Solid waste and GHG Emissions

BYESHAN AHUJA

Outline

Introduction Solid waste and GHG Emissions- The Connection Methods of Waste Management & Treatment Focus Questions Exercise Your Ideas Take-Away Concepts

Introduction

Solid Waste Generated in a day?

Global Status of MSW Generation & Collection

Globally, city residents (3 billion people) and commercial entities discard 1.3 billion

tones (metric tons) of MSW per year, this equates to a daily generation rate of 3.6

million tones.

The average daily per capita MSW generation rate worldwide is 1.2 kilograms (kg).

Cities in low-income countries tend to have collection rates below 50% of waste

generation, while collection rates above 90% are common in cities in high-income

countries.

Solid Waste and GHG Emissions Waste emissions

includes GHG emissions resulting from waste management activities

The manufacture, distribution, and use of products—as well as management of the resulting waste—all result in emissions of greenhouse gases that affect the Earth’s climate.

Raw Materials

Manufacturing

Waste Management

Tree harvestingMiningExtractionTransportationProcess Emissions

Combustion

Land filling

Methods of Waste Treatment Methods of Waste Treatment: Composting Incineration Recycling Biological Reprocessing Energy Recovery Disposal

Focus Questions GHG emissions from solid waste generated in some major cities. What impacts can different practices of solid waste management make on these

emissions What contributions can individuals make towards solid waste reduction Solid waste is going to increase with modern lifestyles, incomes per capita etc.

any innovative proposals to reduce waste generation? Solid Waste is a resource and can be used to generate revenue. Your comments

Exercise Use WARM (Waste Reduction Model) software to determine differences in

GHG emissions when different waste management practices are followed Waste generated and associated GHG emissions in major cities of the world

and what practices adopted What recommendations can be made to improve waste management

practices in your country

What you can do.. Reduce Your Packaging

Try to bulk buy wherever possible

Select Reusable Products

Reuse Products: Recycle everything while you can

Buy Products Made From Recycled Material

Compost

Reduce Toxicity

Use Durable Products

In Conclusion

Improved waste management practices and their better knowledge leads to:

A better Environment

Cleaner and greener Planet

Less GHGs to worry about !!

Thank you

References (http://www.epa.gov/osw/wycd/funfacts/)

http://www.mswmanagement.com/MSW/Editorial/World_Bank_Review_of_Solid_Wa

ste_Management_20536.aspx

http://epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/warm/SWMGHGreport.html

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/index.htm

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/climate-change-waste/