Waste

1
Waste

• Is it really a Problem?

Tina Drakou www.athenadrakou.com Friends of the
Earth Southampton www.southamptonfoe.org.uk
2
What is Waste?

• Rubbish, Garbage
• any materials unused and rejected as worthless or
  unwanted

3
Is waste really worthless?

• Waste is the result of our Shopping Habits
• Food, packaging, clothes, furniture
• Most of the waste could be a valuable resource
  for
• Someone
• Somewhere

4
How much we throw away?

• The UK in total produces about 400 million
  tonnes of waste every year. This rate of rubbish
  generation would fill the Albert Hall in London
  in less than 2 Hours.
• U.K. Households produce over 29,7 million tonnes
  or the equivalent of 4 million double-decker
  buses.
• 513kg waste per person per annum

(1) Environmental Agency (2) Strategy Unit
(2002). Waste not, Want not A strategy for
tackling the waste problem. http//www.number-10.g
ov.uk/su/waste/report/01.html
5
Whats in your Bin ?

• 23 Paper
• 37 Kitchen and Garden Waste
• 9 Plastic
• 8 Glass
• 6 Metals
• 17 The rest

6
The Destination of Waste in the UK 2005
67 goes into landfill 9 is incinerated 24 is
recycled/ composted
Source Economic and Social Research Council
http//www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/facts/index29
.aspx?ComponentId7104SourcePageId12643
7
Where does our Hazardous waste goes?

• Hazardous substances
• chemical products (paints, varnish)
• garden products (e.g. pesticides)
• vehicle products (batteries, antifreeze)
• household cleaners, toiletries
• (disinfectant, cosmetics, medicines)

8
Where does our waste goes?

• Landfill
• toxic leachate pollute land, water
• health problems in local communities
• pollute water supplies
• release methane and carbon dioxide

• Extremely High Cost for Councils

http//www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp20
02/rp02-034.pdf
9
Where does our waste goes?

• Incineration
• Toxic air pollution (dioxins, nitrogen oxides,
  heavy metals)
• Toxic ash
• Emissions from transport
• Permanent loss of Natural Resources
• Expensive to built
• Little incentive to reduce and recycle

http//www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp20
02/rp02-034.pdf
10
Percentage of Total Waste Recycled/Composted by
European Country 2005
Source Economic and Social Research Council
11
Recycling targets for Test Valley

• Test Valley recycling target - 30
• Current recycling rate - 22.
• More people must recycle more of their waste

http//www.testvalley.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page544
8
12
Waste Hierarchy
(image reproduced courtesy of Sligo County
Council)
13
Reduce, reuse recycle

• We can
• Reduce - materials we use and products we buy
• Reuse - carrier bags, furniture and clothes.
  Participate in recycle programs
• www.cityboard.co.uk
• www.freecycle.com
• Recycle - glass, paper and cans
• Compost - garden waste and leftover food

14
Smart Green Shopping
Consumption does not mean Happiness

• Only buy what you need
• Say NO to plastic bags
• Buy locally produced goods
• Avoid Over- packaging
• Support Repair Shops
• Buy products made from recycled materials

15
A world without Waste