Waste is considered things that we can’t use or don’t want to use any more. These are the things that are thrown away after primary use. These things might be worthless, defective, and therefore, most of the time, don’t have any value any more. There is a good saying about waste: ‘One person’s waste can be a recourse for another person’.
When looked at on a global scale, the waste we produce doesn’t have a big impact on greenhouse gas emissions. But at the same time, if we don’t find solutions fast, it can become one of the biggest emitters. This information is now more than 20 years old. According to newer information, the waste sector is one of the biggest methane emitters. It takes third place after agriculture, oil, and gas. Methane has 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Generally, the waste sector is split into two categories: solid waste and wastewater. The majority of methane is from solid waste. It is estimated that by 2050 we will produce 3.88 billion metric tons of waste. It is 73% more than in 2020.
Also to add, when the products are produced, they emit a lot. According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Resource Panel, almost half of the greenhouse gases are emitted when the products are produced. In the process of producing the products, manufacturers emit a lot of greenhouse gases because the production needs energy, materials (from forests, agriculture, mines), transport, and so on. Reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle are the key elements that can lower the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted during the production of goods. The approach to sustainable materials management focuses on the efficient and sustainable use and reuse of resources from the moment they are mined to their end-of-life. Its overall goal is to minimize the use of materials and all related environmental impacts, including climate change effects.
Before starting to reuse and recycle, we should begin by reducing. Reducing means minimizing the amount of waste that is produced in the first place. The best way to start to reduce is to be aware of how much we consume, and then it is already easier to start making smarter choices. For example, stop using single-use items, or when going shopping, pick items with minimal packaging.
To start to reduce, before purchasing something, try to think through whether you really need it. Avoid impulse buying. Always carry with you a reusable bag, and also go to stores where you can use your own containers. Buy things that are made to last for a long time. In the first place, you might spend more, but over time, the value is a lot smaller. Try to grow your own food. If you don’t have a garden, then do it on your window sill. This will reduce the emissions from packaging and transport.
Reusing would be the next step. With reusing, you are trying to find new ways to use the things you have purchased instead of throwing them in the trash. There are many options for how to reuse. You can repair, donate to those who are in need, or buy a second-hand item in the first place. By reusing products, we are saving energy and resources.
In the past, nobody even considered throwing away anything because the options and resources were limited. It’s our economy that has taught us to buy new stuff. For example, fast fashion, food packaging, single-use items, and so on. For example, diapers or sanitary pads are things you can change into re-usable ones. Reusing also increases your creativeness. For example, empty yogurt pots are perfect for plants, glass jars are good for storage, and so on.
Recycling helps fight climate change because there is a smaller need for new materials, and reducing waste would limit the amount of trash that goes to landfills. When something is recycled, it means that it has been turned into something new. It uses less energy if we start to make a completely new product. If we start the recycling process properly, then according to a Project Drawdown between 2020 and 2050, we could reduce emissions by 5.5 to 6.02 gigatons of carbon dioxide. This number is similar if we take over one billion cars off the streets for a year. Recycling is a rather easy but effective way to slow down global warming.
Everyone has an impact. Make recycling part of your lifestyle. If you go to the store, then buy products that are made from recycled materials. Try to recycle everything you have.
There are two terms when talking about recycling: upcycle and downcycle. When something is upcycled, it means that the new product has the same or even better value than the original product. This process lengthens the life of a material. When something is downcycled, it is turned into new products. This process can’t be done endlessly. For example, downcycling is when office paper is turned into toilet paper or plastic bottles into fleece.
In conclusion, we should aim towards a zero-waste system. Reduce, reuse, and recycle helps us to save natural resources, and it also helps to slow down global warming by cutting down greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our consumption helps to preserve forests and, together with that, also maintain biodiversity. It also helps us to save a lot of energy. It also helps to lower production costs. Recycling can also create new jobs, which helps support local communities.
Sources:
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/8648/Waste&ClimateChange.pdf?sequence=3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste
https://www.epa.gov/smm/resources-waste-and-climate-change
https://www.catf.us/2022/09/how-our-trash-contributes-to-climate-change/
https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2023/12/15/impact-recycling-climate-change
https://pgrecycling.ca/blog/how-can-reduce-reuse-and-recycle-help-climate-change.html
https://www.52climateactions.com/refuse-reduce-reuse-repair-recycle/full
https://ecocycle.org/learn-about-zero-waste/zw-is-a-climate-change-solution/
