No amount of technology is going to solve the world’s waste crisis
David Newman says developing countries especially must focus on basic waste management, to curb open dumping and clean up streets, before looking to sophisticated solutions
New technologies are changing the waste industry in many ways. An increasing array of new materials are entering our waste streams. Carbon fibre, for example, is being used to make cars, planes and bikes. When this material becomes mainstream, will our recycling systems be able to adapt quickly enough?
China’s booming e-commerce market creating waste-management headache
Waste management systems worldwide got caught out when vast quantities of electronic waste suddenly required treatment, so we need to think now about recovering new materials.
Bioplastics will change the way some plastics are recycled. Are composting companies ready? And nanoparticles are already found in many products, from medicines to shampoos. How we deal with these in waste water streams is a matter of some concern for the environment and human health.
Product designers and companies jumping on new technology bandwagons need to look at the long-term impact of the materials they use.
Hong Kong’s plastic waste epidemic, and why it’s bad news for all of us
Collection and sorting systems will soon see the introduction of robotic machines to handle certain functions. What will happen when almost every piece of waste is traceable, once microchips are so cheap they can be fitted into everything? We will know in real time where that bottle, phone, chair or diaper came from, and where it is, both when being used and when discarded. This will be a revolution for collection and recycling systems.