Abstract

Recycling is the way for green energy and sustainability: Recycling can put cash in your pocket while saving the environment

Nothing is more important to our planet's prosperity than natural resources. The most effective way to reduce waste, and the most environmentally preferred strategy, is to not create it in the first place. Source reduction and materail reuse are the most productive ways to save natural resources, protect the environment and save money. When we make new products out of virgin materials, we expend energy to extract and process those materials. This includes burning fossil fuels. However, if we manufacture products using recycled materials, we reduce the need for virgin materials and save the energy required to extract and process them. Many used things are too good to be thrown away, as we all know from second-hand markets. The same goes for technical goods and parts, which can sometimes be reused or made serviceable with minor repairs. In this way, we can close the loop and give many everyday objects a new lease of life. Advanced thermal conversion of waste is also attracting growing interest. The main reason is the increased awareness of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution resulting from untreated waste. As an alternative to waste incineration, conversion options such as waste pyrolysis, waste gasification, and co-processing of biomass and waste are aimed at the production of liquid fuels and higher value chemicals. These waste options thus help in acheiving climate and environmental goals.


Author(s): Anil Mehrotra

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