ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

FACULTY OF SCIENCE ENGINEERING AND

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Name: MUZAFFER ALI KHAN

Student Id: 214438025
Unit code: SLE721 (Policy and planning for sustainable development)
Assignment No: 3 (Review of Sustainability issue)
Due date: 06/05/2016
Declaration:
I agree that I have read and understood the Deakin University Academic, Dishonesty
and Plagiarism, I acknowledge and thereby declare that the assignment submitted by
me has not been copied from other sources or taken by previous other awarded
assignment/project.
I am fully aware that, if I am found to be involved in above malpractices may lead to
severe penalties. These penalties are imposed on me if I involve others research in my
project, copy others work in my assignment without referencing from a journal or
literature.
Dated: 08/05/2016

WASTE MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE

INTRODUCTION:

Waste management issue has become one of the most important environmental issue for
many countries in the world. Increase in population, rapid urbanisation and large
consumption of resources has a large impact on environment. Unscientific way of dumping
solid waste in many developing countries is not only affecting environment but it is also
affecting health of public and surrounding areas (Achundumne and Olawale, 2007). Waste
can be in different forms such as sewage, solid, organic, hazardous, recyclable etc. In 2011,
according to World Bank global review about 1.3 billion tonnes of solid waste was generated
till 2025 it is expected to reach mark of 2.3 billion tonnes and these solid waste was generated
alone in urban areas. Moreover, it is believed that generation of waste to be doubled in next
two decades (World Bank, 2012). Australia produces large amount of waste they are among
worlds largest producers of waste. About 3 kilograms of waste is produced by Australians
per day it can be of any form such as solid, liquid and gaseous.
The cities faces lot of problems as large amount of waste is produced because they have
improper storage systems, costs have risen to manage if large amount of waste is generated
and less amount of technology is used to handle waste management system. Improper
management system for handling waste can affect air, water, soil, publics health, it may also
lead in generation of greenhouse gases and it may cause diseases. Although there many
policies, many technologies are involved in controlling of waste management but there is
need to amend new strategies and technologies and concentrate more on converting and
reprocessing of waste.

Importance of Waste Management:

The major importance of managing of waste is that if large amount of waste is generated
which can in any form if this debris are not stored properly it can cause health and economic
problems. For humans managing of waste is their responsibility in all the other species
humans generate large amount of waste than other species. Earlier people used to dig a hole
and bury their waste this was an effective way at that because population was less, but now
modern humans cannot bury their debris in a hole because waste produced by modern
humans is not a biodegradable as this can destroy soil and ground water. Landfill technique is
improper and can lead to health problems. In addition, if there are no proper treatment to
sewages it can affect the health of community and it may spread to other parts of city and
improper waste management techniques can lead to social, safety and economic problems.
In order to avoid spread of disease awareness should be created among people, proper
education and campaigns should be made to make people aware of landfilling. Most of
people are not educated if large amount of waste is disposed in land it pollutes ground water
and chemical gas are formed this may pollute the environment. These chemical gases are
released in air and may lead to diseases like cancer and emits greenhouse gas. So in order to
avoid these gases to release in air alternative methods should be used such as recycling and
reprocessing of waste. If these alternate method is followed there is a less possibility of
burying waste so there could be less emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

The waste management hierarchy can be purposed in different ways the above figure depicts
to make waste management practices as environmentally possible.With this hirerarchy it is
possible to deal with landfill. This figures explains the current method for reducing and
disposing of waste. High priority is given to avoid and reduce waste which is show in the
figure this allows community to avoid usage of disposable good and reduce the generation of
waste aim is to increase efficiency after avoid and reduce waste next prefernce is given to
reuse waste, reuse of waste means if usage of a product is over or discarded again utilize the
good for various other applications. The next preferable method is recycling, as this method
collect different waste products and recycles it for use of different applications. This method
plays a very crucial role in reducing the quantity of material that is being deposited. These
three methoda such as reduction, reuse and recycling are most prefered in waste management
hirerarchy. At the same time least prefred methods are resource recovery, incineration and
landfilling these methods increase waste and pollute the environment.

Triple bottom line:

Triple bottom is a technique which focuses on three factors such as people, planet and profit.
Triple bottom line dimensions are also known as 3Ps. Triple bottom line technique could a
good measure to maintain sustainability. Triple bottom line method helps in understanding
policy and economic development. Triple bottom line cannot be calculated there is no method
but it is a strength which helps government policy to improve economic sustainability. Triple
bottom line explains how a firm is performing and at the same time it shows which areas
needs to be rectified. Triple bottom line Helps Company to measure its performance not only
with stakeholders but it suggests company to measure it performance with local government
and community.
Triple bottom line applied to waste management issue:
Social: Measuring waste management issue by triple bottom line is one of the best way to
manage waste management methods. Using this technique it enhances quality of life, triple
bottom line examines business profits and also consider connection with local society
socially, it also helps in creating balance in mechanically disposing of waste. If there is no
proper involvement of government bodies it may create problems locally, so it becomes
necessary that there should be a good involvement locally as triple bottom line explains that
if there is no proper involvement with local community management system starts to shrink
automatically.
Economic: By using triple bottom line method in economic factor it helps to expand
business. From a survey it is been stated that on recycling of waste approximately of $1.08 is
created, by this it justifies triple bottom line and it shows that how a firm can survive in
future and moreover it also increases ecological and social sustainability.

Environmental: Triple bottom line plays a major role in environmental factor as it shows
less impact on a business environment, as less resources are used then there are chance to last
management longer and more successful it will be, controlling environmental sustainability
means examining, managing and reporting consumption of waste and emission and also it
help in making policies like green policies and waste reducing techniques.
Changes recommended to government policy related to issue incorporated with TBL:
Waste generation is been significantly increasing, about 43.8 million tonnes of waste have
generated from 31% till year form 2003-2004 and 2006-2007. The nature of waste is changed
and it has become more complex and it is getting difficult to recover waste material.
Government policy should focus more on following recommendation mentioned below:
Government policy should more focus on zero waste action plan.
Awareness should be created among people on recyclable material processing.
Students in schools should be educated to reduce waste generation and increase

recycling process programs.

Increase diversion from landfill by increasing use of recyclable waste.
Recyclable bins should be provided at homes, school, public places etc.
Increase composting opportunities.
Specific standards showed be set that examines the progress of reduction in waste
which will help in incorporating triple bottom line principles.

Technology discussion:

Technology plays a very significant role in managing of waste management technique.

Currently, these technologies are used they are as follows a) Landfills b) Recycling.
a) Landfills: Despite of least preferred as discussed above in waste management
hierarchy this technology is used. This technology has contributed largely to
environment because of it new design in construction of landfill, it is considered as a
cost effective method of disposing waste material. In past this landfills were not
designed in proper manner which lead to adverse environmental issues such as windblown litter, organic waste was break which lead to evolvement of gas which had
odour problem which kills vegetation and this gases is a greenhouse gas. As
landfilling technology is cost effective so in order to overcome proper funding should
be made so that landfills are properly managed if this landfills are properly managed
there will be no environmental issue like less greenhouse gases and low surface
vegetation.
b) Recycling: Recycling is one of the best and well known technology used in waste
management technologies. As this process collects waste and recycles it in simple
words recycling of everyday waste and recycling it. This technology has contributed
largely to environment in this technique waste is collected from specified bins and
collection vehicle. Newspaper, Magazines, bottles etc are easily recycled. Recycling
technology is most preferred than any other method. Recycling process have made
valueless products into valuable product. This technology have made valuable
contribution to environment like reduction in pollution, material conservation and has
reduced the requirement of landfill. These technology can be encouraged by
encouraging people to participate in recycling programs.

Conclusion:

Waste management is becoming a very crucial issue as it is affecting public health and
environment because they are not managed in a proper manner. So, in order to control this
recycling and reprocessing techniques should be used widely and by encouraging people
to participate in introducing new technologies from this large amount of waste generated
can be controlled and sustainability can be achieved.

References:

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Less

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