Sustainable waste management and climate change are closely linked. Improper waste management practices, such as uncontrolled landfilling and incineration, can contribute to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. On the other hand, implementing sustainable waste management practices can help mitigate climate change by reducing GHG emissions.

When organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, decomposes in landfills without proper management, it produces methane, a potent GHG. Methane is about 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) in terms of its global warming potential over a 100-year period. By implementing techniques like landfill gas capture and controlled decomposition, methane emissions can be reduced or captured for energy production, thereby minimizing its impact on climate change.

Recycling plays a significant role in reducing GHG emissions. Recycling materials like paper, glass, metals, and plastics conserves energy and resources that would otherwise be required to extract, process, and manufacture new products. The manufacturing of products from raw materials often involves energy-intensive processes that release GHGs. By recycling and reusing materials, these emissions can be avoided or minimized.

The amount of GHG emissions reduced through recycling varies depending on the material and the specific recycling process. However, studies have shown that recycling generally leads to lower GHG emissions compared to producing new products from virgin materials. For example, recycling aluminum can save up to 95% of the energy needed to produce aluminum from raw materials, resulting in significant reductions in GHG emissions.

It's important to note that the overall impact of recycling on GHG emissions also depends on factors such as collection methods, transportation distances, and the energy sources used in the recycling process. Improving recycling infrastructure, promoting efficient collection systems, and utilizing renewable energy sources in recycling facilities can further enhance the climate benefits of recycling.

In conclusion, sustainable waste management practices, including recycling, play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by reducing GHG emissions associated with waste disposal and the production of new materials. By adopting these practices, we can minimize the environmental impact of waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.

I agree with Reza Shahin that manufacture, distribution, and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas emissions. Waste prevention and recycling are real ways to help mitigate climate change. Solid waste contributes directly to greenhouse gas emissions through the generation of methane from the anaerobic decay of waste in landfills, and the emission of nitrous oxide from our solid waste combustion facilities. The environment is a huge element linked to climate change due to the impact climate change has on the environment. This means that environmental sustainability is crucial in reducing the impacts of climate change. Environmental sustainability focuses on sustainability within the natural environment. Sustainable waste management means reducing and avoiding the amount of single-use plastic products along with increasing the amount recycled at the same time, which currently stands at just 8.5%. Poor waste management - ranging from non-existing collection systems to ineffective disposal -causes air pollution, water and soil contamination. Open and unsanitary landfills contribute to contamination of drinking water and can cause infection and transmit diseases. Recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption. Using recycled materials to make new products reduces the need for virgin materials. This avoids greenhouse gas emissions that would result from extracting or mining virgin materials. By reducing air and water pollution and saving energy, recycling offers an important environmental benefit: it reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons, that contribute to global climate change. Recycling reduces the risks of air and water pollution from manufacturing processes. Recycling paper cuts air pollution by about 75%. Substituting steel scrap for virgin ore reduces air emissions by 85% and water pollution by 76%. By reducing air and water pollution and saving energy, recycling offers an important environmental benefit: it reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons, that contribute to global climate change. The more we recover and reuse products and materials instead of throwing them away, the less impact we have on our environment and the more sustainable our production and consumption practices become. This is an example of how recycling practices can lead to environmental sustainability.

Dr Rana Hamza Shakil thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption. Using recycled materials to make new products reduces the need for virgin materials. This avoids greenhouse gas emissions that would result from extracting or mining virgin materials. By recycling half of your annual household waste, you can divert 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Buy energy-efficient products: light bulbs & appliances. Estimates vary with the type of recycling process used, but researchers agree that recycling and re-manufacturing plastic saves at least 30 percent of the carbon emissions that original processing and manufacturing produces. Recycling reduces the risks of air and water pollution from manufacturing processes. Recycling paper cuts air pollution by about 75%. Substituting steel scrap for virgin ore reduces air emissions by 85% and water pollution by 76%. The manufacture, distribution, and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas emissions. Waste prevention and recycling are real ways to help mitigate climate change. Solid waste contributes directly to greenhouse gas emissions through the generation of methane from the anaerobic decay of waste in landfills, and the emission of nitrous oxide from our solid waste combustion facilities. The environment is a huge element linked to climate change due to the impact climate change has on the environment. This means that environmental sustainability is crucial in reducing the impacts of climate change. Environmental sustainability focuses on sustainability within the natural environment.

Recycling is beneficial to the climate crisis in two main ways: by limiting the amount of raw materials being used and limiting the amount of waste going into landfills. Project Drawdown estimates that recycling between 2020 and 2050 will reduce emissions by 5.5-6.02 gigatons of carbon dioxide (equivalent to taking over 1 billion cars off the road for a year).

Waste management (transportation, incineration, etc.) is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The extraction and transportation of plastic is dependent on oil, gas, and coal. The production and disposal of plastics also release tons of carbon emissions.

In summary, recycling can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by limiting the amount of raw materials being used and limiting the amount of waste going into landfills. Waste management (transportation, incineration, etc.) is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr Chuck A Arize thank you for your contribution to the discussion

The manufacture, distribution, and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas emissions. Waste prevention and recycling are real ways to help mitigate climate change. Residual wastes will remain in the landfill site for many years after degradation processes have ceased. Capital assets such as energy from waste plants and materials recovery facilities will also be operational for decades and so could be affected by climate change. Firstly, they are both factors that impact society and the environment. Climate change is presently a major, global issue that impacts the environment and society in several ways and sustainable development aims to reduce the impacts of climate change that affect the environment and society. Sustainable waste management means reducing and avoiding the amount of single-use plastic products along with increasing the amount recycled at the same time, which currently stands at just 8.5%. Waste burning is a significant source of dangerous carcinogens like dioxins and furans, and black carbon, a short-lived climate pollutant that contributes to climate change, increased melting in Polar Regions due to the deposition of soot and black carbon on snow and ice, and numerous human health issues. Effective SWM mitigates adverse health and environmental impacts, conserves resources, and improves the livability of cities. However, unsustainable SWM practices, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and financial and institutional limitations, negatively impact public health and environmental sustainability. Solid waste contributes directly to greenhouse gas emissions through the generation of methane from the anaerobic decay of waste in landfills, and the emission of nitrous oxide from our solid waste combustion facilities. By recycling half of your annual household waste, you can divert 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Buy energy-efficient products: light bulbs & appliances.Recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption. Using recycled materials to make new products reduces the need for virgin materials. This avoids greenhouse gas emissions that would result from extracting or mining virgin materials. Using recycled glass and certain plastics instead of virgin materials can reduce environmental impacts more than 50 percent. Recycled paper and aluminum reduce environmental impacts between 70-85 percent. Recycling reduces the risks of air and water pollution from manufacturing processes. Recycling paper cuts air pollution by about 75%. Substituting steel scrap for virgin ore reduces air emissions by 85% and water pollution by 76%. Recycling can be a significant part of the solution! Recycling items rather than using raw materials to make new items helps preserve the earth’s precious natural resources, saves energy, and reduces harm to wildlife caused by the extraction of raw materials.