waste mitigation strategies

Question 1

Reuse

Answer 1

reusing a product for the same purpose it was used before or in a different context

Question 2

Recycle

Answer 2

• refers to using materials from products which are no longer used or discontinues to make other products
• This involves processing the materials into a new form
• Reduces waste disposal and thus green house emissions

Question 3

Repair

Answer 3

this is the fixing of a faulty part of a product to make it function in the desired manner again

Question 4

Recondition

Answer 4

reconditioning is the upgrade of softwares or replacing a part, refurbishing it to make a product look as good/close to a new product

Question 5

Re-engineer

Answer 5

a re-engineered product may alter its raw materials to make it more durable, cheaper or environment friendly or change its components to make it more energy efficient or to increase performance

Question 6

design for manufacturing guidelines

Answer 6

• sustainable and efficient selection of materials
• Ease of assembly and disassembly
• Possibility of repair, recovery and recycling

Question 7

design for material

Answer 7

reduce amt of materials needed, use less toxic materials, use recycled parts,

Question 8

design for process

Answer 8

reduce no. of production processes involved to reduce energy efficiency and waste. Additional operations like painting, labelling, etc could be eliminated also

Question 9

design for assembly

Answer 9

reduce no. of components, sub-assemblies etc. maximises efficiency of assembly process

Question 10

Dematerialisation

Answer 10

the reduction of total material and energy in the production of products and services

Question 11

Ephemeralization

Answer 11

The ability of technological advancements to do more and more with less and less until eventually you can do everything with nothing

Question 12

Advantages of dematerialisation

Answer 12

• Reduction of raw materials at the production stage
• Reduction of energy and material inputs in the user stage
• Reduction of waste at the disposal stage

-saves on smaller, lighter products and packaging

Question 13

risk of burying items in landfills

Answer 13

• Risk of subsidence of the land
• Generation of odours and toxic and flammable gases
• Attraction of scavenging birds
• Massive air pollution in case of a fire in the landfill
• Pollution of surface and groundwater through run-off

Question 14

Legislation for manufacturers to collect back their products (EOL) help to:

Answer 14

• reduce the amount of waste at landfills
• Increase amount of scrap available which may be used to make new products, reducing demand for new material
• Encourage design changes by manufacturers that reduce waste and improve recyclability

Question 15

Collection of EOL products are accomplished through the following ways:

Answer 15

• municipal sites
• Point of purchase
• Producer take backs

Question 16

designing out waste

Answer 16

> the most efficient means of reducing waste is to address it at the design stage

> this is done by following design for manufacturing guidelines. These designs favour:

• sustainable and efficient selection of materials
• Ease of assembly and disassembly
• Possibility of repair, recovery and recycling