Waste Management

• REDUCE
• REUSE
• RECYCLE 

1. In 2010 each person in the UK produced 452 kg of waste
2. Waste management in the UK is improving 
3. EU targets want 50% of household waste to be recycles by 2020

Landfill

• Cheap way of getting rid of waste
• Releases CO2 and methane, however new technologies that allow gases to be captured can be used 
• Can pollute groundwater, can be specially lined to prevent this
• Waste valuable materials that can be reused or recycled

Composting

• Organic material can be composted by individuals or on a larger scale, 38% of household waste is organic material 
• Household composting reduces cost
• Sustainable as reduces the amount going to landfill
• Has to be managed properly, sorted so that no metal is involved

Recycling 

• Quicker and cheaper than making materials from scratch 
• Uses less energy, 20 times less when making aluminium cans
• Reduces demand for new materials 
• Relies on individuals and some people don't bother 
• Initial investment is required 
• Often is transported abroad to be recycled, in 2005 55% of paper was sent to China

Energy Recovery 

• Burning of materials that can't be recycled to produce heat or electricity 
• Produces CO2 but reduces fossil fuels 
• The Energy Recovery Facility in Sheffield provides heat for 140 building in the city centre 

Reduce and Reuse

• Can be done by individuals  eg reducing the amount of junk mail you receive or by businesses by reducing the packaging on items
• Plastic bottles are easily reused by cans are not