Is Your Local Waste Responsible for Global Climate Change?

Guest Blog by Erich Lawson

Climate change has become a reality in today’s world. While many environmentalists are advocating green and sustainable energy, people are still not emphasizing enough on the hazards of reckless waste disposal and treatment. When waste is treated or makes it way to landfills, it emits greenhouse gases that have an adverse effect on the worldwide climate. In essence your local waste makes a contribution to global climate change.

However, we do have the opportunity to change and to transition towards a zero waste and lower impact society. The list below offers 6 ways that we can move towards this zero waste and lower impact society.

1 – Reducing Waste

It takes a lot of energy to obtain materials from natural resources. Hence, the first step should be reducing material use. This can be done by reducing material waste and promoting more efficient and effective product designs. If these measures are taken, it will have a positive effect on climate change.

It is estimated if efforts are made to reduce waste to levels that were prevalent in 1990, it is possible to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 11.6 million metric tons of carbon equivalent, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

2 – Recycling

Besides reducing and preventing waste, the other step to prevent irreversible climate change is recycling. A lot of organic products, such as paper, wood and food scraps, and inorganic waste, like ferrous and non-ferrous metals, can easily be recycled to prevent greenhouse gas emissions, besides recycling reduces the use of energy to get the resources. The EPA reckons if the national recycling rate is increased from its present rate of 25 percent to 35 percent, it would help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 9.8 million metric tons of carbon equivalent.

3 – Reducing and Recycling Paper Products

Every year, millions trees in the Amazon rainforests are being cut down to provide the insatiable need for paper. If a ton of paper is recycled, it helps to save around 24 trees. And, these 24 trees work together to remove 115 kg (250 lbs) of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. When CO2 is reduced, it helps to reduce the effect of global greenhouse. Today, efforts are being made to protect forest areas and also plant new forests in areas where they have been harvested to create space for human dwellings.

Nearly half of the waste that makes it to landfills and incinerators in the United States comprises of wood and paper.

4 – Methane – The High Contributor

Methane is one greenhouse gas that is produced in high volumes from waste. Other gases too are produced, such as carbon dioxide. Even when waste is recycled, some amount of emission is unavoidable, but the benefits clearly outweigh the use of fossil fuels that would be used up to get new raw materials.

Hence, if individuals and industries want to reduce emissions of methane, which is potent as a greenhouse gas, efforts should be made to prevent methane producing waste and to encourage recycling. These two measures will help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and address concerns regarding climate change.

5 – Forget Landfills and Incineration

When waste makes its way to landfills and incinerators, it causes global climate change. Such waste cannot be recycled and hence, it creates a need to extract new resources to make new products. This not only uses precious energy in the form of fossil fuels, it also causes large volumes of methane emissions.

So, rather than discarding drink containers made from aluminum and plastic, there should be a concerted effort by every community to recycle them. This will save energy and also prevent emissions.

6 – Make Composting a Priority

As an individual, you can do your bit to reduce emissions and prevent global climate change. Organic waste, such as paper, garden trimmings, wood and food scraps, can easily be composted to create natural fertilizer for your garden. Rather than using artificial and hazardous fertilizers and chemicals to spur growth of plants, fruits and veggies, you can use compost to get better yield and results. In addition, you will be doing your bit for the environment and reducing your carbon footprints. As per the U.S. EPA, when composting is done the right way, it does not produce any greenhouse gases.

Zero Waste

The world is trying to move towards zero waste but the only way this is possible if products and materials are recycled, waste is minimized and landfills are not burdened with objects and things that can be recycled or reused. Once people embark on the path of zero waste, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly and this will have a positive effect on global climate change.

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Erich Lawson is very passionate about the environment and effective recycling. He has written a wide array of articles on educating the public on how modern recycling equipment can be used by industries to reduce monthly garbage bills and increase recycling revenue. You can learn more about environment savings techniques by visiting http://www.norcalcompactors.net