Urban Waste London Case Study Flashcards
Where is it
Southwark
What is it’s wastestream
Diff bins
Summarise the blue bin
Recyclables
Waste is sorted Cardboard taken out by hand In rotating drum Metal magnets pull out cans Eddy currents separate aluminium Non recyclables taken out by hand Optic plastics sort using infra red sensor
Recyclable materials
Plastics and metals are compressed into bales and put in loftier and taken to reprocessing plants in other countries where they’re made into new items
Card and paper are taken to paper milk
Plastic is made into pellets and melted to make new containers
Summarise green bin
Has mixed food waste- waste that has only some recyclable components
Waste is sorted by automatic segregation system to separate recyclable materials
Moisture is removed from remaining waste and made into solid fuel blocks- and these are sent to SELCHP Energy recovery facility
They are burnt and turned into electricity for the National Grid
There is also pipe work which provides heating and hot water for 10,000 Southwark hones
The burning process emits some acidic gases which are neutralised w line and Particulate matter is removed via filter
How much of Southwarks MWS goes to landfill
Roughly 18%
Explain Southwarks waste links to China
Some waste from Southwark goes to China as reprocessing plants can’t cope with the amount of waste areas create
It’s cheaper then transporting to another reprocessing plant in eg Manchester
What is card and paper made into
New paper and card at paper mills
What is plastic made into
Pellets which add melted into plastic containers
Garden furniture
Fellow
Jackets
What is aluminium made into
New cans
What is glass made info
Bottles
Jars
Building and road materials
Comment on Southwarks progress towards achieving its recycling recovery and landfill targets
By 2020- Southwark council aims to recycle and compost 50% of MSW
2010/11—25% recycling and compost rate
63% municipal waste diverted from landfill (recovery rate)
2015/15—35% recycling and compost rate
95% municipal waste diverted from landfill (recovery rate)
DOING GOOD
Name Southwark re use schemes
Community repaint
British heart foundation
Let’s recycle. Com
Explain community repaint
Reusing paint in the community
2013/14 repaint saves 8.5 tonnes of landfill
Explain British heart foundation
Since 2009-
Furniture and bric a brac collected weekly from Southwark waste facility
Goods are sold in BHFs outlet on Old Kent
It made £39,000 in 2009 and 25 tonnes were diverted from landfill since 2009
Explain let’s recycle . Com
In just 365 days- huge drop in carrier bags
Plastic bags reduced from 170 mill to 40 mill since 5p charge- 75% reduction
is Southwarks waste management strategy sustainable
Yes
2013/14 MOney saves from community repaint
Recycling bicycles
BHF
(And tonnes of rubbish saved)
18.26 tonnes
£1875 in landfill tax
Advantages of landfill
Highly regulated and limits the materials deposited here so no hazardous waste
Cheap and easily managed
Attracts birds
Methane generates electricity
Advantages of recycling
Wheelie bins are families and convenient and easy to understand
Upcycling is encouraged by councils where furniture is repaired and repainted so it can be re used
Reduce landfill
Organic waste can be composted enriching soil
New products are made without using scarce resources
Advantages of incineration
Incineration plants are long lasting, cost effective and do not take up valuable space
Environmental impacts of landfill
Smelly places
Create noise from lorries delivering waste + atmospheric pollution (dust particles) + attract vermin flies and scavenging birds
Decomposition of organic waste creates methane- green house gas - global warming
Also explosive
But can generate electricity
Chemicals from the waste can leak downwards and contaminated groundwater
Overtime the landfill site can subside as the waste decomposes
Heavy traffic to and from site- congestion
Environmental impacts of Recycling
Less landfill - les land used
Public recycling collection points in car parks can over flow and create litter
Reduces landfill
New products w out using scarce materials
Organic waste can be composted enriching soil
Environmental impacts of incineration
Less land is needed than for landfill
Global warming
Is landfill sustainable
No
Is land fill socially sustainable
NIMBY
people are exposed to harmful gases
Global warming
But no hazardous waste
NOOO
Is landfill economically sustainable
EU limits on the amount of biodegradable waste disposed in landfill due to the amount of methane emmitted
Fines to the council of £150 per tonne are imposed if exceeds limit
METHANE CAN MAKE ELECTRICITY
Cheap solution easily managed
YES
Is landfill environmentally sustainable
Heavy traffic to and from sight
Attracts vermin and scavenging birds 🦅
Air noise pollution
Greenhouse gases
BUT methane gas can generate electricity BUT is a greenhouse gas
Can be sealed top soiled and landscapes for use after full
PARTIALLY
Is recycling sustainable
YEA
But public sorting can have error
Is recycling environmentally sustainable
Public recycling collection points in car parks can overflow and create litter
More recycling means less landfill
Public recycling- litter
New products made w out using scarce resources
Organic waste can be composted enriching soil
YES
Is recycling socially sustainable
Public recycling generates noise and litter
NO
Is recycling economically sustainable
Public recycling facilities req expensive safe operation to avoid hazardous leakage
Eg
Grudges and CFCs or old batteries leaking acid
Electronic and electronic waste (WEEE) contains toxic components so require extra cost to dismantle safely
NO
Is incineration sustainable
No
Is incineration environmentally sustainable
Not all waste of combustible
Does not take up valuable space
Can contribute to global warming- co2
PARTIALLY
Is incineration socially sustainable
Sometimes burn hazardous biochemical waste from hospitals
If incineration on plant is a combined heat and power plant- houses have cheap hour wasted and heating
Emissions can be harmful- particulates
NO
Is Incineration economically sustainable
Plants emit co2 (greenhouse gas) and particulate matter and this require filters and chimneys and careful monitoring costing money
NO
