Solid Waste Management: Process Of Source Seperation

PROCESS OF SOURCE SEPERATION

(i) Product  reuse:  Using  reusable  products,  instead  of  their  disposal equivalents, reduce the amount of materials that are to be managed as wastes. An example of product reuse is the reusable shopping bag.

(ii) Material  volume  reduction:  Reducing  the  volume  of  material  used changes the amount of waste entering the waste stream. This helps in controlling the waste generated and its disposal. For example, buying in bulk or using large food containers reduces the amount of packaging waste generated.

(iii) Toxicity reduction: Source  reduction reduces the amount of toxic constituents in products entering the waste stream  and reduces  the adverse environmental impacts of recycling or other waste  management activities.  For example, substitution of  lead and  cadmium in  inks  (solvent-based  to water- based) and paints is a source reduction activity.

(iv) Increased product lifetime:  Source reduction facilitates the use  of products with longer lifetime over short-lived alternatives that are designed to be discarded at the end of their useful lives. Put differently, it encourages a product design that allows for repair  and  continued  use  rather than disposal.  Manufacturing  long-life tyres  is  a good example of increasing product lifetime.  

(v) Decreased  consumption:  This refers to  the  reduced  consumption of materials that are not reusable (e.g., using a reusable shopping bag instead of picking up plastic  bags from the store). Consumer education about the materials that  are difficult  to dispose  of or are harmful to the environment  is essential. Buying  practices can  thus be altered  (e.g.,  buying  in  bulk)  to reflect environmental consciousness.