you save energy for extracting and rebuilding products with a cost impact.

• Reduction of energy and by extension and the cost of waste collection and disposal.

• A long-term fall (or non-increase) in product prices is achieved as no raw material is needed.

• Approximately 10% of the cost of a product relates to the packaging, which is discarded (USI, 2017). With a reduction in packaging requirements, a reduction in commodity prices can also be achieved.

• The quality of life of citizens is increasing and an opportunity is given to future generations for a healthier environment.
  

• New jobs are created.

• A pleasant feeling of satisfaction due to participation in the environment and the living conditions is created.

 

Sources

USI (2017) Recycling at USI. By: https://www.usi.edu/recycle/ (accessed 12/10/2017)

Καρβούνης Κ. Σωτήρης & Γεωργακέλλος Α. Δημήτρης. (2003). Διαχείριση του Περιβάλλοντος: επιχειρήσεις και βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη. ΣΤΑΜΟΥΛΗΣ (In Greek)

.