WASTE/RECYCLING
CLOSING THE LOOP AND WASTE AS AN ENERGY RESOURCE
ow, more than ever before, we need to find renewable energy sources that will meet the needs of the world’s rapidly growing and urbanising population, as well as ensuring a sustainable waste management strategy. indeed, in november 2013, the Office of National Statistics estimated that the UK population could rise by as much as 10 million – nearly the size of london – by 2037, making these issues all the more pressing. The problems of waste management and increased competition for energy need not have mutually exclusive solutions. By sustainably feeding waste materials back into the system, it is possible to ‘close the loop’ by using waste as a sustainable renewable energy source, thereby alleviating the pressure on fossil fuels. The European Union has set targets to increase the proportion of energy from renewable sources and has set targets for member states to achieve 20% renewable energy by 2020. The EU has also set fairly stringent waste reduction targets for the member states; the UK has to reach 50% recycling rates by 2020. The current target stipulates that 33% of household waste should be reprocessed or composted by 2015. Whilst these are laudable targets, recycling rates will never reach 100% and
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considerable amounts of residual waste will always exist. This waste needs to be sustainably managed both now and in the future to ensure landfill avoidance and to maximise the energy potential from waste that can be then fed back into the system. Waste to energy plants have the potential to provide a crucial role in feeding resources back into the system that would otherwise be regarded as waste destined for landfill. By using advanced conversion technologies, these plants are able to take residual and commercial waste and turn it into a clean, sustainable energy source. When coupled with recycling strategies, this technology has the potential to allow for complete landfill diversion and would eliminate the need for expensive and potentially environmentally- harmful mass burn incineration (mbi) plants. Therefore, instead of viewing waste as a problem that needs to be disposed of and relying on rapidly-depleting sources of finite fossil fuels to meet our mounting energy needs, we need to consider waste as a valuable resource that can be an integral part of the circular economy. Advanced Plasma Power’s
Gasplasma® process aptly exemplifies
the benefits of waste to energy technology. Gasplasma® combines two well-established technologies (gasification and plasma conversion) in a unique configuration to convert residual, municipal and commercial waste into highly efficient fuel and energy sources, whilst minimising visual and environmental impact. The benefits of including waste in the circular economy cannot be underestimated. Rather than simply throwing waste away, we need to recognise the benefits offered by advanced waste to energy technologies: a twinned solution that addresses waste management and renewable energy supply at a community and global level.
www.advancedplasmapower.com
AquaBuddy trio make a splash for recycling L
eafield Environmental has added three adorable new AquaBuddies to its growing collection of EnviroBuddy novelty recycling bins. PenguinBuddy, DolphinBuddy and
FrogBuddy are the latest in line up of colourful and lovable characters designed especially to engage and encourage young children to clean up litter and recycle at home and at school. The EnviroBuddy collection, which includes planet-friendly SpaceBuddies and appealing Smiley Face Bins, were created to give schools a fun and interactive head start when teaching children about recycling.
On average primary schools generate 45kg* of waste per pupil per academic year (40 weeks), mostly made up of food waste, paper and card. much of this could be recycled and even generate a small income for schools.
371 primary and nursery schools have already adopted EnviroBuddies to add an
*Source
WRAP.org.uk 28 Public sector sustainability • Volume 3 issue 9
important element of fun and personality to their recycling lessons. The new AquaBuddies are causing a big splash wherever they go. The tidy threesome are attracting lots of attention at children’s theme parks, zoos, leisure centres and wildlife parks, as well as schools. leafield’s mD, Phil
maddox said: “We are delighted the novelty bins are really helping to deliver the recycling message to children. “Working
with schools to develop this fun collection of EnviroBuddies has helped us
create characters that children can really relate to in a fun learning environment.” The complete Envirobuddies range which includes the Smiley Face Bins, SpaceBuddies, BestBuddies, Buddy75 and the Hippo range can be seen on our website:
www.leafieldrecycle.com Order today on
www.leafielddirect.com
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