Sustainability in Urban Areas

An Important way of improving Urban Sustainability 

2010 each person in the UK prodcuded 453 kg of waste. A lot of this waste goes to landfill, which is unsustainable

Waste management in the UK is becoming more sustainable- landfill is decteasing and recycling is is increaig. Eg in 2004 33% of waste was recovered compared to 45% in 2008

There are national and EU targets to make waste disposal more sustainable eg the EU wants 50% of houshold waste to be recycled in 2020

Landfill: When rubbish is buried (often in former quarries) Cheap in the short term, but unsustainable..

- Release Co2 emissions and methane. In UK Landfills= 36% methane emissions. Greenhouse gas --> Climate change

2008, Landfill site in Mumbai was closed and covered- methane produced is used to generate electricity. Should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents by 2028.

- Pollute ground water- new ones specially lined to prevent this

-Dumping= waste value materials that could be reused and recycled

- In developing countries people often live and work near landfill. Eg in Mumbai, Dharavi. Altthough provides income not sustainable to meet needs

UK Houshold waste= 38% Organic materials (biodegradeable) can be composted by indicuals or on a large scale

- Reduces cost to the local authoritiy for waste disposal

- Large scale composting= coolects from peoples homes and public waste. Transported to reactors (whre microbes break down anearobically)= biogas, nitrogen rich fertiliser

- Sustainable as it decreases waste going to landfill, biogas is renewable energy source

- Composting has to be managed properly to succeed, has eto be sorted to ensure no contaminations (eg metal) If contaminated can't be sold on for agricultural use as it would pollute the soil--> harmful to people eating crops

Waste materials are made into new products or materials eg plastic into fleece

Advantages:
- producing goods from recycled material is quicker and cheaper than from scratch

- uses less energy, eg 20 times more energy to manufacture aluminium from raw materials that recycled materials, some can be recycled numerous times

- reduces demand for raw materials eg deforestations, reduces waste to landfill

Difficulties:

-Relies on individuals. Local council encourage people to recycle by letting them put waste in together or by offering incentives. eg Berkshire --> trial where people were given rewards 70% joined , 35% recycling increase

-Costs money- initial investment for plants whats expensive

-UK's materials sent abroad. 55% paper to china in 2007. transporting produces emissions

when waste can't be composted, reused or recycled is burnt to generate electricity and heat

-Reduces use of fossil fules, but not fully sustainable due to CO2 emissions

-Used to generate electricity in Sheffield

    - The Energy Recovery Facility= heat 140 builidings, would usually have produced 21 000 tonnes more co2 every year

             -Only 15% waste goes to landfill

Other counsils are looking into ERF eg Leicestershire --> produce enough electricty for 42 000 homes

buisnesses reducing food packaging

- 5p bag scheme

Reused = eg plastic bottles

Tends to be easier for individuals than on a larger scale. Eg Germany drink companed charge a deposit fr drinks in refillable glass or plastic bottles, which customers get back when they return them