Why Rubbish Removal is Vital to Combat Climate Change

What Is Climate Change?

The climate is clearly changing and has been for several months now. An increase of just 2 degrees Celsius in global average temperature by the end of this century is predicted to have catastrophic consequences for all forms of life on Earth. The increased release of glasshouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide has also altered the atmosphere's chemistry in noticeable ways. These three gases have played a pivotal role in bringing about these changes.

The presence of glasshouse gases has the same effect as having a blanket over our planet, warming it up. This is due to the radiation from our planet's surface that is trapped within our atmosphere and cannot escape. What kind of results do we get? The melting of glaciers and the reduction of snow cover are both contributing to the depletion of freshwater sources and the elevation of sea levels. Coastal and marine ecosystems are at risk because of the potential for more frequent flooding due to all of these factors.

Does Climate Change Affect Humans?

The effects of climate change are being felt not only in the natural world but also in human life. Changes in the natural world aren't the only thing that is being affected by climate change; our biological system is also going through some terrifying shifts. The risks that environmental factors pose to human health are becoming increasingly widespread. These risks include severe weather, a heightened risk of wildfires, the loss of biodiversity, and the transmission of infectious diseases.

Additionally, the rising levels of glasshouse gases are responsible for the acidification of oceans, corals, and plankton. This opens up the entire ecosystem to new living conditions, which makes it impossible for marine life to adjust to the new environment because it happens so quickly.

How Does Waste Generate Methane Emissions?  

The waste management industry's methane emissions come from the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste like food and yard waste, paper, cardboard, and wood. The emissions from the waste sector can be broken down into two categories, namely solid waste emissions and wastewater emissions. 

The majority of the sector's total methane emissions come from landfills and dumps, which are responsible for the disposal of solid waste. Organic matter decomposes here over the course of many years, giving off what is colloquially referred to as landfill gas (LFG), which is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide.  

The quantity of organic materials present in a waste stream is the primary factor that determines the amount of methane that is produced by a landfill. Around 65% of all waste that is produced is considered organic, with food and green waste constituting the largest share of this category. 

However, the composition of waste can vary greatly from one country to the next, and this is typically determined by the average income. Food waste and yard waste make up a much larger proportion of the overall waste stream in nations with lower per capita incomes. This percentage drops as countries improve their standard of living and increase their consumption of paper, plastics, and glass.    

Global Waste Is Growing  

According to projections made by the World Bank, the amount of waste that we produce annually will rise to 3.88 billion tonnes by the year 2050, representing a 73% increase from the year 2020. Since the production of waste is inextricably linked to both the expansion of the human population and the expansion of the economy, it is anticipated that the most significant increases will take place in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

In addition, waste management practises and systems are either inadequate or nonexistent in a significant portion of the world, which will result in an increase in the emission of climate pollutants with a short half-life. It is predicted that over the next decade, methane emissions from garbage will increase by 13 megatons annually. 

How Does Climate Change Impact Waste Management?

One of the most crucial functions of municipal governments is waste management, and climate change can have both direct and indirect impacts on garbage dumps. On the other hand, a city's capacity to deal with extreme weather can be hindered by poor waste management practices. 

For instance, waste that obstructs drainage and makes flooding worse during periods of heavy rainfall is one such example. Therefore, it is essential that both new waste management systems and existing ones be built to withstand the impacts of climate change. The table that follows provides an illustration of the effects that climate change has on the stages of waste management systems that collect, process, and dispose of waste.

The following are some examples of adaptation measures that have been integrated into waste management systems:

Extreme Weather Events

• Frequent collection at scheduled times (based on extreme weather forecasts) reduces the risk of waste bags sitting at the curbside for an excessive amount of time and being carried away into streets or waterways as a result of heavy rainfall, heavy wind, landslides, or snowfall.
• When shorter routes are designed, making use of multiple decentralised transfer stations, it is possible to conduct frequent collection operations.
• It is possible to prevent waste from blowing away in high winds by storing it in underground containers or using covered collection trucks.
• Every day, disposal sites need to be compacted to ensure that the waste that is disposed of is forced to settle, thereby preventing potentially lethal slides in landfills. This risk is greatest for communities that live off of waste salvaged in or around dump sites.
• Plans for emergency recovery should be in place and kept up to date. These plans should cover the full range of weather events that are anticipated to occur over the lifetime of the particular waste infrastructure.
• The leachate collection system at the landfill was designed with sufficient capacity to handle times of intense rainfall.
• Extreme weather events generate a significant amount of waste because emergency supplies, such as water bottles, tents, and plastic sheets, are designed to only be used once. By modifying these materials so that they are either biodegradable or easily reusable and recyclable, a city can lessen the impact that natural disasters like these have on its infrastructure.
• The destruction of buildings and other materials and landscapes caused by extreme weather events typically results in the generation of enormous quantities of waste debris. Putting together a plan for managing waste in the event of a natural disaster helps cities get ready for the extreme amounts of waste that will be generated and makes it easier to organise recycling efforts.

Drought

• Through the practice of segregated organics collection, organic waste can be diverted from landfills, which helps to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks at landfills.
• Structures designed to prevent fires at landfills, in addition to the periodic covering of the area with dry material.

Sea Level Rise

• Make sure that the historically close proximity of new waste disposal sites to rivers does not leave them vulnerable to the rise in sea level that is projected to occur over the lifetime of the site.

Extreme Heat

• Plants for the decentralised treatment of organic waste (such as composting and anaerobic digestion, for example) can cut down on the distances that need to be transported, boost organic waste recovery, and lower the risk of fire at dumpsites.
• Decentralised waste transfer stations will allow for smaller waste collection vehicles and shorter trips for each worker, which is especially beneficial when the city relies on a system that is labour-intensive.
• The implementation of regular organic waste segregate collection, the distribution of food waste caddies (which reduces odours, pests, and insects from rapidly degrading material), and the promotion of home composting in areas where the collection is not present are all things that should be done.
• Waste can only be placed outside within a two-hour buffer from the time that it is scheduled to be collected. This is to reduce the risk of insects and other pests getting into the garbage, as well as the possibility of trash bags blowing away in high winds.
• Facilities for resource salvagers and waste pickers to sort waste that is well-ventilated and protected from the elements are required.
• Installing water fountains throughout the city will help bring down the steep increase in the consumption of disposable water bottles that occurs during heat waves.

Flooding

• Eliminate the possibility of waste clogging drainage systems by implementing universal waste collection and working on cutting down on litter by installing trash cans that can be used for different types of waste and organising educational initiatives.
• Ensure that there is more than one access route to the landfill and that it has an efficient drainage system.
• Make sure that waste transfer stations, disposal sites, and storage areas are elevated and safe from floods by, for example, avoiding flood plains (low-lying areas near rivers or coastal areas) and developing adaptation plans for established sites that are located in areas that are prone to flooding.
• Containers for curbside recycling and trash collection that are either open or closed and aerated.

Environmental Benefits Of Proper Waste Management

• The correct disposal of waste not only helps improve air and water quality but also helps reduce emissions of glasshouse gases.
• It helps to reduce the amount of resources that are extracted, as well as the amount of pollution produced and the amount of energy that is used in the process of creating new materials.
• The prevention of damage to the environment and the preservation of people's health rank among the most important advantages brought about by effective waste management.
• When waste is recycled, it contributes to the transformation of recyclable waste into substances with practical applications. These helpful substances will not be able to be produced if you do not dispose of your waste with the assistance of a rubbish removal company in Sydney.
• You can contribute to the conservation of natural resources such as minerals, water, and wood by managing your waste in an efficient manner. Therefore, this is the result of practising waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
• When waste is disposed of properly, only a small portion of the trash that is generated ends up in landfills. The generation of potentially harmful substances can be cut down significantly if space in landfills can be preserved.
• You can get rid of your yard waste by using rubbish removal service providers, who will then deliver your waste to recycling organisations to make sure that the product is used as part of a compost area on a local farm or garden. The process of composting helps to replenish the nutrients in the ground and also supports local municipalities in saving money on landfill areas. Composting helps save money for local municipalities.
• The improper disposal of waste gives the disease the opportunity to spread throughout the environment. It is possible for bacteria to grow in the garbage and other waste if it is not disposed of in the proper manner because garbage and other waste are ideal hosts for bacteria. It raises the probability of disease transmission in human beings who come into contact with garbage.

Cost-Effective Waste Management

Management of waste is an essential component of any community, as it contributes to the preservation of both the environment and the general population's health. On the other hand, this may also come at a significant cost to the respective local governments and businesses. Therefore, one of the primary objectives of a great number of organisations is to locate waste management solutions that are also economical.

The establishment of recycling programmes is one approach that can be taken to cut the costs associated with waste management. Communities can save money on the cost of waste disposal and possibly even generate revenue if recyclable materials are diverted from landfills and processed into new products. This process involves diverting recyclable materials from landfills.

The utilisation of composting programmes is yet another method that can save one money. By breaking down organic waste like food scraps and yard waste in a composting system, we can greatly reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills. Composting can also help the environment. Composting can be a great way to save money on waste disposal, and the byproduct is useful in gardens and farms as a soil amendment.

Incineration and other forms of thermal treatment are a further possibility for the waste processing industry. This approach, despite the fact that it can be contentious at times, has the potential to be an efficient means of lessening the amount of waste that must be disposed of, in addition to producing electricity or heat.

Last but not least, reducing the amount of waste that is generated in the first place can also be an effective and cost-efficient solution. The introduction of waste-reduction programmes is one way to achieve this goal, such as promoting the use of reusable bags and containers, encouraging the use of digital communication rather than paper communication, and implementing strategies to reduce the amount of packaging that is used.

Overall, there are many different approaches that can be taken to manage waste in a way that is both cost-effective and efficient. The strategy that is most appropriate for a community will be determined by its unique requirements and resources. Careful consideration of all options and efforts to reduce waste at the point of generation allow communities to develop waste management strategies that are both effective and sustainable.