Materials Management: Environmental Challenges
There are several sustainability-related challenges associated with the traditional management of materials. These include:
- Locating and Providing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
- Material Diversion
ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING
Durability - Disposable products and packaging squander valuable resources by creating a cycle of rapid production and consumption, resulting in the expansion of landfills. Products that can be cleaned, refilled, recharged, and reused can reduce waste and deliver cost savings over their lifespan.
Recycled Content - Products created from existing (recycled) materials typically require less energy and water than those made from virgin materials. When recyclables become the raw materials of industry, they reduce mineral and petroleum extraction as well as the harvest of timber. Recycling also stimulates economic growth, creating approximately five times as many jobs as landfills.
Reduced Toxicity - Human health and safety are primary concerns when dealing with highly toxic, carcinogenic, and flammable products. Exposure can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, or allergic reactions. Such products incur greater end-of-life costs because of the increased environmental risks and resulting remediation requirements.
Energy Efficiency - Energy production is a huge drain on natural resources and one of the largest contributors to climate change. All energy inputs associated with raw material extraction, manufacturing processes, transportation, operation and product disposal should be evaluated and minimized through lifecycle analysis. Saving energy also means saving money - lighting retrofits alone can reduce energy bills by 33 percent.
Water Efficiency - The amount of water required to extract, clean, and process raw materials is typically greater than the amount necessary for recycled materials. Water conservation is expected to be vital by the year 2025, when an estimated 40 percent of the world will live in water-scarce regions.
MATERIAL DIVERSION
Traditional Recyclables - These common items include metal, paper, plastics and glass, which are easily recycled when isolated from the general waste stream. Although there is growing public awareness and practice of recycling, there is still a need to develop and strengthen the commodities market in which recycled materials are sold, as well as industries, which use the materials as raw materials (see “Recycling Market Development” below).
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) - Leftover household products may contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients. Items such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides require special care when discarded in order to prevent human and environmental exposure. Any additional collection costs are offset by long-term risk reduction.
Organic Materials - Paper products, yard trimmings, food scraps, and wood debris make up more than two-thirds of the municipal solid waste stream. These products are relatively easy to recycle into compost and more can be done to reduce their presence in landfills.
E-Waste & Appliances - Most electronic equipment (TVs, computers, cell phones) and cooling appliances (refrigerators, water coolers, and air conditioners) should not be included in the standard municipal waste stream. They may contain toxic materials such as lead, barium, mercury, cadmium, and refrigerants that require professional handling. Collection of these goods not only reduces health risks, but the refurbishment process preserves value and adds skilled jobs to the local economy.
Recycling Market Development - As the demand for eco-friendly materials rises, so does the opportunity for business expansion and conception. Profitable ventures like curbside recycling, which grew 500 percent in the last five years, are capitalizing on the byproducts of material reuse. The need grows for businesses that can collect and process municipal waste, broker the sale of recycled materials, and manufacture and market goods for reuse. Government and consumer investment in recycled goods must be encouraged in order to continue market advancement and environmental benefit.
The process of cleaning up a contaminants by physical, chemical, or biological means.Waste disposal sites for solid waste from human activities.Any change to an existing facility, such as the adjustment, connection, or disconnection of equipment.A mixture of decayed plants and other organic material that is used to enrich soil with nutrients.A term used for significant changes over an extended period of time in the Earth's natural environments. Climate change can be produced by natural processes (e.g. changes in the Earth's orbit) or by the impact of human behavior (e.g. deforestation). See GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.Energy efficiency is the process of using less energy to produce the same or increased functions. Often used mistakenly as a synonym for ENERGY CONSERVATION. The collection, reprocessing, marketing, and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream.The ability or potential of a physical body to do work. The most common forms of energy are heat, light, mechanical (moving parts), and electrical.
