If you’ve never heard of the term, we can’t blame you. Most people don’t go around researching the economic system they live in — let alone alternative methods of production. Still, learning about circular economy is a great way to introduce other concepts — like Zero Waste manufacturing.

Of course, before we can do all that, we have to be aware of the system we currently have. With that in mind, let’s start by talking about the cause of the waste accumulation we are dealing with today.

Is Linear Economy Outdated?

Most people know that the amount of waste production and accumulation we are fighting against was ultimately caused by our economic system. The principles of linear economy are fairly simple. We take what we need from nature, and we transform these raw materials into products, which we dispose of when they’re no longer of use. Proponents of this system assumed that the planet is capable of providing infinite resources and regenerating an infinite amount of waste.

As we now know, that is simply not the case. So the system’s goal of maximizing production and sales has become impossible to envision without also seeing the eventual consequences.

After all, to keep production cycles going, we also need to create demand. That’s why many commodities we buy nowadays fall apart so quickly. The sooner your shirt rips open at the seams, the sooner you’ll go looking for a new one. But before we start pointing fingers at the fast fashion industry, remember that the system affects all commercial enterprises.

Is There a Different Kind of Approach We Can Opt for?

The excessive production and turnover of commodities we see in the linear economy are all but guaranteed to produce an enormous amount of waste. But as any waste management expert will tell you — it’s never too late to veer toward another approach.

In recent years, many people have been considering the benefits of transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle. Basically, rather than throwing their used up and damaged items, the goal of Zero Waste is to find a way to use them again. Whether it’s composting, making bags out of ripped jeans, or turning broken pans into planters — people are having to be creative with items they would have otherwise tossed in the trash.

But while most people are familiar with the philosophy in general, not many are aware of who started Zero Waste. Believe it or not, the phrase was coined in the ‘80s. However, Daniel Knapp, one of the first people who formulated the idea of total recycling, didn’t just talk the talk. Instead, he and his wife founded a salvaging market, Urban Ore, to focus on diverting waste from their local landfill and reusing it within the community.

Over the years, their ideas inspired many others to look for ways to reduce their waste production. Eventually, those principles reached the waste management industry and society at large. All through the ‘90s and early ‘00s, “no waste” slogans were everywhere. But where did all that activism lead?

The Birth of Circular Economy

The idea of a cyclical system of production is certainly older than the modern Zero Waste philosophy. However, the concept of a circular economy wasn’t mentioned until 1988. Even then, shifting perspectives around the subject of waste production and management certainly helped popularize the idea.

Ultimately, the philosophies behind these two concepts are closely aligned. Both aim to reduce and eventually eliminate the production of waste. Unlike the linear approach we discussed earlier, circular economy is all about letting the Earth recover and minimizing the amount of raw resources we take from it. But in addition to benefiting the planet, the principles of sustainable production also need to benefit businesses.

After all, rather than paying for raw materials that are directly taken from nature, circular economy advocates for reusing and recycling already-processed materials. That should reduce the cost of production — in theory. Unfortunately, recycling technology is still too expensive for some businesses to invest in. So how can we, as consumers, nudge them in the right direction?

How Do We Start Transitioning to Circular Economy?

On an individual level, one thing we can all do is check our consumption habits. Don’t just throw out old items if you don’t have to. Instead, learn how to mend and transform objects into items you can keep using and loving.

Additionally, you can transition to shopping from sustainable local businesses. Ultimately, the cost of shipping is much greater than you might think. If nothing else, shopping locally tends to have a lower carbon footprint.

These individual decisions should eventually influence businesses to reduce the number of commodities they produce in the first place. But there’s one more thing we can do to prompt the industry to change its ways. Namely, we can influence policies with our vote.

Getting people to participate in this as a political movement is the best way to put pressure on companies. If there are laws and sanctions in place to regulate the production of commodities and waste, businesses will have to adjust their habits.

Can We Achieve Zero Waste Manufacturing?

As we have previously stated, all we need to transition to Zero Waste manufacturing is a few key industry sectors. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, these sectors should be steel, plastic, and aluminum manufacturing, as well as cement and food industries. By getting these five sectors to reuse materials during the production process in the factory, we could cut carbon emissions by 3.7 billion tons by 2050. New technologies like artificial intelligence are making it possible to make the transition to sustainable product development.

Best of all, the emerging models of circular economy will not only stimulate business growth but also create many new job opportunities. So the sooner we take that leap, the sooner our planet can start recovering.

The post Zero Waste Manufacturing: How Can We Transition to a Circular Economy? first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

The severity of the crisis is a direct consequence of continuing blockade by Israeli Occupation Forces and lack of financial assistance from international donor. Israeli Occupation Forces deliberately destroyed most of the sewage infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, during 2008-2009 Gaza War inflicting heavy damage to sewage pipes, water tanks, wastewater treatment plants etc.

There are three landfills in Gaza Strip – one each in southern and central part of Gaza and one in Gaza governorate. In addition, there are numerous unregulated dumpsites scattered across rural and urban areas which are not fenced, lined or monitored. Around 52% of the MSW stream is made up of organic wastes.

Domestic, industrial and medical wastes are often dumped near cities and villages or burned and disposed of in unregulated disposal sites which cause soil, air and water pollution, leading to health hazards and ecological damage. The physical damage caused to Gaza’s infrastructure by repeated Israeli aggression has been a major deterred in putting forward a workable solid waste management strategy in the Strip.

The sewage disposal problem is assuming alarming proportions. The Gaza Strip’s sewage service networks cover most areas, except for Khan Yunis and its eastern villages where only 40% of the governorate is covered. There are only three sewage water treatment stations in Gaza Strip – in Beit Lahia, Gaza city and Rafah – which are unable to cope with the increasing population growth rate. The total quantity of produced sewage water is estimated at 45 million m³ per annum, in addition to 3000 cubic meters of raw sewage sludge discharged from Gaza Strip directly into the sea every day. Sewage water discharge points are concentrated on the beaches of Gaza city, Al Shate’ refugee camp and Deir El Balah.

The continuous discharge of highly contaminated sewage water from Gaza Strip in the Mediterranean shores is causing considerable damage to marine life in the area. The beaches of Gaza City are highly polluted by raw sewage. In addition, groundwater composition in Gaza Strip is marked by high salinity and nitrate content which may be attributed to unregulated disposal of solid and liquid wastes from domestic, industrial and agricultural sources. The prevalent waste management scenario demands immediate intervention of international donors, environmental agencies and regional governments in order to prevent the situation from assuming catastrophic proportions.

The post Waste Management in Gaza first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

What are Pool Inflatables?

First off, before we look at how to recycle these pool inflatables, what exactly are they? Well, like the name suggest, these are plastic inflatables that tend to be used in pools. These can range from very big inflatables that can be sat on, down to inflatables used for sports such as balls or clubs.

There tends to be new inflatable design and shapes that come out every summer, which becomes popular on the likes of Instagram. This leads to people rushing to buy what’s popular and old inflatables becoming binned.

What are Pool Inflatables Made of and Can They Be Recycled?

When it comes to the cheap pool inflatables that we often see in the likes of Aldi and Argos, these toys ten to be made from nylon or vinyl, they will then be coated in a PVC material that makes them very durable.

Because of this PVC coating, though, it makes it very hard to recycle these inflatables. Which is why broken or unwanted pool toys end up going into our general bins, which are destined for a landfill. Which isn’t great when we’re trying to recycle as much as we can.

What Can You Do With Old or Unwanted Pool Inflatables?

Well, before you stop buying pool inflatables altogether, here at KwikSweep we have some great ideas for how you can keep your inflatables away from landfills:

Repair It

More often than not, when we’re looking to get rid of a pool inflatable it’s because it’s damaged and we believe it be unusable. Which can be quite common when they’re used by kids – and adults too! Before you get rid of your pool inflatable, though, it’s actually very easy to repair these inflatables.

First of all, you need to find where the hole or rip is. This is quite easy to do, just fill the inflatable up with water and see where water or bubbles are escaping. Once you’ve located the hole add a sticker, then you can empty the water out and dry out the inflatable before you look to fix it.

When you’re ready to start your repair, inflate it with air and cover the hole with some duct tape to keep the air in. You can then take a piece of PVC or more tape and cover it with some waterproof glue and place over the top of the hole and held until dry. Just remember to check it thoroughly before giving it back to the kids.

Give it Away

If pool inflatable isn’t broken, but it is no longer wanted. Rather than throwing it away, consider giving it away to someone you know or even donating it to charity. That way, rather than simply throwing it away, someone else will be able to get use out of it.

Upcycle It

While pool inflatables are hard to recycle, they may still be of use to others that could use the material in an upcycle project. For this, you will have to research locally to see if anyone wants to work with old PVC, which can seem like hard work, however, it’s more than worth it to keep it out of landfills.

If you’re worried about any of your rubbish going to landfills and you’d like to make sure as much as possible is recycled, contact us here at KwikSweep. As, regardless of it being commercial or home clearances, we make sure as much is kept away from landfills as possible.

The post Can You Recycle Summer Pool Inflatables? first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Restaurants mostly use cooking oil to deep fry their food. As a result, restaurants have thousands of liters of cooking oil waste. More liters are also wasted from home.

Rarely do hotels, restaurants, and homes practice safe disposal of cooking oil. Many just pour it down the sink drain.

This results in clogged pipes that need you to call a plumber regularly. Beyond the home and the restaurant kitchen, poor disposal of cooking oil leads to clogging up sewage systems.

To avoid this, cooking oil should be recycled. Here are the main reasons why you should recycle cooking oil.

1. Reduce Impact On The Environment

Proper disposal and recycling of cooking oil help to improve the environment. Pouring used cooking oil down the drain is detrimental to the environment.

Clogged pipes and drainage systems have a great impact on the cleanliness of the environment. Clogged pipes leak. This causes puddles of waste to spill to the ground and polluting the environment.

When homes and restaurants opt for used oil recycling, the impact of the poorly disposed cooking oil on the environment reduces significantly. There are fewer clogged and leaky pipes that cause sewage to leak to the ground.

In addition, homes, restaurants, and city governments in charge of public drainage systems will save lots of money. Clogged and leaky pipes cost lots of money to fix. Homes and restaurants don’t have to keep on calling plumbers to unblock their drainage pipes.

2. Create Unique Products

Used oil recycling results in the creation of unique products. There is a range of products that can be made from recycled cooking oil.

At home, you can make lubricants, soap, and many other products.

Recycling used oil commercially converts the cooking oil to biofuels. These biofuels are then sold to transport and manufacturing companies as environmentally friendly fuel.

When this fuel is used, there is little pollution to the environment. It also burns more efficiently than fossil fuel. This ensures that there is little waste in the process they are used in. Also, if the fuel spills, it causes no harm to the environment.

Recycled used oil can also be converted to animal feeds for pigs, fish, and other commercial animals and pets.

3. A Source Of Income

Another reason why you should recycle cooking oil is that it is a source of income. Homes, hotels, and commercial kitchens can use cooking oil recycling as a source of extra income.

Oil recycling companies buy waste cooking oil from homes and hotels. Recyclers provide participating homes and hotels waste containers. They can pour their waste cooking oil into these containers.

Recyclers will then have select days on which they collect the waste cooking oil from homes and hotels. The more waste cooking oil you have, the more you earn.

The recycling companies also contract transporters to collect the oil from the different homes and hotels supplying to them. This helps to create employment and become a source of income for a large number of operators.

4. It Is Easy And Cost Effective

Recycling used cooking oil is easy and effective. You can recycle used cooking oil at home or commercially.

At home, the reagents for oil recycling are easily available. With the right skills, you can convert your waste cooking oil into soap and pet feeds easily.

Commercially, processing waste cooking oil is a simple five-step process. It is easy to complete with a little training and convert the waste cooking oil into biofuel.

Conclusion

Everyone should recycle their used cooking oil. It is easy to do and you can make a myriad of products from the waste cooking oil. It also helps to create a cleaner environment and reduce the impact of pollution.

The post Top Reasons Why You Should Recycle Your Cooking Oil first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Qatar produces more than 2.5 million tons of municipal solid waste each year. Solid waste stream is mainly comprised of organic materials (around 60 percent) while the rest of the waste steam is made up of recyclables like glass, paper, metals and plastics.

Municipalities are responsible for solid waste collection in Qatar both directly, using their own logistics, and indirectly through private sector contract. Waste collection and transport is carried out by a large fleet of trucks that collect MSW from thousands of collection points scattered across the country.

The predominant method of solid waste disposal in Qatar is landfilling. The collected is discharged at various transfer stations from where it is sent to the landfill. There are three landfills in Qatar; Umm Al-Afai for bulky and domestic waste, Rawda Rashed for construction and demolition waste, and Al-Krana for sewage wastes. However, the method of waste disposal by landfill is not a practical solution for a country like Qatar where land availability is limited.

Solid Waste Management Strategy

According to Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016, the country will adopt a multi-faceted strategy to contain the levels of waste generated by households, commercial sites and industry – and to promote recycling initiatives. Qatar intends to adopt integrated waste hierarchy of prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and as a last option, landfill disposal.

A comprehensive solid waste management plan is being implemented which will coordinate responsibilities, activities and planning for managing wastes from households, industry and commercial establishments, and construction industry. The target is to recycle 38 percent of solid waste, up from the current 8 percent, and reduce domestic per capita waste generation.

Five waste transfer stations have been setup in South Doha, West Doha, Industrial Area, Dukhan and Al-Khor to reduce the quantity of waste going to Umm Al-Afai landfill. These transfer stations are equipped with material recovery facility for separating recyclables such as glass, paper, aluminium and plastic.

Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre

One of the most promising developments has been the creation of Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) at Mesaieed. This centre is designed to maximize recovery of resources and energy from waste by installing state-of-the-art technologies for separation, pre-processing, mechanical and organic recycling, and waste-to-energy and composting technologies.

At its full capacity, it treats 1550 tons of waste per day, and is expected to generate enough power for in-house requirements, and supply a surplus of 34.4 MW to the national grid.

Future Outlook

While commendable steps are being undertaken to handle solid waste, the Government should also strive to enforce strict waste management legislation and create mass awareness about 4Rs of waste management viz. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recovery. Legislation are necessary to ensure compliance, failure of which will attract a penalty with spot checks by the Government body entrusted with its implementation.

Improvement in curbside collection mechanism and establishment of material recovery facilities and recycling centres may also encourage public participation in waste management initiatives. When the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 was conceived, the solid waste management facility plant at Mesaieed was a laudable solution, but its capacity has been overwhelmed by the time the project was completed. Qatar needs a handful of such centers to tackle the burgeoning garbage disposal problem.

The post Waste Management in Qatar first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Central solutions are exemplified by low-cost composting without forced aeration, and technologically more advanced systems with forced aeration and temperature feedback. Central composting plants are capable of handling more than 100,000 tons of biodegradable waste per year, but typically the plant size is about 10,000 to 30,000 tons per year. Biodegradable wastes must be separated prior to composting: Only pure food waste, garden waste, wood chips, and to some extent paper are suitable for producing good-quality compost.

Composting Equipment

The composting plants consist of some or all of the following technical units: bag openers, magnetic and/or ballistic separators, screeners (sieves), shredders, mixing and homogenization equipment, turning equipment, irrigation systems, aeration systems, draining systems, bio-filters, scrubbers, control systems, and steering systems. The composting process occurs when biodegradable waste is piled together with a structure allowing for oxygen diffusion and with a dry matter content suiting microbial growth.

Biodegradable wastes must be separated prior to composting: Only pure food waste, garden waste, wood chips, and to some extent paper are suitable for producing good-quality compost. The temperature of the biomass increases due to the microbial activity and the insulation properties of the piled material. The temperature often reaches 65 to 75 degrees C within few days and then declines slowly. This high temperature hastens the elimination of pathogens and weed seeds.

Composting Methodologies

The methodology of composting can be categorized into three major segments—anaerobic composting, aerobic composting, and vermicomposting. In anaerobic composting, the organic matter is decomposed in the absence of air. Organic matter may be collected in pits and covered with a thick layer of soil and left undisturbed six to eight months. The compost so formed may not be completely converted and may include aggregated masses.

Aerobic composting is the process by which organic wastes are converted into compost or manure in presence of air and can be of different types. The most common is the Heap Method, where organic matter needs to be divided into three different types and to be placed in a heap one over the other, covered by a thin layer of soil or dry leaves. This heap needs to be mixed every week, and it takes about three weeks for conversion to take place. The process is same in the Pit Method, but carried out specially constructed pits. Mixing has to be done every 15 days, and there is no fixed time in which the compost may be ready.

Berkley Method uses a labor-intensive technique and has precise requirements of the material to be composted. Easily biodegradable materials, such as grass, vegetable matter, etc., are mixed with animal matter in the ratio of 2:1. Compost is usually ready in 15 days.

Vermicomposting involves use of earthworms as natural and versatile bioreactors for the process of conversion. It is carried out in specially designed pits where earthworm culture also needs to be done. Vermicomposting is a precision-based option and requires overseeing of work by an expert. It is also a more expensive option (O&M costs especially are high).

The post The Basics of Composting first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

If you wish to minimize your plastic waste and help preserve the environment, you can make some sustainable swaps in your daily lifestyle. To start, you can try going for these choices to make your bathroom plastic-free:

1. Use Natural Soap Made With Sustainable Ingredients

Nowadays, some hygiene products like soap or shampoo often come in plastic packaging that aren’t biodegradable. If you aren’t mindful of the types of items you buy, you may not notice how much waste you accumulate whenever you get self-care products from your local store. So if you wish to modify certain aspects of your hygiene routine in order to help the environment, use natural soap made with sustainable ingredients and packaging.

There are earth-friendly brands promoting various goods that produce little to no waste and are contain all-natural ingredients. Using their products may benefit not just the planet but also your body.

Sustainable soaps can clean your body well without exposing your skin to too many chemical ingredients. You can try to find the scent and formulation you want so you can transition to a new product more comfortably.

2. Try Bar Shampoo

Besides your soap, you can also get your hair care products in a solid form. Usually, shampoo products sold in shops are packaged in plastic bottles and come in a liquid formula. It can be challenging to find ways to repurpose those containers that accumulate in your home, especially if you have a busy lifestyle. Hence, finding an eco-friendlier alternative that’s compact and more practical may be a good choice for your bathroom needs.

Some bar shampoos look like regular soap but are formulated specifically for your hair. You can use them to wash your crowning glory in the same way you use liquid shampoo. But thanks to their solid and compact appearance, you can save space in your bathroom and also lessen the amount of product you use during each shower you take. Check out natural shampoo Australia for some good shampoo bar choices.

3. Switch To A Bamboo Toothbrush

One effective method you can do to reduce your plastic waste production is to switch from regular plastic toothbrushes to bamboo ones. Although there are recyclable plastic items out there, traditional toothbrushes aren’t one of them. The bristles and handle of the brush are made with different materials, so they can’t be recycled. In fact, about one billion toothbrushes used in the United States end up in the trash each year.

Hence, a simple switch from a plastic item to a bamboo-made one can significantly reduce the amount of waste you have to get rid of. Some sustainable products are made with charcoal-infused bristles that are biodegradable and detachable. Once the bristles are old and worn out, you can simply throw them into homemade compost.

There are places where you can buy bamboo toothbrushes in bundles to save some money. They’re also easy to find, so you won’t need to worry about where you should get your supply by the time you need to replace the one you’re using.

4. Opt For Recycled Toilet Paper

For some households, it’s almost impossible not to have a supply of toilet paper in the bathroom. It serves multiple purposes like cleaning surfaces or drying wet places. Although the materials used to make tissue are recyclable, it isn’t easy to find recycling centers that accept them. The fiber composition of used tissue paper can’t be used to create good-quality paper, so that item is usually rejected. They also often come in plastic packaging, which you simply throw away once you need to use the toilet paper.

Living without tissue may be difficult, so if you wish for a more sustainable solution, you can start using recycled toilet paper instead. Given the materials used to make it, using it may lessen the carbon footprint you leave on the environment. Using recycled toilet paper helps conserve water and trees as well since it’s made with repurposed materials. In some cases, the packaging used for it is also recycled, so you won’t need to worry about contributing to the plastic waste piling up in landfills.

5. Make Your Own Toothpaste

More often than not, toothpaste is packaged in plastic tubes to make it easier for anyone to control how much they use. Once the product has been consumed, the only destination for the tube is the trash bin. So if you want to avoid throwing away more plastic and save money on your oral hygiene products, try making toothpaste instead.

You can create your own oral cleaning product with common ingredients like baking soda, coconut oil, and peppermint. If you refrain from purchasing your toothpaste from the grocery store, you can effectively lessen the number of empty plastic tubes you have to get rid of several times a year.

6. Avoid Small Packaging

Some hygiene or skincare products come in small plastic packaging. For instance, sample sizes of serums or facial creams are placed in pocket-sized containers made of plastic. Those can accumulate over time and exacerbate the problem with plastic waste. Hence, you should either purchase your personal care items in large quantities or simply avoid using products in small plastic containers.

For example, if you’ve been using the same face moisturizer for a long time, purchase the biggest available size instead of getting the smaller ones every time. Also, it would help to be conscious about how you get rid of empty containers. Some brands encourage customers to return empty packaging so they can recycle it. If you’re conscious about the condition of the environment, patronize brands that also care for nature as much as you can.

Final Thoughts

It can be challenging to eliminate or lessen your consumption of plastic products. Like your food supply and personal hygiene items, most of the goods you buy in stores are packed in plastic. So if you want to help Mother Nature, try to make sustainable swaps in your household, including your bathroom. You can purchase your soap and shampoo from eco-friendly brands that don’t use plastic packaging. Such simple changes may help preserve the environment, so don’t hesitate to give them a go.

The post 6 Plastic-Free Bathroom Swaps You Should Start Making first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Many event organizers and planners focus on maximizing the appeal of their events via marketing, big names and other elements designed to draw in crowds. However, any outdoor event in particular must take into account the challenges posed by waste management and recycling in order to ensure sanitary and environmentally-friendly conditions.

In order to maximize the recycling potential of any outdoor venue, the following actions should be considered by any planning team prior to the event.

Partner with Green Waste Removal Companies

One of the biggest ways any event organizer(s) can contribute toward energy efficiency and more environmentally-friendly outcomes is to procure the services of a green waste disposal service.

Anyone who has organized an outdoor event before – especially in an open space or other area where standard permanent facilities do not exist – understands the need for waste disposal. Companies such as Satellite Industries provide on-site portable restroom services that dispose of waste in efficient and environmentally-friendly ways.

Some companies even use this bio-waste to create clean energy from the output, helping to further minimize its impact on the environment.

Position Recycling Bins Ideally

Virtually every outdoor venue generates large amounts of waste. From bottles and cans to miscellaneous items that find their way onto the ground or in trash cans, it can be a mess. When planning any outdoor event, organizers will have full control over where the flow of traffic is and how/where people congregate.

With this knowledge available, event planners can take steps to ensure that recycling bins and containers are optimally positioned throughout the premises to capture the largest amount of waste possible. Depending on the event and its offerings, you may need separate containers for aluminum, plastic, paper and/or glass.

Ask for Help

Especially true when coordinating events for charities, local organizations and non-profits, a small volunteer force may be both obtainable and very useful in facilitating recycling. With the help of a few volunteers, a team can scour the venue during and after the event in order to retrieve recyclables from the receptacles. In addition, these volunteers can also help with any litter found on the grounds during the event, thereby minimizing the amount of clean-up time after the event has concluded.

Contact Local Recycling Centers

Your local recycling center, landfill or governmental body may have additional resources to provide in the pursuit of improving recycling at an event. Some cities have independent recycling agencies that offer free receptacles and pick-up for recycled goods. Others offer comprehensive guides on how to position recycling areas and maximize participation from event attendees. Even the federal government offers recycling resources to those who wish to improve waste outcomes.

Ultimately, this information and assistance can go a long way toward maximizing recycling at any event, as these entities will have plenty of expertise and experience in these areas. Such advice can help further improve environmentally-friendly outcomes and reduce the incidence of waste at any event.

The massive amount of potential waste generated during any outdoor event can be disruptive both to the event and the environment. Event organizers who want to maximize cleanliness and environmental friendliness can take steps to reduce the amount of discarded materials that end up in landfills and other centers. By working with local agencies, procuring volunteers, partnering with waste removal agencies and using recycling bins efficiently, the overall amount of waste at any outdoor event can be substantially reduced.

The post Optimizing Any Outdoor Venue for Maximum Recycling Potential first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

If you are unsure how to dispose of your old laptop or desktop properly, this blog post can help. Below, we’ll explore different ways you can use your old computer, from reusing it as a tool for educational activities to partnering with a specialized e-waste disposal company. Let’s get started!

Learn More About Disposing of Electronic Waste

Before you decide what to do with your old laptop, take some time to understand how and why your old electronics need to be disposed of properly.

Today, it is estimated that over 50 million metric tons of electronic waste are generated globally every year, and, in the US alone, over 112,000 computers are discarded each day. However, only around 15% of this e-waste is efficiently recycled.

What’s more, when throwing away electronics in the communal waste, you may be aggravating an already existing public health risk. Indeed, only electronics, when breaking down, release toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and beryllium, which are dangerous for human health and other living organisms, and can pollute waters and soil.

Because of this, you should choose the best way to repurpose, recycle, or reuse your old electronics. Let’s look at how below.

Check if You Can Fix or Refurbish Your Computer

You don’t have to get rid of a broken computer just yet! With the right tools and help, you may be able to repair it. Seek out tutorials and resources online to diagnose issues yourself, or find a qualified technician. If that isn’t an option, consider purchasing replacement parts or working with online companies that take in broken electronics, refurbish them, and resell them.

Gift Your Computer to Friends or Family

If you have a friend or family member who requires an old computer, it can be a great idea to give them yours! After backing up the hard drive and erasing personal information, bring your old laptop to a technician to fix minor issues before gifting it to a loved one.

Donate Your Computer to Charity Or Local Training Schools

One of the best ways to declutter in an environmentally-friendly way is to organize a yard sale or donate your old belongings to charities. Organizations like annual computer drives collect working computers for donation to charitable causes and associations.

If you have checked with the charities in your area and you are in need of a second option, speak to local training schools. Associations that provide technology training to young students may be in need of old computers and parts to show how these machines work to pupils.

These ways of upcycling electronic waste can extend the life cycle of your old computer, reduce e-waste, and help the community as a whole.

Some Scrap Companies Will Take Electronics and Recycle Them Responsibly

If you are looking to safely and responsibly discard your old computer, get in touch with experienced scrap companies that specialize in securely disposing of and recycling electronic waste.

Make sure to use a company with high standards and look for one that follows environmentally responsible recycling practices, such as deconstructing the items rather than melting them down.

Check if Your Computer Manufacturer Runs Trade-In Programs

You may be able to trade in an old laptop or desktop computer for a discount on a new model. Major manufacturers like Dell, Apple, and HP all have trade-in programs where you can send them your old computers and get a newer device in return. It’s worth looking into before deciding what to do with your outdated machine!

Put Your DIY Skills to the Test and Create Art and Crafts Out of Your Computer’s Parts

If you are an expert DIYer, consider using your imagination to create art and crafts out of your old machine’s parts. For example, you may craft lamps, clocks, or artworks that can be used to decorate your home, office, or workshop. If you are looking for inspiration, consider checking out tutorials on YouTube or Pinterest!

Looking for More Ways To Fight Electronic Waste? Shop Second-Hand!

If you’re looking for a new laptop, tablet, or desktop computer but don’t want to create more e-waste, look no further than shopping secondhand. Not only will you save money by opting for preloved items instead of brand-new gadgets, but you’ll also know that your purchase isn’t contributing to the growing piles of discarded tech littering landfills!

The post How Can Old Computers Be Reused, Repurposed, or Recycled? Here’s What You Need to Know first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

The reusable material from the used battery is removed and recycled which reduces the needs for raw materials which is originally imported from abroad. It creates a balance payment and cost. In addition to this there can be considerable environmental impact during mining processes such as emission from smelting of sulfide ore, copper, nickel, and cobalt and this can be eliminated if recycling can be introduced.

Dangers of Lead-Acid Batteries

LABs generally consist of both sulphuric acid and large amount of lead which is not only corrosive but also a good carrier for soluble lead and lead particles. Lead is highly toxic metal which causes a wide range of adverse health effect especially on young children. If one gets expose excessively to lead it can cause damage to brain and kidney, impair hearing, and can led to various other associated problems. On an average an automobile manufactured contain about 12kg of lead, in which about 96% of lead is used in lead acid battery and remaining 4% is used in other applications like wheel balance weight, protective coating and variation dampers.

Both lead and cadmium are harmful for human health and environment. This toxic substances seeps into the soil, groundwater and surface water through landfill and also releases toxins into the air when they are burnt in municipal waste incinerators. Moreover cadmium can be easily absorbed by the pant root and get into the fruits, vegetables, and waters are consumed by animals and human beings, they can fall to prey to a host of ill effects.

Studies have shown that nausea, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, liver and kidney damage, skin irritation, headaches, asthma, nervousness, decreased IQ in children, and sometimes even cancer can result from exposure to such metals for a sufficient period of time.

Need for Effective Control Measures

In a battery recycling plant, effective control measures need to be implemented, both to protect the health of workers and to prevent pollution of the environment. Good plant design, with reduction of the potential for the emission of contaminating substances is of utmost importance and the newer smelting processes are inherently much cleaner than traditional blast furnaces.

Pollution abatement technologies, including the treatment of exhaust gases and liquid effluents, need to be installed. Those mostly exposed to releases within the plants are the workforce. Control measures such as maintaining minimum standards of air quality within the works, medical surveillance of employees, use of protective equipment, and provision of conditions of good hygiene in general, is necessary to avoid occupational lead exposure. However, few government/non-governmental steps have been taken yet; rather this practice is a traditional trading system as prevail in the society.

Positive and Negative Impacts

In developing countries such as Bangladesh, recycling or reusing of used lead-acid batteries has both positive and negative impact on environment. Positive impact is that, if battery is recycled in proper and in sustainable manner it saves environment from toxic material of battery, otherwise battery waste is dumped into the landfills. Negative impact is that if recycling is not done in sustainable manner emits gases produced from battery recycling has adverse impacts on environment and human being.

Direct recycling process should be banned as it has adverse impact on environment. As it is an illegal process, shopkeepers perform this process in hidden way. Government should impose the law and regulation strictly in this occurrence. This information can be used for advertising material highlighting the environmental benefits of recycling or reusing encourages the purchasing of old lead acid battery. It will accelerate the selling rate of old battery.

Importance of Awareness

Necessary steps should be taken to increase awareness about environmental impacts of used lead acid batteries. Proper instruction should be provided among the general mass. It will also increase reusing of old battery. Battery regeneration is a unique process specially designed to revive the lost capacity of batteries and give priority to choose secondary battery. Battery Reuse Centre can be developed for effective reuse and recycle.

The aim to divert reusable battery, donated by the public, which often could have been destined for landfill and instead provides a much needed source of low-cost battery to those in need. The battery reuse service encourages volunteer involvement and trainee placements in all aspects of its operation. Awareness program (posters, pamphlets, TV & radio commercials, road-shows, website, exhibitions, talks), infrastructure, information center, tax rebates for manufacturers should be taken to increase recycling or reusing of old battery.

The post Recycling of Lead-Acid Batteries in Developing Countries first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.