The Environment Benefits of Waste Management
There are numerous environmental benefits of waste management. In this article, we will discuss some of these benefits. They include energy savings from recycling and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. We will also discuss how proper waste management improves civic appeal. So, why do we need these benefits? Let’s explore them in more detail. Please click here for more information and pricing on commercial waste.
Environment Benefits of Waste Management:
Waste management has numerous benefits, both for the environment and human health. The world can benefit from fewer diseases and a healthier environment by adequately managing waste. For example, using recycled and reused materials has environmental benefits by reducing the need for resources and minimising the risk of contamination. Furthermore, by properly managing commercial waste, more trees will be planted.
Waste management is an integral part of forestation, a process of saving forests and protecting the environment. Businesses generate a lot of waste, from offices and schools to stores and restaurants. Waste management can help organisations cut costs, engage employees, and enhance sustainability. While many organisations are content with removing commercial waste, others are becoming more proactive and looking to implement business waste reduction and commercial recycling programs.
As a result, their bottom line will benefit as well. In addition to reducing costs, a waste management program can help improve employee and tenant engagement. As the world becomes increasingly environmentally conscious, many previously unusable materials are being put to new use. Increasingly, businesses are implementing Waste to Energy Plants, which use waste materials to create energy and fuel commodities.
Recycling codes |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
PETE |
HDPE |
V |
LDPE |
PP |
|
Polyethylene Terephthalate. |
High Density Polyethylene |
Polyvinyl Chloride |
Low-density Polyethylene |
Polypropylene |
All other plastics |
Environment Benefits of Waste: Benefits
The benefits of such a program are plentiful and can be seen in any industry.
- In addition to reducing costs, these programs protect public health by minimising exposure to pollutants and harmful substances.
- There is a high demand for waste hauling, making it crucial to implement effective waste management.
- In addition to reducing waste, proper waste management also helps reduce the cost of materials.
- Many materials can be reused by recycling, including aggregates used in construction.
- Recycling also promotes a circular economy that leads to better prices for everyone.
The U.K. has set a target for recycling 50% of its waste by 2020. Different laws protect society from the accumulation of excess waste. By following proper waste management etiquette, businesses can avoid the need for heavy fines. By reducing waste, we can protect valuable resources from pollution and exploitation. Landfills take up valuable land and pose substantial risks to groundwater.
Furthermore, incinerators generate air pollution and degrade resources. Thus, the environmental benefits of waste management are a double-win situation for both businesses and citizens. So, waste management could be the answer if you’re looking for ways to reduce waste and increase your business’s sustainability. While there are numerous benefits to waste management, most are unrelated to the environment.
In addition to minimising the environmental impact, they also contribute to the company’s financial health. For example, a recent study by Boston Consulting Group shows that companies that have improved their sustainability performance have higher stock market valuations and higher profit margins. However, implementing more sustainable waste management is far easier said than done.
If you lack the assets or expertise in waste management, it is best to partner with a proven waste management provider. The latter has the regulatory knowledge to ensure that their solutions comply with laws and regulations.
Environment Benefits of Waste Management: Energy Savings
Researchers used the Environmental Protection Agency’s iWARM tool to calculate the energy saved when recycling common household materials. These savings could make recycling more affordable than purchasing raw materials, though many other costs may also be involved. In addition, recycling aluminium requires fewer resources than other materials, which can add considerable savings.
- However, not all recyclables are created equal. Here are some fun facts about the energy savings of different business recycling processes.
- Recycled materials require less energy than raw materials in the manufacturing process.
- Recycled material requires less energy than fresh materials, and manufacturers can produce products at lower costs.
- The recycling process prevents discarded materials from filling landfills and contributes to reducing global warming.
Here are a few ways commercial recycling can make a difference in your local community:
- It is good to recycle all of your waste to protect the environment.
- Several recyclable materials are not easily recycled, which requires a different processing process.
- Using recycled aluminium can save over 20 million BTU per short ton, while recycling glass will save about 34 million BTU.
- Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
The San Diego County Office of Education study revealed that one glass bottle recycled will save enough energy to power a light bulb for four hours. Incineration, meanwhile, is a less energy-efficient method of waste management. While incineration does save energy, it also carries several environmental risks. It uses less space and emits fewer pollutants than recycling. Another waste management method involves burning municipal solid waste to produce energy.
This method is commonly referred to as waste-to-energy.
While it creates a new energy source, it also releases significant carbon into the atmosphere. This way, you’ll save energy while saving money on waste management and disposal. One of the best ways to reduce energy is to recycle aluminium. Aluminium is the most efficient recyclable material, requiring less energy to recycle than other materials.
Environment Benefits of Waste Management: Crushed Aluminium
Crushed aluminium can be added to newly extracted aluminium, saving energy.
Additionally, aluminium does not degrade over time. The energy used to make 20 recycled cans is equivalent to making one new can from fresh bauxite ore. ‘
Environment Benefits of Waste Management: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste management, cities must take actions beyond landfills. These actions may include composting, waste minimisation, and carbon storage. These can collectively reduce ten to twenty-five per cent of a city’s GHG emissions.
These cities can also participate in the C40 Waste to Resources Network, which works with progressive cities to promote sustainable management practices. The group also offers resources and tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from waste management. In the European Union, the proportion of landfilled municipal waste has decreased by 42% over the past four decades.
However, greenhouse gas emissions remain a significant problem due to decomposing organic materials into waste. Fortunately, more waste is recycled and composted, which means fewer emissions are released. This trend continues despite a significant reduction in waste disposed of in landfills. While landfill methane emissions continue to increase, climate action can make a difference.
Cities can help reduce greenhouse gases by focusing on source reduction while maximizing recycling and composting efforts. While landfill methane emissions will rise as cities continue to grow, this process can be improved by recycling and composting. Recycling, composting, and waste reduction are essential ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By combining these efforts, cities can reduce their emissions and meet targets for reducing greenhouse gases.
Landfills produce more greenhouse gas than all of the other sectors combined. According to the United Nations’ latest report, landfills contribute between three and five per cent of global GHG emissions. As a result, the sector has great potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, current accounting methods attribute only three to five per cent of GHG emissions to this sector. This is insufficient because landfills emit methane from organic waste.
Environment Benefits of Waste – Learn more about UK business waste statistics here
Other useful links from our Commercial Waste Centre
Why Should Your Business Go Paperless?
Choosing a Garage Waste Management Service
Developing an EMS for Hazardous Waste
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