How Waste can Contribute to a Better Society and Environment
Many
factors contribute to a worsened environmental state, but almost none more so
than waste, a concerning by-product of our increasingly consumer based culture.
Especially within big businesses such as the energy or trade sectors, corporations
frequently overlook the protection of our environment and natural resources in
favour of making more money, or doing a job the easier or quicker way.
Waste Reduction
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| Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kino-eye/ |
Waste
production is almost always harmful to the environment, as well as hugely
inefficient compared to our modern technological capabilities. On average, the
UK throws away roughly 7 million tonnes of food per year (half of which could
still be eaten) which contributes globally to a total of 1.3 billion tonnes and an
average of $750 billion in wasted capital. This kind of waste is also seriously
harmful to the environment, and is responsible for adding a further 3.3 billion
tonnes in greenhouse gases to our planet’s atmosphere each year.
In many sectors, food, agricultural and industrial waste can be used to replace and create new products, as well as provide fuel and useful by-products for ongoing production. Recycling waste in this way creates an ongoing chain of production and reproduction; one such notable case is Silo Brighton, a café which produces no food or material waste, instead turning scraps into compost which is given back to farmers for further food production.
Moving Away from Fossil Fuels
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| Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/ |
Fossil
fuels are a massive source of dangerous emissions for the environment, but also
fund some of the most profitable businesses on the planet. Despite the ongoing
and increasing usage of fossil fuels, only a small number of these corporations
accept any responsibility, or show any interest in the development of greener
fuel sources and better sustainable business practices. Although it is widely
acknowledged that material waste can provide a reliable source of recyclable
energy and fuel, very little time or money is committed to further research.
Biomass heating technology is an example of
environmentally friendly energy. It is beneficial because it uses residuals and
waste from agricultural and industrial products to generate heat and
electricity, and with much less effect on the environment than the burning of
fossil fuels, maintaining a natural cycle between waste and energy. Just like
food waste, the redistribution of residuals should be properly allocated so it
can continue to be utilized.
Waste for Future Investment
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| Source: http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/business-and-community/the-house-that-kevin-built |
The
use of waste extends beyond fuel and food, and into other sustainable areas
such as clothing, housing, and civil structures such as bridges and silos. Recycled
materials have already been utilized in this way by University of Brighton
students, who built an entire house from recycled
plastic and rubber products, including wasted glass for windows and effective
insulation from old VHS tapes. Clothes from recycled materials are also readily
available from major stores such as H&M, who use customer clothing
donations to create brand new ranges.
In
the future, waste will be committed to the reproduction of a large volume of
everyday use objects, as well as included within the production process for
many others. The ultimate goal of this ongoing cycle will be to maintain an
environmentally friendly means of production and reproduction for food, energy,
housing, and essential equipment by reducing and reusing unnecessary waste.
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