Will waste segregation, recycling and ecological innovations solve one of the biggest civilization problems of the 21st century, which are rapidly growing landfills?
The problem of garbage appeared in the history of the development of civilization relatively late, because only in the nineteenth century, when the first industrial wastes, including petroleum plastics, began to appear.
Previously, it was dominated by the almost complete biodegradation of waste and the recycling of secondary raw materials.
The problem of growing waste heaps and landfills of unsorted municipal waste gradually grew in the 20th century with the development of industry.
The development of the industry was not burdened with almost any costs of environmental protection, cleaning up degraded environment, recovery of recyclable materials from waste.
Proecological concepts of industrial development, waste segregation and recycling have emerged and are practiced on a larger scale mainly in developed, richer countries, because these countries usually produce the most waste but also have financial resources for pro-ecological activities, waste segregation and recycling.
Technological, ecological and material innovations should help in the future to reduce the growing landfills of unsorted municipal waste.
One of the key problems of growing garbage dumps is still plastic, which is not subject to rapid biodegradation.
One of the solutions introduced in some countries is, for example, replacing plastic cutlery and plates in cutlery restaurants and dishes made of rice, bran or other types of cereals.
In addition, the complete elimination of plastic bags used to pack different products on paper or other organic biodegradable materials.
Gradually more and more restrictive solutions will appear. A lot of pro-ecological actions in this matter have been inspired by the above-national rock in the European Union.
But this is just the beginning of this process. The question arises whether the emerging new technological solutions, including ecological innovations, will solve this growing problem?
Will this problem be solved only when pro-ecologic activity begins to be a profit-making activity and not one that needs to be paid for?
But even if the next new technological solutions in the field of substituting plastics with other biodegradable materials, the innovations of ecological innovations that improve the recycling and reclamation of fugitive environments, would gradually solve the problem of growing landfills of unsorted landfills, will a man in this technological progress manage this problem? solve in the XXI century?
Will there be enough time for that? In addition, in poor countries, slowly growing for many years, this will be a serious problem.
These countries are illegally transported un-sorted, unprotected, often very toxic wastes.
In recent years, organized criminal groups have been involved in the practice of smuggling toxic, unprotected waste from rich, highly developed countries covered by restrictions of expensive segregation and neutralization process, securing, proper storage of toxic, non-recultivated waste to poorer countries, not subjected to such high restrictions or in which environmental protection and internal security systems do not work well.
In addition, there is a growing problem of sinking this type of waste in the seas and oceans. This process generates a rapidly progressing process of pollution of sea water and fauna and flora living in the seas and oceans.
In view of the above, the current question remains: Will waste segregation, recycling and ecological innovations solve one of the biggest civilization problems of the 21st century, which are rapidly growing landfills?
Please reply. I invite you to the discussion.
Yes but requires commitment from all parties involved, the state, the private sector and the end users.
I do not think so, but it will certainly help to slow down its growth.
I believe in isolation, no. The success of these initiatives, as well as of many others, depends greatly on the target audience, their environmental perception, and their environmental commitment, especially in relation to their possibility and their interest in taking care of their ecosystem.
The complete solution of growing dumps of municipal wastes certainly not possible by segregation, recycling or ecological innovations but given the options at present we have in short run will reduce it. The best mechanism is adhering to principles of ecological ethics and conscience to protect our planet reaching beyond the state and regional boundaries. Its true that developed countries find it easy to dispose their toxic waste to developing countries where cheap labour used to recycle it. Ship breaking is major activities in African and Asian sea coasts. If we believe that disposing our waste to other part f globe at macro level the same will be at household level every civic members thinks to clean my own house or home yard rather to go beyond its locality.
Well the advancement in consumerism and change of life style in name of improvement of living status or socioeconomic reform increased the use of more cheap and quick options which detrimental to planet health. Population pressure bomb is already tickling to increase the more cheaper resources. The primitive people or ethnics who were relatively not using these products are in name of civilization addicts to these plastics rather forest produce for daily uses. It we only modern people , sociologist change them to do so an now they are also habitual such life style. How we can expect the behavioral change which only the main remedy for long run to change mindset in use of these wastes.
As per my opinion no, but it will certainly helpful to slow down its progress. But require all stake holders support.
Yes.
Rubbish dumps are created due to improper processing of waste.
Certainly recycling will reduce the load on dump site and allows materials to flow in cyclic way in the environment.
Segregation enhances the efficiency of any processing technology and also helps in identifying suitable methods of processing for a particular type of segrehated waste.
Eco innovations definitely solves the rubbish dumps problem if it is adresses in decentralized system.
In addition to segregation, recycling and eco-innovation solutions,we need to change people's perceptions and attitude toward the environment. They will continue to dump refuse if their minds are not re-orientated.
Awareness and activism among society is prime solution. The change in way of life from consumerism to balanced way living be promoted. E waste and medical waste is new major problem emerging where recycling also need cautious approach specially treating medical waste.
Hi Dariusz,
Please let me to recommend you to try finding the answer to your question (or otherwise said: what will very likely happen during the 21st century?) by reading the following book:
Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update
http://www.peakoilindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Limits-to-Growth-updated.pdf
To create a conceptual framework of what could be done to solve the problems presented in the above book, please read the following books:
1) Environment, Power, and Society for the Twenty-First Century: The Hierarchy of Energy
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks-intl-ship&field-keywords=odum%2C+environment%2C+power+and+society
2) A Prosperous Way Down: Principles and Policies
Regards
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