Common myths of Incineration (waste to energy)
Lack of proper waste management and recycling depletes the Earth’s already limited resources and increases our dependency on landfill or is irresponsible incinerated. These outdated strategies contribute to climate change and continue to cause environmental degradation and health issues for the Bahraini population. Despite many efforts being made globally to decrease the amount of trash being emitted per person or business, Bahrain’s trash emission has only been
increasing The objective is to change your approach to trash through the promotion of recycling and responsible consumption whether it’s shifting one's everyday habits or laying the foundation for sustainopreneurship! (introduction by Darine Atassi Moderator of the sustainopreneurship at Bait Al Salmaniya 18 November 2018)
The event was hosted by AmCham, Rotaract Bahrain, and Tamkeen
As invited speaker this slide show was my contribution
2. Kingdom of Bahrain
• Smallest nation largest amount of
waste per person in GCC
• 1.67kg– 1.80 kg PP per day
• Global average is 1.2Kg
3.
4. Challenges
• Rising population, high waste growth
rate,
• Limited land availability waste disposal
site
• Education
• No/ few Companies re-processing
recovered material
5. Solid Municipal waste in Bahrain
• < 1.2 million tons SMW yearly
• Daily < 4,500 tons
• Organic < 60% most food wastes.
• Paper 13%
• Plastics 7%
• Glass 4%
• SMW good recycling feedstock
activities
6. Askar
• Only landfill
• Municipal, agricultural non-hazardous
industrial wastes.
• < 700 acres, expected to full soon
7. Waste to energy
Myths
• BURNING of precious resource to
generate heat
• SMW non-renewable -paper, plastic
and glass from finite natural resources
depleted at unsustainable rates
8. • Even most technologically advanced
incinerators release thousands of
pollutants that contaminate our air, soil
and water
10. All incinerators are a massive
waste of energy
• Low calorific value of waste low energy
• Incinerators burn resources
• Incinerators compete for same
materials as recycling
12. Recycling creates 10-20 times
more jobs than incinerators
• Incinerators require huge capital
investment, but they offer relatively few
jobs when compared to recycling.
13. Most expensive
• Incinerators most expensive to
generate energy/ handle waste
• Economic burdens for cities
• Operations & maintenance costs 10x
greater than coal
14. Pollution
• Waste incinerators in the EU pollute
the climate -- significant public health
risk
• Public health impacts reports -- major
source of ultra-fine particulate
emissions
15. Benefits of Recycling
• Reduces the amount of waste
landfills and incinerators
• Conserves natural resources timber,
water and minerals
• Economic security local source of
recovered materials
16. • Prevents pollution by reducing the
need to collect new raw materials
• Saves energy
• Supports local manufacturing and
conserves valuable resources
• Helps create jobs in the recycling and
manufacturing industries in the
Bahrain
17. Single Stream Facility
• Collected recyclables Single Stream
Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).
• Recyclables are separated : plastics,
glass, metal, paper and cardboard.
18. How do we start:
There are several methods for collecting
recyclables, including
• Curbside collection,
• Drop-off centers,
• Deposit or refund programs (RVM)
19. What is done with the
materials?
Many products are being manufactured
with recycled content household items
that contain recycled materials include
the following:
• Newspapers and paper towels
• Aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink
containers
• Steel cans
• Plastic laundry detergent bottles
20. Many uses
• Recycled materials are also used in
new ways such as recovered glass in
asphalt to pave roads or recovered
plastic in carpeting and park benches
21. Recycling loop
• Buy new products made from recycled
materials.
When you go shopping, look for the
following
• Products that can be easily recycled
• Products that contain recycled content
22.
23. Your contribution
• Separate your recyclables (clean
recyclables don’t smell)
• Don’t waste food by cooking too much
• Food waste is used to feed animals
(nothing is wasted)
• Use reusable shopping bags
• Use shopping bag as bin-liner
24. • Multiple items in one bags (fruit/vegs)
• No prepacked fruit./vegetables
(Styrofoam)
• When collecting takeout bring own
containers
• Use shower caps instead of cling film
• Buy local products
25. Save Energy
• Use LCD lightbulbs last +1 year
• Switch of unnecessary electrical
appliances/lights in rooms when empty
• Replace old electrical appliances with
energy saving ones (airco)
• Empty fridge or freezer has to work
harder to keep even temperature
• Carpool with friends when going out
26. • Water outdoor plants after sunset
• Wash cars with bucket
• Plant trees
• Donate clothes and toys to needy
(boxes everywhere)
• Donate crafting materials to schools
(cardboard tubes tissue boxes etc)
• Use e-forms and e-tickets don’t print
unnecessary
27. Bio products
• Use biodegradable nappies / washable
nappies
• Make your own bio-friendly detergents
and cleaning products
pure born
28. Our Family of 8
• 4-5 large bags plastic recyclable
• 2-3 large bags small paper/carton
• 1 large bag of aluminum
• Boxes
• 2-3 ¼ bag un-recyclables