Sustainability Issues in Urban Areas

Sustainability Issues in Urban Areas 

Sustainability: meeting the needs of people today in a way that doesnt damage the environment or use up respources so peole can continue to meet thri own needs in the future 

Waste Management 

• agenda 21 sets sustainability targets for UK's councils to meet- increase in recycling
• 17% was collected for recycling (source: defra.gov.uk). This figure is still quite low compared to some of our neighbouring EU countries, some recycling over 50% of their waste.

Landfill 

§Burying rubbish – it is short-term and unsustainable §It releases CO2 and methane §In the UK, it is responsible for 35% of all methane emissions §There is a chance it will pollute groundwater §It wastes resources that can be reused or recycled Energy recovery  §Waste that can’t be composted, recycled or reused can be burnt to generate heat and electricity §It reduces the use of fossil fuels but produces CO2 and other emissions Recycling §Turning waste materials into new products e.g. plastic bottles are turned into fleece §Advantages - Quicker and cheaper than making products from scratch - Uses less energy than you would need to make new products - Reduces demand for raw materials - Less of an environmental impacts as it limits deforestation - Reduces waste going to landfill §Issues - Not everyone bothers - It costs money as an initial investment is needed to set up recycling plants - UK’s material is often sent abroad to be recycled and transportation produces emissions Composting §In the UK, 38% of household waste is organic material (biodegradable) §Household composting reduces the local authority waste disposal costs §Large scale composting produces biogas, which can be used to generate heat and electricity, and nitrogen-based fertiliser §Sustainable as it reduces the quantity of waste going to landfill §It…