WASTE

Nature knows no waste

In our city

Extraction to dumping

ExtractionProduction

Distribution

ConsumptionDisposal

Waste facts

• 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

6000 tons of waste is produced daily in CT

Our Wasteful Economy

• 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

90% of materials used in production are wasted:

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Avoid creating waste

Reduce waste

Reuse

Recycle

Disposal

Types of waste

X

? X

Poly logo’s

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 WasteGarden and kitchen waste

Keep moist

Add to soil Earthwormsfungi & bacteria

Breakdown of organic matter

Compost heap

Keep moist

Shade

Different layers of

grass, leaves,

soil

Keep moist

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?

WATERENERGY BIODIVERSITYWASTE WATERENERGY BIODIVERSITYWASTE