1. Topic 8: Human Systems and Resource Use
Topic 8.3: Solid Domestic Waste
Starter: The USA produced 3.5kg of SDW per capita per day, in the EU it is 1.4kg. LEDCs tend to have much lower values, why is this?

2. What is SDW? Also known as MDW (municipal solid waste)
What we commonly call rubbish.
Paper, packaging, organic materials (food), glass, dust, metals, plastic, textiles, paint, batteries, electronic waste etc.

3. When is something waste?
One man’s rubbish is another man's treasure
Waste is material that has no value to its producer.
In LEDCs there are whole industries set up to collect SDW. “Useful” stuff is taken from bins and landfills.
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4. The problem with plastic
Plastic is not biodegradable (doesn’t rot)
This has lead to hundreds of environmental issues:
Landfill space
Building up in ocean filter feeders
Birds mistaking it for food
Toxins released during production
Made from fossil fuels
Many more
This is an environmental issue where individual behavioural change can make a real difference: you can make a change

5. Changes are happening 5¢ bag charge – our culture is changing.
France has banned disposable plastic cutlery, cups and plates.
A report on recycling plastic over producing new plastic found the following:
Reduction of energy consumption by 66%
Produces half the NOx and a third of the SOx.
90% less water used
Reduces CO2 production by two and half times.

6. Linear vs Circular Economy

7. Linear economy – “take, make, dump”
Natural capital is obtained.
Goods are produced from this, which required energy.
Redundant or broken goods are discarded.
Our current global economy has been build on this unsustainable premise.

8. Circular economy – sustainable alternative
Instead of wasting goods they are recycled.
Aims:
Restore the environment
Use renewable energy
Eliminate toxic waste
Eradicate waste through careful design
Producers never loose ownership of products. Take products back once consumer has finished using them.
Image every company kind of acts like its own CEX/mazuma mobile.

9. Applying the principles of a circular economy
Principle
Circular Economy Practice
Design out waste
Recycle plastics/metals
Build for resilience through diversity
Build for connections and reuse of components
Use renewable energy sources
Shift taxation away from labour to non-renewable energy
Think in systems
Increase effectiveness and interconnectedness in manufacturing
Think in cascades
Do not produce waste. Use it to produce more products

10. Managing SDW
We have a choice: minimising waste or dispose of it responsibly.
Minimising waste is the best option.

11. Reduce Maintain possessions so they last longer.
Buy things that will last
Less packaging
Buy recycled products
Choose energy efficient products
Avoid imported goods
Be aware of “unseen” resources: energy, water etc.

12. Reuse
Bottles can be reused personally, or returned to the company for refilling.
Compost food waste
Use old clothes for rags
E-books

13. Recycle Most people in Canada have personal recycling bins.
Street bins are heading in the right direction too.
Charge/fine people for not recycling?
In China/India there is very little food waste, used for composting or fed to animals.
In MEDCs up to 50% is food waste!
Economics of recycling varies:
If goods are cheap to make little incentive.
If recycling is cheaper than extraction of raw material then high incentive e.g. aluminium cans.

15. Use The Following Scale To Rank Yourself On
The “Rs” Of Sustainable Living
Reduce
I could do better Hardly Sometimes Frequently Always
Reuse
Recycle
Repair
Rebuy
Repurpose