WASTE

Nature knows no waste

In our city

Extraction to dumping

Waste facts

6000 tons of waste is produced daily in CT • 2.2 mil tons / year • 1.7 kg waste / person / day Waste produced yearly would fill a row of trucks the distance from CT to Jo ’ burg

Our Wasteful Economy

90% of materials used in production are wasted: • To produce 1 ton of paper, 100 tons of water is used • 1 litre of beer requires 10 litres of water in fermenting • Producing a cellphone requires 75 kg of resources • 1,5 kg of coal, oil and water makes 1 toothbrush

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Avoid creating waste Reduce waste Reuse Recycle Disposal

Types of waste

Poly logo’s

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Glass

• • • • Glass is a valuable resource that should not just be thrown away: It takes 1 ton of cullet (recycled glass) to make 1 ton of glass bottles Cullet melts at a lower temperature which saves energy 4,5% of landfill site is glass

Glass – not recyclable

• • • • • • • Drinking glasses Cups, saucers and ceramic ware Sheet glass, such as windscreens and window panes Light bulbs and tubes, including fluorescent lights Mirrors and reinforced glass Car headlights Laboratory glass

Tin cans and metal

• • • • Tins are100% recyclable and can be used time and time again Cans are the most recycled form of packaging in Africa : 66 % in SA Cans chill quicker in a fridge than any other packaging - saving electricity They stack closer and take up less fridge space – saving transport

Tin cans and metal

• • • Please rinse out food tins before recycling Motor oil cans should be kept separate 70% of recycled scrap metal comes straight from the industry waste stream, not consumers

Paper

• • • • 38% of our landfill is paper Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees FSC promotes responsible use of forests look for the FSC logo on paper Paper made from sugar cane is renewable and better for environment

Paper – not recyclable

• • • • Wet or dirty paper, such as tissues, paper towel, food wrappings, paper with spills, paper plates and cups Wax, plastic or foil-coated packaging, such as milk cartons, bags for dog food or potato Carbon paper, stickers, self-adhesive paper. Chemically treated fax or photo paper.

Organic Waste

Garden and kitchen waste Keep moist Add to soil Breakdown of organic matter Earthworms fungi & bacteria

Compost heap

Shade Keep moist Keep moist Different layers of grass, leaves, soil

Hazardous Waste

• • • • • • Flammable : paraffin, nail polish or aerosols and products with alcohol Irritant : ammonia or bleach Corrosive: oven cleaner or pool acid Dangerous or toxic: paraffin, pesticides Explosive: dishwashing detergents Infection: dirty nappies

Hazardous Waste

• • • • • • Flammable : paraffin, nail polish or aerosols and products with alcohol Irritant : ammonia or bleach Corrosive: oven cleaner or pool acid Dangerous or toxic: paraffin, pesticides Explosive: dishwashing detergents Infection: dirty nappies

Car and cooking oil

Motor oil Cooking oil

Oil pollution

½ litre of motor oil is enough to form an oil slick the size of a soccer field!

e Waste

Reduce waste generation

At the office

A typical office environment will have large quantities of paper or cardboard waste, with some plastic – often related to packaging – and some electronic or hazardous waste

At your desk

• • • • • Re-use envelopes, paper clips and wrapping paper Reuse paper printed on one side Use paper made from recycled product that is chlorine-free and has the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo Set your printer to print both sides by default Become a paperless office

At your desk

• • • • • Sign documents with digital signatures Do not print agendas and minutes for meetings and rather use electronic equipment Buy environmentally friendly stationary Use refillable ink cartridges and ensure that old cartridges are disposed of safely Ensure that your electronic waste is disposed of safely

Kitchen / canteen

The office kitchen or canteen would mostly include packaging waste such as paper, plastic, polystyrene, glass or tin cans, as well as organic waste.

Kitchen / canteen

• • • • Avoid disposable cups and plastic lids in your office Use cutlery made from stainless steel instead of disposable plastic Avoid bottled water in your office Ensure that any organic waste goes into compost or a worm farm

Recycling at the office

• • • • • Waste audit determine what is needed Place recycling bins at strategic points: – Printers & photocopiers – – – Canteens Exit doors Communal leisure areas Signage needs to be very clear Pair normal bin and recycling bin Appoint waste champions

The challenge:

What are you going to do differently?