Today:Today: Finding Uses for Unusable Materials

Week 4, Lesson 10Week 4, Lesson 10

Friday, September 25, 1998Friday, September 25, 1998

Dr. Vincent Duffy - IEEMDr. Vincent Duffy - IEEMhttp://www-ieem.ust.hk/dfaculty/duffy/111

email: vduffy@ust.hkemail: vduffy@ust.hk

SOSC 111 - Science, Technology and Society

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administrativeadministrative Today -Today -ask questions about homeworkask questions about homework

please mark any questions you have on the back please mark any questions you have on the back of your QOTD names sheetof your QOTD names sheet

last day to finish/update ‘a’ or ‘h’ grades by turning in last day to finish/update ‘a’ or ‘h’ grades by turning in written sheetswritten sheets

Monday 28th - no lectureMonday 28th - no lecture Wednesday 30th - report due, oral Wednesday 30th - report due, oral

presentationspresentations Oct. 2nd - holidayOct. 2nd - holiday 5th - sustainable development5th - sustainable development 7th - review7th - review 9th - evening exam (no lecture)9th - evening exam (no lecture)

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Recall:Recall:What has already been What has already been done?done?

InnovationsInnovationsenergy productionfrom burning trash

recycling paper

too much trash!

Some Solutions to the general problem : too much trash

solutionssolutions recyclingrecycling newspaper recycling newspaper recycling burn garbage to convert to energyburn garbage to convert to energy

How about a more specific issue/innovationHow about a more specific issue/innovation examplesexamples

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What is one way to reduce the amount of MSW in landfills?

see reading on recycling see reading on recycling source reductions - use less packagingsource reductions - use less packaging market incentives - subsidize recyclingmarket incentives - subsidize recycling reuse materials for other purposesreuse materials for other purposes separation of recyclables at source; before collection; separation of recyclables at source; before collection;

paper, aluminum, glass, plasticpaper, aluminum, glass, plastic Q.1. Finding uses for non-usable materials is an

example related to what ‘tool for analysis’ that you know? Social lag - it takes time to make improvementsSocial lag - it takes time to make improvements

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Q.2 Why is not so much paper recycled?

Why?Why? quality of recycled paper sometimes not as good as newquality of recycled paper sometimes not as good as new paper recycling is not as cost effective as other recyclables paper recycling is not as cost effective as other recyclables recycling equipment is too expensiverecycling equipment is too expensive cost of making new paper is low compared with recycled paper cost of making new paper is low compared with recycled paper cost of making new aluminum is expensive by comparison to papercost of making new aluminum is expensive by comparison to paper

Q2. cont. How to get more recycled paper?Q2. cont. How to get more recycled paper? laws, regulation, taxes, gov’t processing,laws, regulation, taxes, gov’t processing, government subsidize; pay for used papergovernment subsidize; pay for used paper

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Q.3 What complementary technologies exist for paper recycling?Complimentary technologies

Alternate question: Alternate question: Suppose you could get the HK government to subsidize Suppose you could get the HK government to subsidize

costs of some technology so that local businesses could costs of some technology so that local businesses could buy machines w/ this technology for $1.buy machines w/ this technology for $1.

What machine/technology would it be?What machine/technology would it be? shredding & processing used papershredding & processing used paper space - capacity for de-inking machinesspace - capacity for de-inking machines this would be a complimentary technology for this would be a complimentary technology for

recycling paperrecycling paper

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Recall? Innovation: Recall? Innovation: AutomobileAutomobile

primary result of autos, trucks:primary result of autos, trucks:– better transport of goods, better transport of goods, – people could live in suburbs work in citypeople could live in suburbs work in city

secondary result: secondary result: – too many used tires; too many used tires; – billions; this is a problembillions; this is a problem

social lag-response/adaptation to social lag-response/adaptation to innovationinnovation– re-use tires as bits in road re-use tires as bits in road – or as barriers for sound reduction (see or as barriers for sound reduction (see

reading)reading)

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See illustration from reading (cartoon of sound reducing wall)

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What could be a problem for using tire bits for road materials or sound reduction?

recall: problem of tires in landfills?recall: problem of tires in landfills? take up too much spacetake up too much space rodent infested rodent infested mosquito breeding mosquito breeding

reused: road material, sound reductionreused: road material, sound reduction problem: problem:

heat trapped in roads heat trapped in roads and then……?and then……? danger from firesdanger from fires

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Insert ‘scrap tire plan…’

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Q.4. What does the example about reusing old tires for sound reduction illustrate? Hint: ‘it is one of the tools for analysis’. Secondary results - unexpected outcomesSecondary results - unexpected outcomes

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