Waste Reduction 3 R’s and Composting

Recovery• Resource recover is the recognition that waste often still have

a function. –Once treated, transform it into new by-products.

CompostingRecycling

• By reusing these materials… – We reduce the amount of

materials discarded in the landfill or that is incinerated.

– We reduce the demand for new resources.

The Three R’s• Reduce is waste minimization or

prevention. • Reuse is to use something more than

once. • Recycle is to collect materials and

convert them into raw materials that will be used to produce new objects.

There is an order to the Three R’s!

• It is always best to reduce the amount of waste generated. • Reducing and reusing go hand-in-hand.

• Recycling is a process, and therefore has its own impacts including that the material quality is reduced by processing.

All About Recycling• Closed loop - remanufacture a product

back to the original product. • It is important to support the use of recycled

materials. • Open loop - process when a product into a

new product.

Why Doesn’t Everyone Recycle?

Creative Options• Zero Waste

• Developing products and services while eliminating the volume and toxicity of waste and materials and conserve and recover all resources.

• Upcycling • The process of converting waste into something of greater value.

Upcycling

Trashion Fashion

http://www.trashionfashion.org/events

Composting• The process of managing the natural decomposition of

organic material. –Includes food scraps and yard trimmings.

Decomposition is performed by earthworms, insects, and microorganisms.

Composting

• The result of composting is humus. –Soil that is rich in nutrients.

–Used to replenish lost nutrients in the soil to restore soil health.

–Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

Other Benefits of Composting• When organic material is

decomposed in a landfill, landfill gas is produced. –Methane!

Composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions!

• Compost has better retention, so less water loss and leaching. • Compost increases infiltration and permeability of heavy soils,

which reduces the amount of erosion and runoff that occurs. • Compost improves and stabilizes the pH of the soil.

Can be made in your kitchen or backyard!

Large Scale Composting• Some cities and towns are having

curbside compost pick-up.

In San Francisco, they determined that 1/3 of the waste could be diverted from their landfills by composting.

• Some communities have been able to reduce trash pick-up to every other week because of the reduction in trash.

Requires a lot of education!

• People need to know why they should compost and how to do it.Cities without mandated composting sometimes have companies who

will collect your waste instead.

Large Scale Composting

Composting Considerations• It can be difficult to find a location suitable for municipal

composting.

• Attracts rodents and other wildlife.

• Too much waste…what will we do with it if there isn’t enough space for it?

• If you have too much “green waste” then the compost can smell. The higher the nitrogen, the greater the smell!

• Frequent turning is required for aerobic decomposition.