"It is better to prevent waste than
to treat or clean up waste after it is formed." (Green Chemistry Principles, Dr. Paul Anastas
et al)
The concept of recycling is very broad. Re-using
a plastic carrier bag is a form of recycling, and so is chemical
remanufacture from waste plastic. All recycling, however, is concerned
with one thing: trying to ensure that, as a society, we make the
most effective use of the resources available.
Sources of Waste
Manufacturing waste has long
been recycled. This is the case with metals like steel and aluminium,
and also with plastics. Recycling is easier when the composition
of the scrap material is known.
Most UK domestic waste has
for years been put into landfill (buried in the ground). As existing
sites become full, new sites must be located further away from
the centres of population, increasing costs. The recycling of
materials after use ("post-consumer") is becoming increasingly
important, but it presents different problems to manufacturing
waste:
It has to be collected economically
from many locations
Identification of composition and separation
into different waste "streams" is necessary
Removal of dirt, labels, paint and
other coatings may be needed
EU Directives
In the UK and other European countries some
of the pressure for increasing recycling comes from several EU
directives.
Landfill Directive(99/31/EC)
Reduce quantity of biodegradable waste going to landfill
Whole and shredded tyres banned from landfill from 2003
and 2006 respectively
End-of-Life Vehicle Directive(2000/53/EC)
Vehicles to be made more easy to recycle
80% of vehicle weight to be recycled by 2006, 85% by 2015
Waste from Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive(2002/96/EC)
Recovery and recycling of
materials from electrical goods
Treatment of hazardous components of electrical goods
