Overview

The world is using natural resources at an unprecedented rate, often with little thought given to the efficient use of those resources or the consequences of disposal. The current trend has led to generation of significant volumes of waste. This often represents a loss of potentially valuable product, in addition to causing a wide range of issues related to pollution and health, greenhouse gas emissions, and limited landfill availability. Governments and society now have to meet increasingly stringent targets for reducing waste volumes; indeed, effective waste management and utilisation is now regarded as an inherent part of sustainable development. This module will explore the implications of our present behaviour around waste generation and materials utilisation, will look at the options and issues surrounding different strategies for dealing with waste, and will consider the changes needed to manage and utilise waste and materials in a sustainable manner.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciate the benefits and problems (scientific and socio-economic) associated with different waste management strategies.

• Be able to consider the criteria that should be used to determine the environmental credentials of materials usage (LCA's, renewable energy generation, etc.).

• Have an understanding of the drivers of materials consumption and waste generation in both developed and developing countries.

• Have knowledge of the various legislative procedures concerning disposal and recycling.

• Understand the various problems associated with end of life disposal of materials.