Waste Prevention Waste Prevention as a future optionas a future option
Monika OlssonIndustrial Ecology/KTH
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
Trends in waste and GDPTrends in waste and GDP
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), real GDP and real Gross National Income (GNI)(Sweden)Source: SCB
kg MSW/Capita (Sweden)Source: Avfall Sverige
How much?How much?
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
426.000 every day
2 millionevery 5 min
60.000 every 5 sec
What is the course of the What is the course of the problem?problem?
More peopleConsumption behaviourEconomical growthAttitudesNew products (“wants”, “needs”)
– new materials
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
…….leading to.leading toWaste of natural resourcesEnergy consumptionHazardous compoundsLandfills – landfill gas, leachate
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
Landfill-09Monika OlssonIndustrial Ecology
Small scale
Dumping sites
On water
“Safe” landfills
Hazardous waste
Incineration?Incineration? Energy recovery Volume reduction – vol 1/10, weight ¼ Transformation
Residues:Bottom ash – construction material Flue-gas – fly ash (hazardous waste)
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
Recycling – YES!Recycling – YES!Recovery or reuse of productsRecycling of materialEnergy recovery
Feb 2006 Industrial Ecology/MO
Problems with recyclingProblems with recyclingHazardous compounds (mercury,
lead, flame retardants etc)- working environment
Feb 2006 Industrial Ecology/MO
Problems with recyclingProblems with recyclingHazardous compounds (mercury, lead,
flame retardants etc)- working environment
Building up a system (the “waste” is wanted)
Recycling = increased consumption?
Quality of new product
Not always environmentally favourable
Solutions?Solutions?
Prevent the Waste from being Generated!!
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
PreventionPreventionQuantity = Avoidance Quality = homogenous, non
hazardous
Prevention ≠ Recirculation
2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
Why?Why?Reduces amounts of raw material input
Reduces amounts of energy use
Reduction in toxicity = lower costs of treatment
Less waste being processed = saves:- energy costs- waste storage space- transport costs- administrative costs- lower emissions
2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
Prevention! But how?Prevention! But how?Substitution of raw material and substances
– CFCs, homogenous material, biodegradable
Storage – old or wrongly stored
Optimizing, controlling and substitution of processes for production - effective usage of material, less wastage
Education of personnel - render environmental awareness
Change the product (LCA) – less waste before, during and after production, Eco-Design
• Don’t use TOXIC substances and arrange closed loops for necessary but toxic ones.
• Minimise energy and resource consumption in production phase and transport through HOUSEKEEPING.
• Use structural features and high quality materials to minimise WEIGHT ..in products…if not interfering with necessary flexibility, impact strength or functional priorities.
• MINIMISE energy and resource consumption in the usage phase, especially for products with most significant aspects in the usage phase.
• Promote repair and upgrading, especially for SYSTEM dependent products
Conrad Luttropp
• Promote LONG LIFE for products….. especially for products with most significant environmental aspects OUT of usage phase.
• Invest in better materials, surface treatments or structural arrangements to PROTECT products from dirt, corrosion and wear, giving long life and minimised maintenance.
• PREARRANGE upgrading, repair and recycling trough access ability, labelling, modules, breaking points, manuals.
• Promote upgrading, repair and recycling by using few, SIMPLE, recycled, not blended materials and no alloys.
• Use as FEW joining elements as possible and use screws, adhesives, welding, snap fits, geometric locking etc. according to the life cycle scenario.
Conrad Luttropp
Good examples!Good examples!Companies:
- Unilever- ICA (food store) - IKEA
Municipalities (weight based taxes, information)
Governmental policies (EU directive)Extended producer responsibility
(fees)Research and help to SME
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
2005-02-16Monika OlssonIndustrial Ecology
ECOPROFIT project/GrazECOPROFIT project/Grazwww.eaue.de/winuwd/52.htm
Attempts to offer small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) consultative and financial support in order to pursue integrated environmental management practices and to switch to cleaner production methods
System Approach of System Approach of RecyclingRecyclingCase: Hammarby Sjöstad
(Stockholm) http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology
DiscussionDiscussionWhat is the core problem for Waste prevention?
How can it be done by you, the municipality/region/companies. What is preventing the change? Can the problems be overcome?
Waste prevention: Consumption and generation What does the relationship between consumption and waste generation look like
in your country -What is the trend of consumption? Who consumes what? What is the trend of waste generation? What are the major components of the waste stream?
What are the factors behind the current trend of consumption? What are the factors behind the current trend of waste generation?
Develop an approach for a sustainable consumption society that would result in reduction of waste generation (What issues should be included? Who are the stakeholders? What measures should be taken? What kind of conflicting interests can manifest? What are the best mechanisms to create optimal solutions? What are the challenged and opportunities?)
Hammarby modelProblems with this modelWhat is needed in order to implement it – imagine you want to implement it in your living district.Stakeholders? Conflict interests
June 2009 Monika Olsson/Industrial Ecology