Urban Waste London Case Study

Question 1

Where is it

Answer 1

Southwark

Question 2

What is it’s wastestream

Answer 2

Diff bins

Question 3

Summarise the blue bin

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Summarise green bin

Answer 4

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

Question 5

How much of Southwarks MWS goes to landfill

Answer 5

Roughly 18%

Question 6

Explain Southwarks waste links to China

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is card and paper made into

Answer 7

New paper and card at paper mills

Question 8

What is plastic made into

Answer 8

Pellets which add melted into plastic containers
Garden furniture
Fellow
Jackets

Question 9

What is aluminium made into

Answer 9

New cans

Question 10

What is glass made info

Answer 10

Bottles
Jars
Building and road materials

Question 11

Comment on Southwarks progress towards achieving its recycling recovery and landfill targets

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Name Southwark re use schemes

Answer 12

Community repaint

British heart foundation

Let’s recycle. Com

Question 13

Explain community repaint

Answer 13

Reusing paint in the community

2013/14 repaint saves 8.5 tonnes of landfill

Question 14

Explain British heart foundation

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Explain let’s recycle . Com

Answer 15

In just 365 days- huge drop in carrier bags

Plastic bags reduced from 170 mill to 40 mill since 5p charge- 75% reduction

Question 16

is Southwarks waste management strategy sustainable

Answer 16

Yes

Question 17

2013/14 MOney saves from community repaint
Recycling bicycles
BHF
(And tonnes of rubbish saved)

Answer 17

18.26 tonnes

£1875 in landfill tax

Question 18

Advantages of landfill

Answer 18

Highly regulated and limits the materials deposited here so no hazardous waste

Cheap and easily managed

Attracts birds

Methane generates electricity

Question 19

Advantages of recycling

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Advantages of incineration

Answer 20

Incineration plants are long lasting, cost effective and do not take up valuable space

Question 21

Environmental impacts of landfill

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Environmental impacts of Recycling

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Environmental impacts of incineration

Answer 23

Less land is needed than for landfill

Global warming

Question 24

Is landfill sustainable

Answer 24

No

Question 25

Is land fill socially sustainable

Answer 25

NIMBY

people are exposed to harmful gases

Global warming

But no hazardous waste

NOOO

Question 26

Is landfill economically sustainable

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Is landfill environmentally sustainable

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Is recycling sustainable

Answer 28

YEA

But public sorting can have error

Question 29

Is recycling environmentally sustainable

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Is recycling socially sustainable

Answer 30

Public recycling generates noise and litter

NO

Question 31

Is recycling economically sustainable

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Is incineration sustainable

Answer 32

No

Question 33

Is incineration environmentally sustainable

Answer 33

Not all waste of combustible

Does not take up valuable space

Can contribute to global warming- co2

PARTIALLY

Question 34

Is incineration socially sustainable

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Is Incineration economically sustainable

Answer 35

Plants emit co2 (greenhouse gas) and particulate matter and this require filters and chimneys and careful monitoring costing money

NO