Category: Green

Get Green Columbus Project – An Overview

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The Get Green Columbus initiative began on January 28, 2005.  Columbus mayor Michael B. Coleman issued a Green Memo that urged the city’s residents to live environmentally-friendly lives.  The memo discussed several policy frameworks that aimed to create healthier environments.

Since the Green Memo, the city of Columbus had made significant progress in becoming a more sustainable and environmentally friendly city in every area, from rehab to businesses.  For these efforts, the city has received awards and recognition.  These include a designation as the most improved city from SustainLane in 2008, the Environmental Public Servant Award from the Ohio Environmental Council in 2009, and recognition as the greenest fleet in the nation at the 2009 Green Fleet Conference’s 2009 Environmental Leadership Awards.

Collaborating with City Agencies & Community Leaders

One driving factor for the success of Get Green Columbus was Mayor Coleman’s Green Team.  This team was responsible for administering environmental policies, educating the community about the risks of not taking care of the environment, and identifying the necessary resources to implement Get Green Columbus initiatives.

Joining Mayor Coleman’s Green Team were the Environmental Steward Office (ESO), who collaborated with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO).  The ESO functioned as an internal team of experts and green coordinators who represented each department and division within the city. On October 4, 2007, Mayor Coleman joined other elected officials in signing the Central Ohio Green Pact.  This pact aimed to

  • Produce greener public fleets
  • Create a stronger green economy
  • Collaborate with others to purchase more green products
  • Adopt sustainable land use policies
  • Build more green facilities to reduce energy consumption and waste
  • Educate and involve the community
  • Decrease emissions
  • Protect environments from climate change
  • Preserve green space and develop greenways
  • Expand and encourage mass transportation

 Implementing Recycling Strategies and Reducing Solid Waste

SWACO and the city of Columbus also initiated a recycling program that is now known as RecyColumbus.  The goal of this project was to make it easy for people to recycle their household goods. It allowed Columbus residents to place recyclable items on their curbs or drop off such items at recycling centers.  In 2009, the municipality recycled 15,126 tons of materials.

Different agencies also collaborated with the city of Columbus to recycle items and reduce waste.  Such partnerships are working together to recycle 66 percent of the waste that would otherwise go to local landfills.

Improving Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality

Another achievement of Mayor Coleman’s Get Green Columbus was the creation, adoption, and implementation of the City of Columbus Green Fleet Action Plan, a plan first issued on January 1, 2008.

The goals and targets of the Green Fleet Action Plan included:

  • Reducing fuel
  • Purchasing and using biodiesel and compressed natural gas
  • Obtaining green grants and Green Fleet Awards
  • Implementing green purchasing language

Protecting Water

Protecting water quality was another focus of Get Green Columbus.  The initiative focused on flood reduction, waterway quality, stream restoration, and several multi jurisdictional watershed planning efforts.

In 2005, the Columbus Division of Sewerage and Drainage launched Project Clean Rivers.  Several programs and services were part of this project.  All had the same goal: achieving clean water.  This project also included the Wet Weather Management Plan, a $2.5 billion strategy to eradicate sewer overflows.

Such water protections were attempts to ensure the safety of Columbus’s groundwater and its surface resources.  Also contributing to such water protection efforts were the city’s public health authorities, who annually permit and inspect sewage treatment systems on private properties.  The authorities inspected more than 300 systems in 2009 alone.

Promoting Green Businesses

Another green effort of Mayor Coleman was a program to recognize and award businesses that made efforts to become more environmentally responsible.  This program, called the GreenSpot Program, has been successful in serving as a public engagement model for the city of Columbus and other communities throughout Ohio and North America.

Fostering the Greening of Columbus

On February 22, 2007, Mayor Coleman agreed to the U.S. Council of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement as part of his contribution to the Get Green Columbus initiative.  Since then, the city of Columbus has conducted greenhouse gas emission inventories of its operations.

In 2005, the Columbus operation baseline emissions reported 317,926 metric tons of carbon dioxide.  The city of Columbus has aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2 percent every year until the year 2030.

According to reports, the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Columbus in 2005 are:

  • 31 percent from buildings
  • 37 percent from wastewater treatment
  • 18 percent from drinking water treatment
  • 12 percent from transportation

The 10-Year Action Plan

In another environmental development, on May 4, 2009, Mayor Coleman announced a 10-year action plan.  The plan contains a list of improvements as well as efficiencies to correct imbalances.  The summary report of the Get Green Columbus program discusses the

  • Continuation of green initiatives
  • Expansion of energy-saving measures
  • Creation of weatherization systems
  • Establishment of efficient lighting
  • Upgrades of HVAC systems

Other Green Memo suggestions called for the city of Columbus to plant more trees and to construct capital improvements to protect the environment.  The city succeeded in its goals to plant a total of 20,000 trees.  Reports stated that the city of Columbus planted a yearly average of 5,500 trees and lost 1,500 trees yearly, which meant that the city planted 4,000 trees every year.

Local partners worked with the city of Columbus to achieve most of the project’s goals.  One improvement was improving access to fresh and nutritious foods for residents who were in need.  Columbus Public Health organized community farmers markets throughout the city, an effort that provided fresh food to city residents.

Speaking of Columbus and plants, the city is the home of the American Community Garden Association.  It is also the location of the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which opened the unique Community Garden Campus.  These efforts educate people about the beauty and usefulness of plants and protecting them, issues important to Get Green Columbus as well.

Final Words

Get Green Columbus illustrate that teamwork and collaboration can make good things happen for a city and its residents.

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Sustainable Motorways: Driving Our Future

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Smart motorways are enhanced stretches of motorways which include dynamic hard shoulders, fluctuating speed limits, monitoring sensors, and cameras. Britain, for example is one of the leading innovators when it comes to road management, with their system known as active traffic management. Even though the UK and a few other countries are implementing advancements to their roads, there is still room for  improvement with technologies such as drones, smart LED road studs, eco-friendly lighting and built-in sensors.

But in today’s world is smart is enough. We need our motorways to be sustainable and support our ever more sustainable cars, to help restore our planet.

Sustainable Motorways

Solar roadways seem to be a match made in heaven for electric vehicles. Substituting standard tarmac roads with extra durable solar panels is the main idea behind this technology. The panels, that would act like screens, displaying road signs, warning about lane closures, would also harvest solar energy. This captured energy would then be used to power both road signs and in-car items.

Another way to make roads sustainable is to build more “electric”roads. These  motorways, for example, would be equipped with an inductive charging system, such as in a phone charger. Thanks to the wireless charging technology that would be installed below the surface, they would create an electromagnetic field, which would be then transferred to receivers, directly powering running vehicles.

Some charging panels placed at bus depots in Milton Keynes are an example of this technology as they power electric buses overnight. Similar projects are considered for parking lots – if used on a larger scale, this would significantly reduce carbon emissions in our environment.

Making motorway maintenance more sustainable is key to lowering the need for manual labor, financing and being more eco-friendly in general. Researchers at Cambridge, Bath and Cardiff Universities may have found a solution in the form of  ‘self-healing concrete’. It is a concrete blend with added bacteria which produces limestone. When moisture enters a slit in the concrete it seals the crack before it gets the chance to widen.

Unfortunately, most of these ideas are being criticised and only a few are being currently implemented. Hopefully more and more of these, and other technologies them will actually happen in the future. As for now, we can only try to reduce our carbon footprint by changing our means of transport to a more sustainable one, be it an EV, public transport or a bike.

Image source: https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/motorways-in-europe-and-the-uk

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5 Innovative Ways to Make Urban Farming More Sustainable

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Urban farms are becoming increasingly popular in cities around the world. Creative farming models are now being cultivated in a diverse range of urban spaces, from rooftops to within tall, enclosed buildings. These innovative growing methods prioritize sustainability, which plays a key role in making sure that our urban creations have the least negative impact on the environment. Here are 5 ways to maximize sustainability in your urban farm.

Rooftop Farming

One literally ‘top’ trend in urban agriculture is rooftop farming. This method makes clever use of an urban space that is typically unused and has been praised for its positive environmental impact. Rooftop farms provide extra insulation for buildings, lower temperatures in summer and maintain heat in the winter. These factors translate to less use of heating and cooling systems, which saves significant amounts of energy and money.

Plants grown on rooftops capture moisture in the air, which means that rooftop farms also help reduce the storm water flow that can pollute waterways and overwhelm sewage treatment facilities.

Vertical farming

Vertical farms produce crops in vertical layers in a controlled environment. Most vertical farms are created with tall enclosed structures, using height to maximize growth. This innovative approach to urban farming can help to maintain crop production all year round, without relying on favorable weather conditions, soil fertility, or excessive water use.

Establishing vertical farms in urban areas can ultimately help to create a more sustainable environment by contributing to less abandoned buildings, a cleaner atmosphere, better water conservation, and a positive impact on the health of the surrounding communities.

Shipping Container Farming

Recently, using shipping containers as urban farms has become increasingly popular. There is an abundance of shipping containers that are left unused every year, free to be used as indoor farms. These steel structures are durable, versatile, portable and stackable: ready to be placed as a container farm on any site with a strong, level surface.

The versatility of shipping containers provides a range of opportunities to create an enclosed ‘farm’ in any location, from your backyard to corporate campuses. Compared to traditional fixed structures, container farms can be set up in a relatively short period of time.

Using Hydroponic Systems

Innovative new growing techniques have played a key role in the sustainability of urban farming. Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil, a technique commonly used in vertical farming. This method has been shown to have some environmental benefits.

The controlled and closed environment of hydroponic systems usually eliminates the need for pesticides, meaning less poisonous chemicals on the food and plants grown. Hydroponic systems can also recycle water and nutrients, putting less strain on water systems. This sustainable style of growing has become a top choice for many large-scale greenhouses.

Using Aquaponic Systems

Aquaponics is one of the most sustainable methods of urban agriculture. Simply put, this method combines traditional aquaculture with hydroponics. Many farmers have embraced this method to become more environmentally responsible and promote good health within their local communities.

Aquaponic systems can grow many types of food without consuming too many resources. Only a few pieces of equipment in this method actually require power – and in most systems, the water is circulated rather than disposed of after use. Using this style of indoor urban farming, you can ultimately grow more food while using less water, labor and land.

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18 New Sustainable Building Materials Worth Watching

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Throughout the years, we’ve seen a growing trend with green building. The reason? Building projects consume nearly 50 percent of our resources extracted from nature, as well as generating 23 percent of air pollution and contributing to half of our landfill waste. There’s no doubt that the industry needs to combat climate change and create sustainable buildings to ensure that our communities can thrive in the future.

To address the challenge, many innovative companies are developing new futuristic green materials. From materials that can generate their own renewable energy to those that can self-heal and lower CO2 levels, a new generation of buildings is on the horizon. While many of these innovations are still in the early stages of development and haven’t reach mass-scale, they may very well be making their way into our buildings in the next few decades.

A great example of a building constructed with one of these futuristic materials is the BIQ House in Hamburg, Germany. Built with walls and panels containing living algae, the green building to able to generate its own electricity and power.  

These new building materials are being engineered to be more self-sustaining, stronger, sleeker and easier on the environment. Check out the infographic below from BigRentz for 18 futuristic materials that are buzzing in the industry.

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Gardening Trends That Will Transform Your Outdoor Space

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No matter if you love or hate your outdoor space, having a little garden makeover and spicing things up is always a great idea. Luckily, you don’t have to go all out and build a pool to achieve a big effect! Here are a few easy and cost-effective gardening trends that will transform your backyard and rekindle your love for the outdoors.

Zen wabi-sabi

People all over the world are searching for new ways to treat their gardens, and one of the more interesting ones comes from Japan. The art of wabi-sabi involves the acceptance of imperfections and the natural cycles of birth, growth, decay and death. The key to having a wabi-sabi garden is striking a perfect balance between nature and nurture.

So think moss-covered stones, weathered pots and overgrown plants. Embrace the imperfections of your space, relax and watch nature take its course. Plus, having a wabi-sabi garden is a perfectly frugal and eco-friendly way to design a gorgeous outdoor space that will only get more beautiful with time.

Edible gardens

No matter if you’re vegan, vegetarian or carnivore, everyone loves to have homegrown food. Now, thanks to the grow-your-own-food movement, you will not only have fresh veggies and fruit on your table, but also be on trend! If you’re limited by space, pumpkins, squashes and legumes should be your first choice. Also, tomatoes, greens and herbs grow well in boxes and pots, in case you really can’t give up any of your outdoor space.

Al fresco dining

A great way to make the best use of your garden is to create an attractive dining area. Having a cozy outdoor dining space is one of the biggest gardening trends in the past few years, especially popular among people who have a tiny kitchen or dining room. However, in order to have a practical and safe dining area, you must embark on a little construction journey.

Luckily, there are trusted landscape construction experts who can help you with the design and perform your decking, paving and tiling and even handle your electrical requirements. They work closely with their clients, so anything you need, they will provide! All you need to do is get some cozy furniture and you’re ready to enjoy your summer days in the sun with some tasty food. If you have space, you can even throw in a BBQ for the freshest and tastiest meals.

Vertical gardens

If you have a tiny outdoor space, but you still want to be up-to-date with the newest trends, why not opt for a vertical garden? Installation of these practical yet beautiful gardens is quite simple even for DIY beginners. All you need is some steel cable for hanging, a few clay pots and you’re ready to plant! The best thing about hanging gardens is that they serve as living pieces of art while taking very little of your space.

Multipurpose sheds

Another big trend is having multipurpose spaces that will save you square footage while providing you with various benefits. So, for instance, you can buy or construct a garden shed that will fit all your gardening tools and necessities, and also allow you to have a small yet practical workshop or DIY area. This way, you can practice your hobbies AND have a tidy and clutter-free backyard.

Eco-friendliness

Eco-friendliness is not a new trend, but it’s just too important to be left out of any list. Make sure to think about sustainability when designing or remodeling your garden and you’ll not only create a more cost-effective space, but also help our planet get back on its feet.

So, think solar lighting, drought-resistant plants, water-harvesting systems and other green garden additions. You can also visit your local thrift shops and reclaimed wood dealers to salvage some great items and give them a new life in your garden.

Final Thoughts

See? Having a stylish garden doesn’t have to be hard and expensive. So, don’t be scared to embark on a remodeling journey and you’ll surely end up with a trendy outdoor space you’ll be proud to show off!

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Hiring a Professional Rubbish Removal Company – Why and How

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With the age of technology and convenience, human beings have gotten used to creating waste at an unbelievable pace. While we should be doing that responsibly since we cannot completely avoid it, we need experts to remove the pile of unwanted material we accumulate over time. If you are wondering why you should hire a rubbish removal company and how exactly you go about hiring them when you finally make your mind up, this blog can come to your rescue.

First thing first, below are some of the advantages of hiring expert company to remove rubbish piled up in your premises:

Advantages of hiring an expert rubbish removal company

Expertise

Companies often invest in training their employees to do the projects of rubbish removal as smoothly and as efficiently as possible. The training generally involves differentiating between various types of rubbish and what to do with each of them individually, i.e. employing correct methods, making them experts in handling the rubbish.

Convenience

Sorting, picking, removing, disposing and cleaning the premises, all are covered under this one. Isn’t it obvious why people hire them at first place: to steer clear of a tough job for which there are professionals!

Recycling

Most companies, if they have cared enough to get into this line of business, hold valid license to recycle the waste efficiently. (If they do not, you must not get into agreement with them for the removal service). You see, waste management is their core competency with all their equipment and gadgets which you must make use of.

Health and safety concerns

Depending on what kind of and how much rubbish you have, there could be such concerns if you are thinking of doing a removal job on your own. There could be health hazards you may not know, apart from getting allergies, cuts and bruises while removing the waste and junk. Moreover not having a training of disposal and waste handling can put you at legal risk as well.

Cost-Effective

If you have hired a nice company and negotiated well, it’s likely you have paid cost-effectively for a job well-done. They being expert at what they do, save your time which could be efficiently use for some other productive task, all the while saving you the cost involved in investing in other rubbish removal methods.

Environment-Friendly

Hiring a company that deals in rubbish removal is also great for environment. You might be contributing to polluting it by keeping the rubbish on your premises longer than needed. As unhygienic as it could get, it also invites pests like rats. You do not want that, do you?

For the looks of it

You don’t want your area to resemble a junkyard, be it your home or office. But your place might mimic the same with all that waste lying around. Hire a removal company to keep up the appeal of the place. It should belong to you not to the junk (and leave bad impression on relatives/friends/clients!)

Now that you know what value hiring a rubbish removal company can add to your life, here are some genuinely useful tips to know before hiring them and handing over your assignment.

How to ensure hiring the best rubbish removal company

If you are worried as to how to hire the best in the industry, below are some tips to do so with confidence, by:

Determining the types of rubbish

Choosing the best company to assist you with the removal of your rubbish undoubtedly starts with determining the kinds of rubbish you have accumulated. Otherwise you will end up blind calling from the list of the companies you find on the net and getting disappointed later if they do not offer the service you need. Is it residential, commercial, leftover building material waste/rubble rubbish, or just plain junk?

Getting to the places to know more

Apart from family and friends, there’s the Internet. Everything you need to know could be located there. The better the company, the more it should have invested in maintaining a good site. All the necessary sales pitch should be there. The multiple ways to reach and connect with them easily determines how easy is to reach them. Their blog, videos, and testimonials along with social pages can tell you more about them.

Listing and sorting rubbish removal companies

The above process helps you in finalizing the companies when you look for them. Good news is that a single company can provide several services, just on different days. So you need not look for several companies for different kinds of rubbish you have.

Also, make attempt to reach them and observe how promptly they respond your mail or phone. After all customer service begins here. Next, they would be asking about the kind of rubbish you want to be removed and your location to know if they serve there before giving free no-obligation quote.

Authenticating the service provider

Opting for a licensed waste carrier is very important. Only these people know to dispose of junk in designated landfills, scrap yards and recycling plants. Most companies would be eager to show you proof of their authorisation for the asked service.

Additionally, see if they are associated with the likes of Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List, to ensure their credibility. Also always ask if the company offers Transfer Notes while removing commercial waste to track the final destination where your rubbish goes. Keep the copies of the note safe.

Determining the price

If everything is as it should be, you have to pay only for what you get. Roughly knowing about the quantity of junk (in cubic metre or yardage, whatever goes!) can help you estimate and compare the rates from different companies. The companies not offering to give an estimate like that are a sure no-no.

Being cautious

Since such services are needed only once in a while, you should be on your guard for anything suspicious. There are companies that would want to take benefit of your ignorance by imposing strange and unforeseen charges that essentially should be a part of their service, like parking and loading fees.

Ask them a fee breakdown beforehand and if that’s all they are going to ask and don’t let them slap charges when the work is done. Also, beware of any attempts to charge based entirely on variables you can’t control like time or manpower.

Checking for cleanliness- before and after

How well they keep their trucks and how far they go in cleaning up your place after removing rubbish can also be a determining factor for you to hire a company. Images of them at work on their website can tell you a lot. And how well they have done their past projects can tell you about the other aspect. Be all eyes and ears.

Ensuring that the company is insured

Just be sure of this. Generally, this piece of information is not usually needed but being prepared for every casualty is a good thing. Hiring a non-insured company is like inviting disaster. For a certain peace of mind, knowing this is very important before going with signing the contract.

Knowing about their recycling policy

Rubbish taken away from you is not always treated the way you might prefer. It could simply end in a landfill or could go to places to be salvaged as much as is good. However, if you feel responsible for your rubbish, be sure to review recycling policy of the rubbish removal Bournemouth companies. Some of them might actually work with scrappers, recycling facilities and NGOs that need donation. You might actually feel good about being associated with such a company.

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Beaches Where You Can Find Naturally Recycled Sea Glass

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Almost every person dreams of living along the beach and just soak up the sun and have fun. The scenery is beautiful. The weather is great. Other than the usual sand and water, some beaches have sea glasses all around. Sea glasses are naturally recycled glasses. The other type of glass recycling is done by companies, like glass recycling by Pace Glass or other recycling facilities. But, we are here to talk about nature’s way of recycling glass. The ocean turns used bottles or glasses into beautiful sea glass. If you want to hunt for sea glass, here is a list of beaches where you can find naturally recycled sea glass.

Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, CA

This Glass Beach is one of the best places to look for sea glass. It is located in Fort Bragg, California. This place was originally a water dump site. A lot of things were discarded here like glass bottles, appliances, and even cars. Throughout the years, the glass included in the waste turned into sea glass.

Imagine going to a beach. But, instead of sand, it is filled with sea glass instead. It is a magnificent view, to say the least. Different shapes and colors fill the shoreline. You can look around and touch all the sea glass around you. But, it is prohibited to take them out of the beach. It is still owned by the state.

Kauai Sea Glass Beach in Eleele, Hawaii

This sea glass is located in Eleele, Hawaii. This is an industrial area wherein the shores were used as dump sites for glass bottles and auto glass parts. After many decades, these glass parts turned into sea glass. Million of sea glass are mixed within the sand. Primary colors are brown, blue, and aqua. Other than the beautiful sea glass mixed in the sand, this is Hawaii. It has excellent sceneries and weather.

Spectacle Island in Boston, Massachusetts

This place is only a ferry ride away from Long Wharf in Boston. This island has exhibits, beaches, and a walking trail. A lot of people can do different fun things in this place. Most importantly, this place is known for their sea glass. Initially, just like other glass beaches, this place was a dump site for many decades. Some people even claim that the sea glass that is found here are over one hundred years old.

You do not have to worry about the time and tides when going here to look for sea glass. You can find sea glass from the shores to the riprap. But, management does not allow visitors to take home the sea glass found in this place. It is a policy to preserve the beauty of the Spectacle Island.

Davenport Beach, California

This beach is located just north of Santa Cruz. It is a small and hidden beach that is simply amazing. This is an excellent place for sea-glass collectors. This place came about because of a flood.

During the 1970s, a container filled with brown-glass trimmings was sent by a flood to the San Vicente Creek. Over the years, these glass trimmings turned into sea glass. Even though a lot of people have visited and taken a lot of sea glass, this is still one of the best places to look for the most beautiful sea glass available naturally. The best time to visit this place for sea-glass collecting is during low tides and after a rainstorm.

Natural wonder

Sea glass is definitely a natural wonder. It is amazing what time can do to things. What was once a piece of trash is now a beautiful gem that a lot of people would like to look at and take home. These are just some examples of glass beaches. There are even more places filled with these hidden gems. Travel and be on the lookout for these sea glasses.

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Key Factors Driving the Waste Management Industry

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The amount of wastes that humans create every day and their potential impact on the environment have been matters of concern for the government and the community for long. There is a dire need to find a sustainable solution to this issue. Proper waste management methods which would be cost-effective, scientifically better, financially viable, environment-friendly, and socially acceptable to people are the need of the hour.

Waste management refers to the collection, transportation, disposal, and monitoring of wastes. It is imperative due to its many benefits which include protection of the environment and the health of the population, resource recovery, overcoming of an epidemic, and elimination of fire hazards due to the accumulation of hazardous substances.

 

Growth in Waste Management Industry

The market for waste management is witnessing a significant boom in recent years. This growth is driven by unprecedented growth in all kinds of wastes taking place due to the rise in industrialization, growing urban population, and the rise in environmental awareness. The growing adoption of recycling techniques and the development of innovative technologies and advanced waste collection solutions also fuel the growth of the market.

However, lack of awareness of the impact of unattended solid wastes in the developing regions across the globe restrains the industry growth. According to the research firm, Allied Market Research, the waste management industry is expected to reach $435.0 billion by 2023 from $285.0 billion in 2016, experiencing a CAGR of 6.2% from 2017 to 2023.

A recent trend in the waste management industry is the development of novel and innovative technologies in the space, which are helping in the efficient collection and processing of wastes. Another recent trend in the ecosystem is the adoption of strategies such as partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions by companies with an aim to expand their presence globally and grab a greater market share.

One of the recent collaborations is that between PETCO Kenya, the PET recycling company based in South Africa and Mr. Green Africa, a recycling firm in Kenya to increase the collection of PET bottles. Another one is the extension of partnership by Covanta, a waste management company based in the U.S. with the Town of Huntington, New York to continue with its support for waste management.

PETCO Partners with Mr. Green Africa

In November ’18, PETCO Kenya entered into a strategic partnership with Mr. Green Africa to provide funding with the aim of expediting the PET bottles collection process. The funding enables the former company to support infrastructure for waste collectors that service the latter’s trading centers by providing waste collection tricycles. The waste collection capacity of the collectors which is an average of 40 kgs a day, will increase to between 300kgs to 500kgs under the new partnership.

These collectors have been using sacks to collect post-consumer bottles, which is not only straining on their physical bodies but also limiting in the quantities they can collect per day kilograms. John Waithaka, the Chairman of PETCO Kenya said, “PETCO is committed to increasing the amount of plastic collected from the current levels to 70% by 2030. This partnership with Green Africa is one of the many partnerships we will be rolling out in the coming months to help us achieve this goal.”

Covanta and Town of Huntington Extend Partnership

In November ’18, Covanta announced its collaboration extension with the Town of Huntington for the supervision of the Huntington Resource Recovery Facility.  The facility is an energy-from-waste facility that processes about 1,000 tons of municipal solid waste each day, produces 25 megawatts of renewable energy, and recycles over 7,000 tons of metal annually.

According to Chad Lupinacci, Supervisor of Town of Huntington, the extension of their partnership with Covanta provides their community with a great solution to waste management. It helps preserve their valuable natural resources while generating clean energy. He feels that the collaboration is a blessing for their residents as they both aim to achieve a more sustainable community. Rick Sandner, Vice President and General Manager of Covanta’s New York/New Jersey region said, “The Towns of Huntington and Smithtown have developed a leading waste management system that includes energy-from-waste for any residual waste that remains after recycling. We are proud of our work in providing safe, reliable waste disposal and a source of clean energy, and look forward to serving these communities for many years to come.”

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Eco-Friendly Waste Disposal Methods

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Even the fastest growing economies often fail at effectively managing the massive quantities of waste generated. Whether you’re a homeowner cleaning up after a renovation project, or a construction company with ongoing site waste management requirements, it’s important that you’re familiar with eco-friendly ways of disposing of the waste. Let us have a quick glance at popular eco-friendly waste disposal methods.

Salvaging on site

It’s no secret that the construction industry is held accountable for a lion’s share of worldwide energy usage, but also generated waste material. However, many construction materials can be recycled and reused on site.

For example, by re-milling old timber and lumber, you can make new floors, panelling, doors and windows. Drywall scraps can be used for wall patches, but also mixed up with soil as a nutrient-rich food source for plants. Common metals like copper, aluminium and steel can be smelted and reformed into new products. Crushing concrete and masonry gives you extra material for pavements, roads and driveways, similarly to clay bricks, which have a lifespan of more than 200 years.

Reusing

Reusing the waste is directly related to generating less of it. For example, instead of throwing them away, you can still use your shopping bags. The same goes with relish and condiment jars, which can be used for storing items in your workshop.

Recycling

It starts with waste separation, as recyclable products are often mixed up with non-recyclable ones, or ones suitable for composting. Many people are already recycling, with communities showing their environmental initiative by providing separate bins for glass and PET, but are you up to date with what can be recycled nowadays?

Even with a high percentage of household waste being recyclable, the statistic are still discouraging. For example, in a developed country like Australia, where environmental awareness is high, only about 20% of all plastic packaging is recycled.

Professional removal

Separating your household waste into separate bins and disposing of daily rubbish responsibly is one thing, but when faced with a large amount of waste, such as from major remodelling project, downsizing, or moving house, most homeowners don’t know what to do.

Luckily, developed countries like Australia have an extensive network of commercial waste removal companies, like the one for professional junk removal in Sydney. It operates an efficient team for removing household rubbish, lawn trimmings, demolition, and e-waste, while the company’s policies ensure that whatever can be recycled, will be.

Incineration

This method involves combusting waste as a means of removing their base components with extreme heat. It’s another way of destroying your waste while still being environmentally responsible. However, this doesn’t mean you can build a bonfire in your backyard and dump whatever will burn, meanwhile choking your entire neighbourhood with the noxious smoke. Municipalities often have strict policies and regulations for waste incineration, so you should look into these before it’s too late.

Waste to energy

Even after reusing and recycling, some waste still remains. Instead of burying organic waste, you can use it to generate energy. Plants that use anaerobic digestion can do a great deal of work here, as they take care of anything that rots and turn it into biogas and farm fertiliser.

A modern air pollution control system is essential for all MSW incineration facilities.

A country that has been doing a great job in generating energy from organic waste is Sweden. They convert 100% of their organic waste to clean energy, even going to extents of importing waste from neighbouring countries for energy production.

Conclusion

While waste can be disposed of in a number of ways, it’s always important to give a chance to eco-friendly methods, as they make less of an impact on the environment. Apart from helping the nature regenerate its sources, the disposal methods listed here are directly involved in creating a healthier environment for ourselves.

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The Future of Energy Sector is in Electricity Availability

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The energy industry is showing steady growth, which, according to experts, will continue in 2019. In the USA, Western Europe and Russia it will reach 3% per year while it will be faster in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The most dynamic markets now are China, India, some African countries. While the United States is becoming the undisputed world leader in oil and gas production, China is reconsidering its role in the energy sector, seeking to “make the sky blue again.” It is China’s transition to a new economic model with the use of clean energy that determines global trends. Solar power plants in many countries are gradually becoming the cheapest source of energy. The future of the energy sector lies in the increase in the availability of electricity for electric cars, mobile solutions and digitalization.

Projections show growth in demand for low-carbon, renewable energy sources and natural gas. Coal consumption by 2040 should fall by 6–7 times, oil – by 2.5 times, gas – by a few percents, and low-carbon energy sources – by 2 times.

In 2010–2016, the share of coal when creating new generation facilities averaged about 65 GWh annually, gas – about 47 GW, nuclear decomposition products – about 3 GW, and renewable sources – almost 130 GW. In 2016–2040, the share of coal should fall to 18 GW, the share of gas should remain the same, the share of atomic decomposition products should double, and the share of renewable sources should reach 160 GW. Of which, solar power should grow the fastest – from about 30 to 73 GW per year. Solar panels are ahead of other types of energy from renewable sources. China, India and the United States are ahead of everyone here, while for Europe the wind remains the most important green energy.

The value of renewable sources is growing in shares to the rest of the energy sector. If in 2015 it was 24% versus 76% for traditional sources, then in 2050 the ratio should roll over: 85% versus 15%. Now the most significant share of green energy consists of various types of hydroelectric power plants, 16% of the total world energy production. By 2050, its share should be 12%, the share of wind – 36%, sun – 22%, gas will remain 10%, and coal – 1%.

Despite the fact that electric cars are conquering the world, the demand for oil continues to grow – though not in the energy sector. The fleet of electric cars is expected to grow to about 50 million units by 2025 and 280 million by the year 2040. The increase in oil consumption is likely to be associated with the petrochemical industry, aviation and shipping, and road freight.

About the author: Melisa Marzett thinks broadly. She keeps track of events working for Star Writer Custom Writings and cherishing a hope to write a book someday, which would blow people`s mind. Meanwhile, she practices yoga, travels, studying drawing, singing, dancing, art of paper folding and playing the piano.

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