#10⏐Waste hierarchy explained
Avoid manufacturing and consumption is the best option to achieve zero waste. Recycling process generates waste, emissions and pollution, not a truly eco-friendly option
1. What is waste hierarchy ?
It is a system to rank the cost and environmental impact of waste management. Impacts by each waste treatment depend on
lifespan: the longer products are kept in use, the less negative impact they have.
the end-of-life value: the more value recycled, recovered, composted materials have, the less impact they have. Some items may not be recyclable or compostable.
2. What is the goal of waste hierarchy?
The ultimate goal is to adopt the best waste management to reduce waste of non-renewable resources, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and pollution.
The first priority: prevention of waste generation
Prevention: avoidance of manufacturing and consumption can generation zero waste
Reduce: reduction in manufacturer and consumer levels help reduction of waste generation.
The second priority: waste diversion from landfills
Reuse: keep products and materials in use as long as possible
Recycling: reproduce materials from waste as resource inputs.
Recover: it uses waste unsuitable for reuse and recycling to produce fuel or energy.
3. What’s the difference among reuse, recycling and recovery?
Reuse: it has minimal waste generation by extending product life time.
Recycling: The process itself generate emissions and waste from waste collection, sorting, transportation and production.
Recovery: In addition to the same issues with recycling, the process use more energy, some method release pollutants into air.
4. Why landfill is the least preferred option?
Landfill pose several problems on ecosystem:
Pollution: Landfill generates leachate and other pollutants, contaminating soil and water and polluting air.
Emissions: Landfill is a significant source of methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2.
Large consumption of finite land resources: Suitable sites for new landfills is diminishing.
