The future of waste disposal is a fascinating topic, largely
because waste disposal practices are ever-changing! As we learn more about the
environment and become increasingly aware of our responsibilities to protect
it, the way we produce, manage and dispose of waste changes too. Waste disposal
practices have changed significantly over the past few decades, and we’re
excited to see how they continue to evolve.
At WM Thompson & Son, we’re always looking towards the
future. After all, we believe it’s vitally important for the industry we work
in. Making sure we keep up to date with changing industry demands and
increasing pressures upon the environment helps us to adjust our working
practices and minimise our environmental impact. As we specialise in waste
management, we’re always on the lookout for responsible recycling and disposal
solutions.
With this in mind, we’ve listed some of the main ways that
waste management is predicted to change in the future. From the future of
consumer attitudes to the future of waste disposal technology, here are some of
the adjustments we can expect to see.
The prevention of
waste production
One of the most effective ways to minimise our global impact
on the environment is to prevent waste production as much as possible. While
focusing on sustainable waste disposal practices is a great way to tackle
issues such as pollution and the devastation of local landscapes, the most
effective way to manage our waste is to minimise what we produce in the first
place. The less we produce, the less we have to dispose of!
Reducing our waste production has long been a priority for
individuals and businesses across the world, however, we’re seeing changes in
the way we do this. For instance, there are now more companies than ever before
creating reusable products, such as bamboo straws and canvas bags, to help
people give up single-use items. It’s now common practice to carry a reusable
water bottle around, and with cities across the world offering free water on
the street (with one of the best examples being France’s Eau de Paris project),
we can see a real shift in society’s attitudes towards waste reduction.
Here are just some of the changes we can expect to see from
individuals, businesses and industries in the future:
● An increase in the number of
zero-waste shops on UK high streets.
Zero-waste shops have increased in popularity over the last
few years - and it’s no surprise as to why! Instead of buying lots of
individually-wrapped goods, zero-waste shoppers can transport groceries,
cereals and toiletries in reusable containers instead.
● An increase in upcycling.
It has become increasingly
fashionable to decorate with upcycled furnishings and other goods, with pallet
furniture being one of the best examples of popular upcycling projects.
However, there are also much larger applications for upcycling. For example,
shipping containers have been upcycled into everything from student
accommodation to swimming pools.
● An increase in the use of recycled
materials for building projects.
There’s no denying that the construction industry is one of
the biggest contributors to waste generation in the UK and across the world.
However, this also means that there are plenty of great opportunities for the
construction industry to make impactful change. This includes reducing the
waste generated by businesses by building with recycled materials, such as
recycled aggregates.
The adoption of Pay
As You Throw models
While we’d like to think that most people recycle their
household and garden waste responsibly, unfortunately, this isn’t always the
case. For instance, a 2017 study
found that the recycling rate for
waste produced by UK households was 45.7%. This means that at least half of the
waste produced by UK households isn’t recycled.
We can assume that some of this waste is directed towards
sustainable landfills, but research also suggests that a large volume of
household waste ends up in the world’s waterways, including the ocean. This
means there’s still a long way to go to make sure that individuals in the UK
and across the globe are doing all they can to minimise their environmental impact.
What does this mean for the future? Well, the future of waste
disposal could largely lie in the hands of the individual. To make a truly
positive and tangible change, some cities are holding its residents accountable
for their actions when it comes to waste disposal. One great example of this is
the ‘Pay As You Throw’ model, which is set to become a much more widespread
practice in the future.
One of the best examples of a Pay As You Throw model being
used effectively is in South Korea. South Korea used to be one of the largest
contributors to the global food waste issue, however, the introduction of smart
bins to Seoul has helped the country reduce its contributions massively. The
smart bins use a simple yet highly effective system to charge Seoul residents
for the food waste they have generated, using ID cards to bill individuals once
they’ve deposited food waste into the bins.
This is a sophisticated way to hold people accountable for
the waste they’ve produced. As a result, it also encourages people to reduce
their waste contributions by turning to alternative disposal methods, such as
composting. Seoul saw brilliant results with a reduction of almost 50,000 tonnes of
food waste
in just
six years. The question now remains - when will other cities catch on?
Innovations in
closed-loop recycling practices
Closed-loop recycling isn’t necessarily a new concept,
however, it is set to develop and evolve in the future. There are many great
examples of closed-loop recycling that are now part of everyday life (such as
the use of recycled aluminium cans to package food) and it’s safe to say that
the process is catching on. Today, there are lots of different businesses and
manufacturers that take advantage of closed-loop recycling and that reap the
benefits of doing so.
At WM Thompson & Son, we’re proud to incorporate
closed-loop recycling into our business. For instance, we supply reclaimed
stone and recycled aggregates
to businesses in the construction
sector, which has traditionally been one of the biggest contributing sectors to
waste generation across the world. By supplying recycled construction
materials, such as aggregates, we prevent perfectly good resources from being
sent to landfill sites.
Using recycled products for the construction of roads, car
parks and other public spaces also reduces the need for raw materials to be dug
up and processed. When we look at the many benefits of closed-loop recycling,
it’s clear that it protects the environment in more ways than one! It’s also
clear that closed-loop recycling practices are the future, with many innovative
closed-loop products being adopted by the mainstream.
We can see this clearly in the fashion industry. Today, there
are many great fashion brands using closed-loop and semi closed-loop recycling
to produce new clothes and shoes. For example, recycled cotton garments can be
repurposed to create new cloth and plastic can be recycled and incorporated
into shoe design. When these products have come to the end of their lifespan,
the recycling process can start again.
Automation in waste
separation and recycling
As we rely on technology more and more to automate laborious
processes and remove the risk of human error from important, precise tasks,
it’s no surprise that lots of waste separation and recycling processes are now
automated. By automating tasks such as collecting, washing and separating waste
materials, such as cardboard, glass and metal, recycling stations and material
recovery facilities (MRFs) can optimise efficiency and ensure fewer products
are sent to landfill sites.
Using robots to separate waste also opens up opportunities
for recycling additional resources. For example, automating the separation of
materials makes it possible to distinguish between different types of plastic
quickly and easily. This is something that MRF workers would struggle to do
accurately, yet robots can identify and separate individual plastic polymers
using sophisticated techniques, such as near-infrared spectroscopy.
The use of near-infrared spectroscopy could be revolutionary
for material recovery facilities everywhere. In particular, the use of this
technique could help to reduce the volume of recyclable plastic that is
mistakenly sent to landfills. This is a huge problem that recycling plants must
look to resolve with the use of robotics and automated systems. This is
especially important for MRFs that deal with household waste, as such
techniques could help to reduce the volume of plastic waste, such as food packaging,
that ends up in the ocean.
WM Thompson &
Son: Eco-conscious landfill solutions with on-site recycling facilities near
Glasgow
At WM Thompson & Son, we’re proud to be part of the UK’s
environmentally-friendly waste management sector. We offer eco-conscious
landfill solutions with on-site recycling facilities in Dumbarton, in addition
to recycled aggregates and reclaimed stone for use across all applications. We
take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and are dedicated to
minimising our impact on the local landscape. That’s why, when you use our
S.E.P.A. licensed landfill services, you can rest assured that your waste will
be dealt with as responsibly as possible.
For more information about our range of services, including our plant hire
solutions and concrete for sale, contact us
at WM Thompson & Son today. We look forward to
working with you.
