waste management & climate change: intuitions and interactions · 2020-01-31 · c .visvanathan...
TRANSCRIPT
Waste Management & Climate Change: Intuitions and Interactions
C. VisvanathanProfessor
School of Environment, Resources and Development
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: http://www.faculty.ait.ac.th/visu/
C .Visvanathan Waste Management and CC
• What I will NOT cover:
• What Is Climate Change? Is it real? What Causes CC and its impacts, etc.
• Science of Climate Change;
• Adaptation to Climate Change
• What I WILL cover:
• What is waste and what are the Waste Management issues? (urban MSW)
• Climate Change mitigation and the link to Waste Management
• 3R and Circular Economy
• What YOU can to at AIT…. Talk ..Talk or do something within your small means?
2
Presentation in a Snapshot! If only I had 30 Seconds
C .Visvanathan Waste Management and CC
What is Waste?
3
A wrong substance
At a wrong time
WASTE At a wrong place In the wrong
quantity
C .Visvanathan Waste Management and CC
Waste – A Problem Right from the Beginning…
4
……… So waste is INEVITABLE
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 5
1.2
1.21
1.33
1.34
1.38
1.4
1.54
1.72
1.94
2.24
Spain
Malasia
United Kingdom
Italy
France
Saudi Arabia
Australia
Germany
Canada
United states
Waste Generation – Let Us Face the Facts5
By 2050, global waste generation will rise to 70% in a business
as usual scenario – 3.4 billion tonnes over the next 30 years, up
from 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016
231290
369
Latin America &
the Caribbean
289342
396
North America 129177
255
Middle East &
north Africa
174269
516
Sub-Saharan Africa
392440
490
Europe &
Central Asia
334466
661
South Asia
Waste generation, million tonnes 2016 2030 2050
Global waste generation (billion tonnes)
2.02 2.59 3.40
201620502030
2016 2050
India 277.1 543.3
United States 263.7 359.9
China 220.4 335.8
Brazil 79.1 114.3
Indonesia 65.2 118.6
Russia 59.6 71.6
Mexico 54.2 90.4
Germany 51.4 66.4
Japan 44.4 43.3
Nigeria 34.6 107.1
Solid waste generation:
top 10, 2016 & 2050 (MT)
Daily per capita waste
generation, 2016
468
602714
East Asia & the Pacific
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 6
• 3 billion more middle-class consumers expected to be in
the global economy by 2030
• 147% increase in real commodity prices since the turn of
the century
• 44 million people driven into poverty by rising food prices
in the second half of 2010, according to World Bank
• Up to USD 1.1 trillion spent annually on resource subsidies
Resource Prices are on the Rise
DEMAND for Resource !!!
AVAILABILITY of Resource
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 7
Implications
What if we go on with current production and consumption patterns?
By 2050, we need two planets to
satisfy our resource requirements !!!
1900 2002 2050 2100
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 8
If the world economy continued to grow following its current development path, i.e.
a "business-as-usual" scenario, worldwide extraction of natural resources in the year
2030 could be as high as 100 billion tonnes, almost a double the extraction in 2005
BUT can such growth be possible to continue?
What is Next?
Is Business-As-Usual Scenario of Resource Extraction Possible?
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 9
Resource Pressure
Historical and estimated growth in demand for resources
from 1980 to 2030Driven by population growth
and additional consumer
pressure in emerging
economies, global demand
across all major environmental
resources will increase over the
coming years.
287
349
398
492
568
654
+33%
567
649
761
1,270
1,850
2,290
+80%
1,696
1433
2,276
1,868
2,550
2,900
+27%
3,200
3,600
4,000
4,500
5,000
6,350
+41%
This combined with risks and
environmental stresses derived
from climate change, such as
water and land availability and
biodiversity loss, means that
the pressures on these
resources are considerable
and likely to grow.
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 10
Can We Tame Our Consumption?
Will this help
Climate Change?
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 11
Lifecycle of Products
All stages contribute to climate change
Direct – production, transportation, process and waste related GHG emissions,
Indirect – decrease in sinks e.g., deforestation for paper and wood etc.
End of life
Consumer use
Raw materials
Production
Distribution and retail
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 12
GHG in a Products Life
Raw Material
Extraction
Manufacturing
UseEnd-of-life
disposal
Landfill
Composting
Waste
Collection
Transportation
Energy and
Non-Energy
Related Emissions
Reduced Carbon
Sequestration in
Forests
GHG Sources
Energy
Related
EmissionsCO2
Incineration
CO2
N2O
CO2
CH4
Uncontrolled
Emissions
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 13
GHG Avoidance Through 3R
Raw Material
Extraction
Manufacturing
UseEnd-of-life
disposal
Landfill
Composting
Waste
Collection
Transportation
Energy and
Non-Energy
Related Emissions
Reduced Carbon
Sequestration in
Forests
GHG Sources
CO2
Incineration
Carbon
Storage
in soil
Energy
Recovery:
Avoided
Fossil fuel
Methane
capture:
Avoided
Fossil fuel
Reuse
Recycle
Avoided
Fossil fuel
Decreased
virgin material
requirement
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 14
Waste and Climate Change… Some Facts
Post consumer waste: a small contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions (<5%)
Waste related GHGs:
• Landfill Methane ( Landfill Gas )
• Nitrous oxide
• carbon dioxide from incineration of waste containing fossil carbon (plastics;
synthetic textiles) (very small quantities)
Importance of waste sector in reducing global GHG emissions has been
underestimated
• waste management decisions often made locally without quantification of GHG
mitigation
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 15
Global GHG Emissions
Remember it is only post consumer waste… after we throw
or generate… not the lifecycle GHGs
1stR, Reduce - can reduce GHG from other sectors too…
Small fraction compared to
other sectors…
Can we be happy about it !!!
Source: Bogner et al, Working Group III, 4th Assessment Report, IPCC
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 16
Waste diversion through recycle
and reuse
Waste prevention and minimization
SOLID WASTE (post consumer)
Waste collection
MSW Technologies and GHG
Technology and Cost:
Low to IntermediateEnergy Balance:
Negative to Positive
Mechanical Biological Treatment
+
Residual landfilling
Anaerobic digestion
Incineration and other thermal processes
Technology and Cost:
HighEnergy Balance:
Negative to Positive
Composting of waste fractions
Landfilling
Technology and Cost:
Low to Intermediate
Energy Balance:
Negative to Positive
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 17
Trends in Waste Related GHG
1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
GH
G E
mis
sio
n (
mill
ion
to
nn
es o
f C
O2
eq
)Baseline
CDM Ending in
2012
Increased
Incineration
Increased Recycling
High LFG recovery Source: Bogner et
al, Working Group
III, 4th Assessment
Report, IPCC
3R
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 18
Points to Ponder
Waste management generates carbon dioxide and methane which are both greenhouse
gases
• biodegradable carbon based organic matter such as kitchen waste, garden waste, and
paper, and slowly biodegradable organic materials such as lignin (wood-like material).
• plastics contain carbon derived from the fossil fuels which are used as a feedstock (oil).
Treatment and disposal of these wastes directly influences the levels of greenhouse
gases we emit
Treatment and disposal of our wastes determines how the carbon will be released back
into the environment
• when materials are broken down by organisms in the presence of air, the gas released
is carbon dioxide.
• when material decompose in the absence of air, methane is produced (21 times more
Global Warming potential than CO2).
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 19
Waste Related GHG in a Town
A small town of 1 million population:
1kg/cap/day = 365 kg/year x 1 million
= 365,000,000 kg/year
= 365,000 tonnesOrganic
Waste
Paper
Plastic
Metal
Glass
Others
10% each50%
36,500
tonnes
each
182,500
tonnes
What are the possible scenarios to handle this situation?
Can we straightaway send it to a landfill and forget the issue?
Would it be sustainable?
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 20
Scenario 1 – Reduce, Reuse
Paper
Plastic
Metal
Glass
Others
36,500 tonnes x 0.8
36,500 tonnes x 0.4
36,500 tonnes x 2
36,500 tonnes x 0.12
36,500 tonnes x 1
=29,200
=14,600
=73,000
= 4,380
=36,500
Tonnes of carbon dioxide saved
when 1 tonne of material is
prevented from entering waste
streams … either reduce
consumption or find reusing options
157,680 tonnes of
carbon dioxide
Source: USEPA, 2002 and IPCC, 2006
Recyclables
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 21
Scenario 2 – Recycle
Paper
Plastic
Metal
Glass
Others
36,500 tonnes x 0.6
36,500 tonnes x 0.3
36,500 tonnes x 4
36,500 tonnes x 0.08
36,500 tonnes x 0.6
= 21,900
= 10,950
=146,000
= 2,920
= 21,900
203,670 tonnes of
carbon dioxide
Tonnes of carbon dioxide saved
when 1 tonne of material is
prevented from entering the
waste stream…recycled
Organic Waste
Source: USEPA, 2002 and IPCC, 2006
182,500 tonnes x 0.084 =
Composting
Anaerobic Digestion
182,500 tonnes x 0.021 =
Recyclables
15,330 tonnes of carbon dioxide
3,832 tonnes of carbon dioxide
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 22
Food and Weight Loss
Obesity, weight loss, healthy living…
What comes to our mind is low carb foods…
Energy from food… means food contains energy in
the form of “carbohydrates”
Synonymous with fossil fuels “ hydrocarbons”
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 23
Food we consume…
What do they contain?
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 24
What is inside the food?
C+H+O=EN
ERGY
Mainly, Carbohydrates – Carbon and Hydrogen,
Oxygen
Minerals, Vitamins
C, H, O in edible food provides energy
What happens to
the inedible and
leftovers…
They still contain
C, H, O+ …
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 25
Inedible Food and Leftovers
Dumpsite
GHGs…Global Warming, Climate Change
C6H12O6 3CO2 + 3CH4
Carbon dioxide Methane
Do you want to be a problem-creator or
problem-solver !!! How???
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 26
Growth of a Plant
H2O Minerals
CO2O2 Seed Assimilates
water (H2O), nutrients from
the soil
And then CO2 from the
atmosphere
orWhat role would you
like to play here ???
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 27
Analytically Looking at the Plant…
What the seed does
• Absorbs water and nutrients from the soil and grows into a plant
What the plant does
• Absorbs water and nutrients from the soil and grows further (gives us fruits / vegetables)
• Takes energy from a renewable source – sunlight for photosynthesis (no energy related GHGs)
• Captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and gives back oxygen (GHG sink)
• Converts water and carbon into a form vital for human survival (role of a life support system)
What would you like to do…
• Help the plant grow by making its life easier
• Augment its growth, like how you would nourish your baby
• Or emit methane and cry about global warming
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 28
How to Help the Plant…
Give back the plant what you took from it !!!
The C, H, O from the plant which you don’t need
Organic matter, minerals, moisture and some
beneficial microorganisms - retained and returned
to the plant as compost
CO2 and Heat
Food Waste
O2
O2
This is giving back to the plant
what you took from it…
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 29
Organic
Waste
Organic
nutrients Composting
Cycle of Recycling ???
CO2
O2
Food
Inedible and
leftovers
Dumpsite /
Landfill
CH4
Help to
peat this cycleRe
And you are helping to
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 30
Old and New Technology: Step towards decoupling …
1956
2015
Weight 300 gram
Capacity 8 TB
Weight 1 TON
Capacity 5 MB
Size of two
refrigerators
Size of a
smart phone
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 31
What is Decoupling?
1988 2019
• Less use of natural resources, processing chemicals, packaging
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 32
Linear to Circular!
Circular Economy
Linear Waste Management
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 33
3R Experience in Japan – A Japanese Gift to the world!
Reuse & recycling is reflected in its cultural spirit of
‘mottainai’…. Waste not Want Not
Recycling in Japan was made legally mandatory during
1990s
Basic principle of waste disposal is to prevent waste
generation, then recycle & treat waste before disposal
• To establish a sound material cycle society
• Land scarcity in Japan to locate new landfill sites
Key drivers: Policy, Technology, Capacity, Finance,
Public Participation
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 34
3R Best Practice Scenario for Energy Level Conservation
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Energy
Recovery
Landfill
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 35
Source:
MOEJ, 2012
1987
15.6% Reduction
16.1% Reduction
6000
5500
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
To
tal V
olu
me
of M
un
icip
al S
olid
Wa
ste
Wa
ste
Vo
lum
e G
en
era
ted
Pe
r Pe
rso
n P
er D
ay
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
(gram/man-day)(Ten thousand tons/year)Total Volume of
Municipal Solid Waste
Waste Volume Generated Per
Person Per Day
3R Success in Japan- Changes in MSW Generations
After Introducing 3Rs
FY
20
09
FY
20
08
FY
20
07
FY
20
06
FY
20
05
FY
20
04
FY
20
03
FY
20
02
FY
20
01
FY
20
00
FY
19
99
FY
19
98
FY
19
97
FY
19
96
FY
19
95
FY
19
95
FY
19
93
FY
19
92
FY
19
91
FY
19
90
FY
19
89
FY
19
88
FY
19
87
FY
19
86
FY
19
85
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 36
Waste Reduction is Our Focus, than Recyling!
In Japan, the focus is more on Recycle Waste segregation > collection > recycle
Waste Reduction is
better than Recycling
The amount of total waste generation remains the
same, though there is reduction in the amount of
waste finally disposed !!!
Waste Reduction is
better than Recycling
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 37
Reducing the Packaging: Moon Cake Experience
What is
left over………
M☺☺n Cake
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 38
Wasteful Packaging vs. Wise Packaging
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 39
Paradigm Shift in Our Approach
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
REDUCEREUSE
RECYCLE
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 40
Take-home Message…
Every bit of recycling – is definitely climate positive and contributes to GHG mitigation
Remember “tiny drops of water make a might ocean” – you can also add to the drop
Reduce and reuse – more climate friendly – requires lesser energy and avoids totally, in some case
When reduce and reuse are not practicable, then the last resort must be recycle
Recycling involves higher energy compared to reduce and reuse – “something is better than nothing”
Climate Change is not an area of action only for Nobel Laureates Mr. Al Gore and Dr. Pachauri – everyone has to act
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 41
Green Campus Initiatives: Sustainable Waste Management
Dry Recyclable Waste Segregation
Activity in AIT Campus 2 waste
collection staff earns 6000 THB
(US$ 200) per month from selling
segregated waste, and housemaids
also earn additional income from
household segregated waste.
What is Your Role in this Green Campus Project?
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 42
Recycle Waste Segregation at EEM
Plastic and Aluminum Cans
Why we are doing this this?
1. Recycling minimizes pollution
2. Social Components of SDG
3. Recycling cuts down amount of waste in landfill
sites
4. Recycling contributes to creation of jobs, etc.
5. Target: 300 Kg per month: 3000 Bath /month
@ EEM Green Park
You can contribute your recyclable waste
to have extra income to someone.
Other than that,
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 43
Self commitment for waste
reduction is the way forward!!!
Within the context of climate
change mitigation, in Waste
management sector:
C .Visvanathan Waste Management through 3R 44
Thank You!