Waste Process and Sustainable Development - Assignment Example

WASTE PROCESS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Introduction Management of wastes entails the aspects ofgeneration, prevention, characterization, monitoring, treatment, reuse and the residual disposition of the solid wastes. Solid wastes may originate from the municipal states such as the residential, institutional or the commercial sectors. In addition, they may also come from sectors such as agriculture, health facilities, domestic production and those from the sewage treatment systems or plants. In general, wastes are the unwanted materials that accrue as a result of the production of activities the human beings do to enhance their daily survivals (Baker, 2006). Waste management with a view to incorporating the sustainability development concept in it, in this case, incorporates the below elements; Generation of waste Waste minimization Waste removal Waste transportation Waste treatment Recycling and reuse Storage, collection, transport, and transfer Treatment Landfill disposal Environmental considerations Financial and marketing aspects Policy and regulation Education and training Aims of the Essay The essay will discuss the main aims below; To identify the need for waste management during the production process. To find out the relationship between sustainable development and waste management (Baker, 2006). To assess the impacts of waste management on the environment. To present a discussion on the environmental assessment techniques and the regulations towards the waste management objective (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd, 2008) Literature Review History of Sustainable Development Most uprising markets of today are embarking of the necessity for mass urbanization. The instance of the need may be of value in the future through rising of the rates of production activities taking place in a given region. Consequentially, the lives of the individuals participating in these production activities also look brighter especially when they deploy the use of the sustainable development concept (Baker, 2006). Currently, many countries operate with the inclusion of the sustainable development theme concept in their strategic plans of development. As result, the deployment of such plans also has the impact of enhancing the economic growth of a country. However, the effect of these strategies must involve the use of certain laid down frameworks that lead to the efficient attainment and realization in the organization towards success (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd, 2008). Developing countries who majorly need the essence of the sustainable development plans within their strategies should lead the pack or the road towards the implementation of the strategies (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd, 2008). The invention of certain models towards the attainment of the sustainable development objective in most of the upcoming markets is for sure the cause of the rapid development trends taking place currently in these nations. In addition, there is the availability of the index metric measures that aid in the evaluation of the sustainability levels of indices of those nations that apply the use of the concepts. The index also further assist in the assessment of the gaps that require the implementation of the management teams of the organizations (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd, 2008). Sustainability index also assists the investors in the evaluation of the suitable methodologies that provide the countries they do their operations. In this instance, it gives the options of coming up with policies that can lead to the achievement of the desired and acceptable sustainable development. In summary, the sustainability index as a component of the sustainable development assists in the evaluation of the suitable indexes that can satisfy the needs of the people. Consequentially the index, offers the option of evaluation of the available resources that aim at uplifting the living standards living in a country (Roosa, 2010). Sustainable development, in general, with the incorporation of the sustainability index, will help in the explanation of the environmental condition of a country. In addition, it also assists in the identification of the contingencies in places towards reaching the sustainable development goals in the country (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd, 2008). For instance, many developing and the developed countries, in this case, should apply the use of the sustainable development concept in the evaluation of the economic growth trends taking place in the countries. Sustainability also incorporates the theme of restructuring the existing industries in these countries. As a result, sustainable development as a tool stand out to be the best tool for saving the stagnating nations in economic growth from collapsing in the future. As result, sustainable development should base its objectives primarily on the renewal of the waste products in place since they are cheaply available and also environmental friendly (Roosa, 2010). Finally, towards the realization of the waste management processes, sustainable development should strive at ensuring that the present environment of operation remains evergreen. The instance is possible to achieve through the plantation of many trees in desert covered area and l also practicing a lot of soil conservation practices. Trees are mostly good items that attract rain and also good ventilation providers since they purifier the air. As result, the human beings receive the free flow of that is also free from the dust effects present in the atmosphere (Roosa, 2010). A part of the plantation of trees, recycling of the waste products should also take place so as also to enhance the provision of affordable produces such as the toothpaste. By incorporating the so far identified issues, there is the possibility of expanding the business empire of the company especial in the case where the employees agree to the ideas (Roosa, 2010). Sustainable Business Every particular form of business activity will only function in a given locality so long as there conducive sustainable business environment. In such an environment, there are good situations and the modalities in places that promote the elements of production such as manufacturing, the production itself and the processing (Gechev, 2005). However, it is far much possible for the firm to achieve the objectivity of operating a sustainable business when it puts in places all the strategies towards reaching the target. At the same time, the company should aim at operating in a sustainable business environment while taking the consideration of ensuring that the current profits it generates do not fluctuate (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd, 2008). With the regard to the so far preview presented above on the sustainable development, the possible definition that suits a sustainable business operation is the business operation activities that entails the evaluation of the design products that take care of the utilization of the current environment situation. In addition, sustainable business operations also need the assessment of the suitable products from a manufacturing industry. In this case, they may find themselves fitting well with the market trends especially of the new incoming products for trade in it (Gechev, 2005). The Relationship between Economic Growth, Consumption, and Sustainability In relation to the consumption, sustainability involves the recycling of the current used waste products with a view to minimizing the costs of buying the new raw materials. In this case, they may seem to be expensive at some point. As a result, the company will maximize the profits. Consequentially, the company will also promote the environmental conservation through going for the option of the used waste products for recycling in making the new products for sale in the market (Mulder, 2006). In the case of economic growth and the sustainability concept, the stakeholders, in this case, will both work in the corporation towards the realization of the success in their areas of duty or operations. For instance, the retailers, wholesalers, and the suppliers are the principle determinants of the economic growth of a region while also observing the sustainability initiatives. In addition, they also facilitate the efficient distribution of goods and services in the market structure. Consequentially, these market players in the flow of commodities and services in the market structure deploy the use of the least costly methods of operation (Gechev, 2005). On the other hand, they also enhance the sustainability development ideologies through promoting the conservation of the environment in their area of operations (Mulder, 2006). . The Role of Efficiency in Achieving Sustainability Role of efficiency towards attaining the sustainability involves the application of the present modernized technologies with the use of the high degree of efficiency. As a result, the production, in this case, would experience the low costs and also with fewer effects or impacts on the environment of operation. The instance is further enhanced by the reduction of the expenses that the business may incur during the operational periods (Mulder, 2006). Need for Waste Management towards Sustainable Development Community Development Management of waste should focus primarily on the social development of the surrounding community. Development is the top priority, all socio-economic activities and objectives are the fundamental starting point for social development, and waste management is no exception. Proper handling of waste and waste management garbage triggered social conflicts, for production, consumption resolve worries, thereby promoting social development; the further development of the society, in turn, promote waste management system upgrade (Mulder, 2006). Environmental Conservation Management of wastes should take care of the existing environment of operation. Issues such as garbage are environmentally harmful substances. As a result, they should be eliminated through safe disposal. In addition, garbage disposal garbage itself requires not only harmless, but also the process to minimize resource consumption and waste secondary pollution (Gechev, 2005). Towards the Sustainable Development Objective Waste management disposal system must contribute to sustainable development. Proper waste disposal is the core objective of waste management. Sustainable waste disposal system is a sign of a sustainable waste management system. In addition, its core is to promote sustainable waste disposal waste management (Cordonier Segger, Gehring and Newcombe, 2011). Public Attention Waste Management must attract active public participation in waste disposal industry Public participation not only refers to public participation in waste management oversight, more active public participation in waste management activities means. Enjoy public oversight garbage disposal facilities planning, environmental assessment, construction and operation rights, criticisms and suggestions put forward only is not enough, should plunge into the waste disposal industry (Pater, 2009). Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of Waste Products and Services Analysis of the Environmental Impacts Analysis of the impact of the environment on waste products entails the use of the Life- Cycle Energy Analysis technique, LCEA. LCEA use the approach that entails all the available energy inputs such as the direct one cases used in the manufacturing process and the production components, material and services essential to the manufacturing process. LCEA entails the below areas; Energy Production Most of the energy does get lost through the energy production commodities such as the nuclear energy, photovoltaic electricity or the high-quality petroleum products. The net content of energy, in this case, defines the energy content of the production without the energy input applied during the extraction and the conversion directly or indirectly. LCEA postulates that the manufacturing solar cells need more energy than those recovered by use of the solar cells (Pater, 2009). Another related context with the energy production is the Energy Cannibalism. Energy Cannibalism defines the rapid of the entire industry of the energy that the industry requires for cannibalism or the cannibalization of the existing power plants. In the times of the rapid growth of an industry, there is no entire production of the energy for fuelling the embodied energy meant for the future plants (Cordonier Segger, Gehring and Newcombe, 2011). Energy Recovery When there is the incineration of the materials in the disposal process, there is the possibility of harnessing the released during burning for the production of electricity. The instance enhances the provision of the law impact energy source in comparison to coal and the natural gas. Despite the fact that the incineration results in the production of more greenhouse effects than land fillings, the waste plants in this situation find themselves in a position that has filters to contain the expected negative effects (Cordonier Segger, Gehring and Newcombe, 2011). Criticism of LCEA LCEAs scope is to eliminate the monetary cost analysis than, in this case, can help in the replacement of the currency that determines the economic decisions towards the use of the energy currency (Ukaga, and Afoaku, 2005). Energy efficiency also dictates the choice for the alternatives process to deploy and as such is not just a criterion for conducting the environmental acceptability. For instance, the simple analysis of the energy does not involve the issues the ease of the renewing the forms of energy y in place or the toxic levels of the waste products. However, the life cycle energy analysis is of no help to the companies in becoming conversant with the properties of the environment and the system of the environment. However, through the incorporation of the dynamic LCAs of the properties and the technologies does help in the prediction future improvement in the renewable systems and their eventual share in the power grid. As a result, it may help in the mitigation of criticism behind the idea (Ukaga, and Afoaku, 2005). Environmental Impact Assessment Techniques of Waste Products Life-Cycle Assessment Life cycle assessment defines the technique applied in conducting the assessment of the environmental impacts related to the cradle to the grave. Life Cycle Analysis, in this case, assists in the avoidance of the narrow picture of the environmental scope through the; Compilation of the inventory of the relevant energy and the required material inputs and the releases into the environment (Ukaga, and Afoaku, 2005) Evaluation of the potential impacts that relates to the identified inputs and releases Interpretation of the results that help in making the informed decisions Phases of Life Cycle Assessment The phases of the life cycle assessment follow the below phases as shown in the below figure; Figure 1: LCA phases. Significant Impacts Assessment Techniques of Waste Products In the previous days, the history around the literature of the life cycle assessment of the energy technology reflected the interactions that lay between n the present electrical grid and the future energy technology (Gechev, 2005. For instance, some of the papers relied on the energy life cycle while others dwelt on the effects of the greenhouse effects. The sources further state their criticism with the consideration of the energy technology, the trends in the growing nature of the power grid. Failure to achieve this objective may make the class of the energy technology emit more of the carbon dioxide throughout the lifetime than the possible it can mitigate over time (Voigt, 2009). However, the energy analysis method is unable to solve the problems that come with the various forms of energy. Some of these forms are the heat, electricity and the chemical heat energy. The instance is that these forms of energy have different qualities and their values in the field of the natural sciences as they form the main constituent of the thermodynamics (Voigt, 2009). Some possible solutions to the problems arising from energy analysis are; value difference between energy inputs is ignored, a value ratio is arbitrarily assigned a joule of heat or fuel input) The analysis is supplemented by the economic cost analysis (Voss, Bauknecht and Kemp, 2006). Production and Consumption Data on Waste Products Very many issues exist concerning the reporting of data relating to waste products. Measurements that link to data and the statistics on waste products include their weight, size and also their stack difference. For instance, the organic wastes have much weight while the plastics and bottles have varied weights though may be of the same size. Reports on the waste products that cover all over the world give different versions of reporting with their definitions and also their unique classification of wastes into different categories. Despite, the variation in the reporting, data from the reports on reportings from the waste products is still of value especially to the small scale sectors. The reports help in such cases in the determination of the key causes and the locations. In addition, they also give the options that are possible for the application in the prevention, minimization, recovery, treatment and the disposal of the waste (Voigt, 2009). The below figure gives the sample of the projected waste globally; Figure 2: Past and Projected Global Waste Generation The Stakeholders Involved In the Waste Products Manufacturing, Consumption Society Society plays a role in ensuring a zero waste. Zero waste has threats it poses to the fundamental challenge of motivating the society for the change their lifestyles, creation of the new products, corporations, industries and the governments in their behaviors through many ways (Ukaga, and Afoaku, 2005). Central Government The central government participate in the waste manufacturing and consumption through the legislation and also the funding of the zero waste products. Such funds will motivate the community towards enhancing the utilization of the waste products in their area of living (Ukaga, and Afoaku, 2005) Regional Governments Regional governments also may set their agendas that contribute to the use and the consumption of the waste in a given locality. Regional governments also may contribute towards introduction of the learning of the learning institutions that utilizes the waste products and also teaches about the ways to use the waste products effectively (Pater, 2009). Industrial Designers The designers may contribute to the zero waste by designing a durable product that also make it easy for the consumption by the esteemed consumers and reuse back into the industries (Roosa, 2010). Manufacturers Manufacturers do participate in the implementation of the design technologies especially on the products that come with the minimal wastes on the environment. I n addition, the design may also ensure good packaging that, in this case, may make the product stay for longer periods in the market system (Pater, 2009). Retailers Retailers also stock the recyclable products that in addition also are repairable and also are environmentally friendly Secondary Material Handlers The group enhances the provision of the high-quality services that exceeds the disposal services. As a result, the recyclers should work jointly with the communities and the local governments in the recycling of all the waste product campaigns (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd, 2008). Universities and Schools Universities and schools also consume the waste to the products used by the students staying in these institutions. As result, these institutions should consider the deployments of the zero techniques in order to realize their objectives (Mulder, 2006). Households Needs The parties in this area need to ensure that there are clear guidelines for the reduction and the recycling of the waste products. For instance, the consumer products and the services need an extensive knowledge of adopting the ways that can eliminate the waste products (Landon, 2006). Environmental Regulation in Promoting Sustainable Practices on Waste Products Greening Practices The practices, in this case, may include; Eco-procurement or green purchasing Waste minimisation and management Energy efficiency Water conservation Emissions reduction Biodiversity conservation Social and economic development Green Purchasing The strategy should aim at ensuring that the products used in such instance are those that are biodegradable. In addition, the products should have the features such as the co-label, the organic agents, PVC paints, sustainably produced foods (McDonagh, Varley and Shortall, 2009). Waste Minimization The main elements or the components of the operation in this theme are the reduction, re-use and the recycle philosophy, other 3Rs of waste minimization. The aspects further help in the reduction of the quantity of wastes generated in a given locality through the incineration process (Krueger and Gibbs, 2007). Energy Efficiency The required energy to perform a given task may be obtained directly from the main grid power supplies or any other mobile power sources such as the generator. As result, it is possible to enhance the reduction of the energy needed to extract this form of energy with the view of aiming at the zero waste emission sources (Honey, 2008). Water Conservation The usage of water to perform a given task should take care of the philosophy of the sustainable development concept. As result, such initiatives should strive at aiming at the reduction of the production of either the sewage or the greater produced (Hilty, Seifert and Treibert, 2005). Emissions Reduction The amount of the CO2 content emitted in the atmosphere should be under a close monitoring and regulations frequently. The objective here is to regulate levels of pollution effect brought by the gas in the atmosphere since it’s very much poisonous and toxic when left to accumulate so much into the atmosphere. As result, the checks on the emission of the CO2 gas should focus on the energy consumption, the waste generated and the transport flights. Other focus areas are the accommodation and any other possible activities related to the production of the gas. Such instances should aim at avoiding the pollution of the atmosphere and a further cause of the climate change (Hilty, Seifert and Treibert, 2005). Biodiversity Life forms found in the earth are the construing members of the biodiversity. For this reason, the biodiversity members are the plants and the animal’s kingdoms in all their categories and species. Biodiversity life forms may exist in deserts, rainforests, and the coral reefs. For this reason, there is a need to ensure the practice of the sustainable development initiatives since it will prolong the life existence of this life species in their niches (Gechev, 2005). In addition, it is also vital to advocate the protection the natural environment since it forms the ecological habitat of the biodiversity life forms of the living organisms (Cordonier Segger, Gehring and Newcombe, 2011). Social and Economic Development The process of ensuring the go green of the environment should create some initiatives that will entice the local communities in supporting such objectives or the plans. The locals also stand to reap the benefits of coming out of their poverty levels in the days to come. The organization participating in the greening project may entice the locals through such initiatives (Baker, 2006). Conclusion An organization with the objectivity of implementing the sustainable development initiatives should have in place the considerations of the positive and the negative implications that come with the idea. In most of the occasions, it always becomes a challenging factor. The instance is that it entails the requirement of the organizations financial strengths in fulfilling the objectives. In addition, the primary focus is on the sustainability development concept especially in the waste management process. The wastes here do result from the production activities taking place in the organization. Consequentially, the company should take into consideration of the environmental requirements before venturing into the production activities. A plan, in this case, should be in place that should incorporate all the stakeholders that the organization intends to involve during the production process. For this reason, the organization may be able to attain the goals of the sustainability development. For instance, the waste reduction results from the production activities taking place in the organization. In summary, an organization may in the end attain the full importance of municipal solid waste disposal in the socio-economic development. As a result, it may entail whom to make a real effort to be able to lay a good foundation for the sustainable development of contemporary Reference List Baker, S. 2006. Sustainable Development. London: Routledge. Cordonier Segger, M., Gehring, M. and Newcombe, A. 2011. Sustainable Development in World Investment Law. Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International. Gechev, R. 2005. Sustainable Development. Indianapolis, IN: University of Indianapolis Press. Hilty, L., Seifert, E. and Treibert, R. 2005. Information Systems for Sustainable Development. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub. Honey, M. 2008. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Krueger, R. and Gibbs, D. 2007. The Sustainable Development Paradox. New York, N.Y.: Guilford Press. Landon, M. 2006. Environment, Health and Sustainable Development. Maidenhead: Open University Press. McDonagh, J., Varley, T. and Shortall, S. 2009. A Living Countryside? Surrey, UK: Ashgate. Mulder, K. 2006. Sustainable Development for Engineers. Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England: Greenleaf Pub. Pater, C. 2009. Religion and Sustainable Development. Berlin: Lit. Rogers, P., Jalal, K. and Boyd, J. 2008. An Introduction to Sustainable Development. London: Earthscan. Roosa, S. 2010. Sustainable Development Handbook. Lilburn, GA: Fairmont Press. Ukaga, O. and Afoaku, O. 2005. Sustainable development in Africa. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press. Voigt, C. 2009. Sustainable Development as a Principle of International Law. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Voss, J., Bauknecht, D. and Kemp, R. 2006. Reflexive Governance for Sustainable Development. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Read More