Table of Contents
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Waste management is crucial to environmental sustainability because it can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The waste sector contributes 18% of global anthropogenic methane emissions, a short-lived greenhouse gas with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide. The sector can drastically cut this number by moving away from landfills and dump sites and embracing recovery methods. Waste prevention, recycling, and waste-to-energy initiatives all potentially reduce GHG emissions. For instance, if just one office building recycled all its newspapers, aluminum and steel cans, and plastic containers, it would save 440 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
Smart technology is helping make waste management services greener and more efficient. For example, sensors on bins can monitor fill levels and alert drivers when empty. It helps them avoid unnecessary pickups, which cuts fuel usage and GHG emissions. Waste collection companies also use field service management software to optimize routes and improve efficiency. This technology allows them to track and analyze waste patterns and trends to anticipate seasonal or economic changes, resulting in leaner operations.
Increase Recyclability
Increasing recycling reduces the need to extract new raw materials from the environment. It saves energy, prevents pollution, and reduces the need to travel long distances for products and materials. When trash is not recycled, it can end up in landfills where it decomposes anaerobically and creates methane, a 34 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. This methane contributes to global warming and can cause smog and air pollution. When recyclables are sent to a recovery facility, they can be converted into new materials like steel or plastic. These materials can then be used to make products, including park benches and carpeting.
We need to rethink how we use our natural resources to increase recycling. It can be as simple as reusing a coffee cup or cutting back on over-packaged items. It can also be more ambitious, such as supporting companies that prioritize sustainability or repurposing unwanted items like cheese graters into lights or earrings. By working together, we can reduce our dependence on precious natural resources and ensure the safety of future generations.
Reduce Waste
With advances in automation, data analytics, and cloud computing, waste management companies have shifted their focus to environmentally sustainable business practices. They now divert waste from landfills by recycling, composting, and converting waste to energy. Some cities and businesses even aim for zero waste, where little to no waste is sent to landfills. They’re achieving this goal by collecting food scraps and green waste for composting or using innovative technologies like anaerobic digestion and plasma gasification to convert non-recyclable waste into energy resources.
Non-recyclable waste is also sent to specialized incinerators, which burn the waste at high temperatures and generate electricity. While this method helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it requires solid environmental controls. It locks cities into producing large amounts of waste to feed the incinerator – disincentivizing recycling and other waste reduction efforts.
Waste reduction is essential to sustainable waste management, offering economic and environmental benefits. It includes avoiding products with excessive packaging, using reusable bags when shopping, and selecting items with minimal or no packaging. It can also save money by reducing the need to purchase new materials and supplies.
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Save Money
One of the easiest ways to help the environment is to save money. It can be done by purchasing second-hand items at thrift stores or garage sales. It also helps reduce the need for companies to manufacture new items. Effective municipal solid waste management (MSWM) mitigates adverse environmental and public health impacts, conserves resources, and improves the livability of cities. However, unsustainable MSWM practices, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and financial limitations, impose high costs on city residents.
Poor garbage collection, storage, and disposal practices, such as mixing household and commercial waste with hazardous materials during storage and transportation, burying or littering garbage, and open-air incineration, contribute to air pollution and land degradation. Additionally, biodegradable waste decomposition under anaerobic conditions generates methane and GHG emissions, foul odor, water contamination, and breeding of disease-carrying pests. Innovative sustainable energy solutions can transform trash into treasure, such as waste-to-energy plants that turn non-recyclable and reusable materials into clean electricity and heat. By reducing dependence on finite resources, they can ensure a brighter, greener future for the planet. It is possible with collaboration between local communities, waste collectors, and government participation.
Increase Employee Engagement
Many waste management companies are implementing innovative technologies that help turn trash into treasure. Sustainable energy solutions like waste-to-energy plants and solar-powered recycling are helping to minimize our reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Another way that waste management services are transforming environmental sustainability is by improving employee engagement. With better waste tracking and reporting tools, such as Wastebits, employees can identify opportunities to recycle or repurpose waste instead of sending it to landfills, contributing to a circular economy. Smart waste collection systems also help improve recycling and reuse rates by automatically detecting when trash, compost, or recycle bins are complete. It only allows garbage trucks to travel to full bins, reducing fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Technology is also revolutionizing how waste management companies operate by enabling them to optimize their fleets through GPS tracking, predictive maintenance, and route optimization software. It helps reduce costs by optimizing routes and reducing the time that vehicles are idling, reducing wasted fuel and emissions. Additionally, intelligent systems can identify potential problems with the engine and alert crews to avoid them, preventing costly repairs down the road.
