Page 98 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

76 BENEFITS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND MINIMIZATION

3.2 Environmental Benefits

Waste minimization efforts are a big step forward in moving toward a sustainable envi-
ronment. The results are clear: cleaner air and water, less pollution, more forested land
and open space, and reduced greenhouse gases. It is obvious that recycling translates
into less trash entering landfills. But the greatest environmental benefits of recycling
are not related to landfills, but to the conservation of energy and natural resources and
prevention of pollution when a recycled material, rather than a raw material, is used to
make a new product. Since recycled materials have been refined and processed once,
manufacturing the second time around is much cleaner and less energy intensive than
the first. The following list summarizes the key benefits to the environment that can be
derived from solid waste minimization:

■ Conservation of natural resources (water, trees, energy, and land)
■ Healthier environment via landfill emissions reduction (carbon dioxide, methane,
and leachate)
■ Global warming reduction
■ Conservation of habitats

The primary environmental benefit of solid waste minimization is resource conservation.
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) reports that the college recycled
1269 tons of paper, metals, organics, and other materials in 2003. Based on the school’s
calculations, this saved a total of about 13,756 Btu of energy, enough energy to power
nearly 137 homes for 1 year. In addition, products made using recovered rather than
virgin or raw materials use significantly less energy. Less energy used means less
burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. When burned, these fuels release
pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide, into the air. By
using recycled materials instead of trees, metal ores, minerals, oil and other raw materials
harvested from the earth, recycling-based manufacturing conserves the world’s scarce
natural resources. This conservation reduces pressure to expand forests cutting and
mining operations.
Recycling and composting diverted nearly 70 million tons of material away from
landfills and incinerators in 2000 as reported by the National Recycling Coalition. This
total is up from 34 million tons in 1990, doubling in just 10 years. Below are some
interesting facts about the relationship between recycling and resource conservation.
These facts can have great emotional appeal when promoting waste minimization and
can serve as part of a comprehensive strategy to promote recycling:

■ Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees.
■ The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb
for 4 hours.
■ Recycling benefits the air and water by creating a net reduction in 10 major cate-
gories of air pollutants and 8 major categories of water pollutants.