Recycling is defined as the redirection of materials from waste stream into the manufacturing, agricultural, horticultural and construction sectors for use in the creation of new products waste materials are used in the creation of other new products. Inherent in this redirection is that one must know what kind of material is fit for what purpose (Senzige et al. 2014). Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials and turning them into new products. These materials would have otherwise end up in the trash.
Recently, geographical research has continuously involve sustainable household waste management strategies, of which recycling is an important component and have focused specifically around people’s behaviour and perceptions to recycling activities. Waste is abundantly found all over the world and spaces for landfills are diminishing and because landfills are the traditional way of getting rid of solid waste, alternative actions are necessary. Due to the rapid urbanisation taking place in cities, burgeoning population, rapidly developing economies, unsustainable human activities, lifestyle changes, and mass consumption (due to a rise in income), it has detrimentally negative impacts on both the environment and people.
Municipal
solid waste (MSW) presents environmental, social, and economic problems. More
people are migrating to cities in search of a better life, but place a huge
strain on resources and lead to poor waste management. Of importance is the way
in which this waste is handled, collected and dispose of to ensure that is
appropriate and safe solid waste management. Beneficial use of waste depends on
efficient collection and separation. Due to solid waste being an increasingly
growing problem, especially over the last two decades, greater awareness is
required. The decisions of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) are not only
very capital intensive, but it also challenging from environmental and social
points of view. Due to a mass consumer society, waste management has become a
global environmental priority.
Scale
is central to the geography of contemporary recycling schemes as the notion for
searching for a sustainable future is described in idea of ‘Think Global, Act
Local’ and is extremely useful in waste management principles to encourage
individuals to reflect upon their own lifestyles within the context of global
and local environmental problems and to make small everyday changes in their
lives to positively contribute to curtailing environmental problems and overuse
of natural resources. As such, participating regularly in recycling activities
can yield the required results. Separating waste in households are important to
close the loop of materials. Despite increases in solid waste that is being
recycled, the overall MSW continues to increase and therefore improvement is
required. Awareness of environmental degradation has been abundant in the news
of late through mostly education. This has led to environmental concern
entering the human consciousness to make more sustainable choices. The most
important aspect regarding this, is to thoroughly ensure that waste simply
doesn’t take place and to best avoid and reduce waste all together. However,
there are some barriers to participating in recycling activities such as fear
of the perceived dangers of waste, social norms and a carelessness towards the
environment.
Sustainable waste
management
At
the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 in Rio de
Janeiro, it was decided that levels of governmental structure around the world
would make progress to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills (Barr
2007). For sustainable waste management to take place, require changes in
individual consumer habits and attitudes and an understanding of waste
minimisation behaviour. To achieve sustainable and effective waste management,
development strategies must go beyond purely technical considerations to
formulate specific objectives and implement appropriate measures with regard to
political, institutional, social, financial, economic and technical aspects of
MSWM (Schübeler et al. 1996). By adapting to the prevailing context of the
country in which MSWM systems operate would lead to the effectiveness and
sustainability thereof. MSWM must promote environmental conditions through
controlling pollution and to ensure the sustainability of ecosystems. |
| Source: Recycling Supply |
References
Schubeler, P., Christen, J., and Wehrle, K. 1996. Conceptual framework for municipal solid waste management in low-income countries. Urban management and infrastructure.
Senzige,
J.P, Nkansah-Gyeke, Y., Makinde, D.O., & Njau, K.N. 2014. The potential for
solid waste recycling in Urban Area of Tanzania: The case of Dar Es Salaam. International Journal of Environmental
Protection and Policy.
Barr,
S. 2007. Factors Influencing Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors: A U.K. Case
Study of Household Waste Management. Environment
and Behavior Volume 39 Number 4.
