Category: Recycling

Introduction

Beverage cans are made out of aluminium ,a hazardous compound to the environment if left unattended to. Recycling means re-using them in different products after they have been emptied. The process involves collecting them from dustbins and waste dumps, remelting and remoulding them to other packaging materials or using them for other purposes. The process of remelting the cans is much less expensive and less damaging to the environment than making new ones. Creating new containers and making new aluminium involves electrolysis of aluminium oxide, which has to be first mined from bauxite ore (Schlesinger, 2007). Aluminium production process consumes a a lot of energy and has major negative effects on the environment. It is estimated that the process of making new aluminium uses 95% more energy than it takes to recycle. It is also estimated that it has a far much bigger green emissions percentage than the recycling process.

Aluminium recycling started back in the 1900s and was extensively used during World War II since many resources were scarce at the time. The process was for a long time done on a very low scale level until the 1960s when using beverage cans became a common trend. As a result, used cans were becoming a challenge for environmentalists and the amount of energy used to produce them was worrying. The concept of recycling started attracting attention and many businesses were more willing to invest in the process. Recycled aluminium is used in making aircraft, automobiles and boats bodies among many other products that require light weigh material or material with high thermal conductivity (Chiras, 2010). Since the recycling process does not have any effects on aluminiums structure, this means that it can be recycled as many times as possible. It also means that there is sustainability as opposed to making them from bauxite, which may run out at some point.

Effects of aluminium cans

Recycling the cans is important for conserving the environment and saving energy. It is important that for the sake of the environment, we conserve our resources as much as possible. Mining is one of the biggest polluters of the environments and is among the biggest emitter of green house gases. One of the negative impacts of aluminium is on soil properties. Burring materials which do not easily decompose has detrimental effect on land. It affects fertility, causes erosion and affects the soils PH.

When soil properties are disrupted, micro-organisms which live in it are affected or die, which in turn disrupts the ecosystem. The soil may not be able to produce as much and will erode easily. Burying the cans also consumes a lot of space in landfills. It is estimated that the UK and the United States have only ten and fifteen years worth of landfill respectively (Pichtel, 2005). Adding on more aluminium materials only makes the situation worse. Mining Bauxite for making aluminium oxide disrupts land and has negative effects on micro-organisms living in the extraction sites.

Making aluminium from bauxite affects the environment. Mining disrupts rain forests and denies many species a habitat. A good example is the Jamaicas delicate coral reefs, which have now been fully destroyed by spillovers as alumina was being transported from the mining sites. Bauxite miners health has been a subject of debate for a long time now. Raw bauxite has negative health effects on those working in the mines as well as those in the neighboring communities. If it spills over to drinking water, it can cause several respiratory and heart diseases. Some parts of Jamaica have been adversely affected after bauxite leached to their groundwater supply, resulting in increased cases of hypertension amongst those leaving near the mining sites (Green, 2007).

Aluminium production consumes very high amounts of energy. Manufacturing new aluminium consumes 95% more energy than recycling. it For countries which are already suffering energy shortages, recycling would definitely be a much better option than making new aluminium. It is estimated that one recycled can can help save up enough energy to run five televisions for three hours (Green, 2007). Making new aluminium is a messy and exhausting process, since it involves mining and separation of different compounds.

Making new aluminium is costly and may result in highly priced cans. It involves many processes such as mining, heating and electrolysis, all which are costly and require high levels of expertise. Sustainability in such conditions may not be possible because after some time, bauxite may be in shortage. Since the process requires more energy than it is when recycling, energy costs make it even more expensive.

Advantages of recycling

Many countries today are in the process of ensuring that much of their aluminium is recycled. The United Kingdom for example, recycles 42% of its cans, the United States recycles around 35%, while Finland and Switzerland are on top of the list by recycling up to 90% of their cans (Chiras, 2010). Several companies and organizations have made this possible by buying the cans as scrap metals from consumers.

Some organizations are encouraging consumers and businesses to recycle by offering money and other benefits for a certain amount of cans recycled. For example in Malawi, Alupro, a non-governmental environmental organization, offers to plant a specific number of fruits trees for every tonne of cans the country recycles. In some shops, consumers pay an extra amount for their drink, which they are refunded upon returning the can. The amount may not be much but it does help to pass the message across. In Michigan for example, consumers have to part with ten cents for every canned product and they get refunds after returning them.

The biggest benefit arising from the initiative is creating a sustainable environment and reducing the negative effects aluminum manufacture has on it. Mining aluminium has very detrimental effects on the environment. Since mining doesnt occur naturally, the extraction process from bauxite involves a lot of digging and emissions. Bauxite has to be mined and smelted, a process which is very energy consuming. Many extractors take time to rebuild the land but most of the damage may not be reversible.

Recycling aluminiun will reduce the amount of land disruptions caused by mining. After extracting bauxite, the land is left infertile and unable to accommodate most of the micro-organisms that lived there initially. The process of preparing land for mining may involve relocating people and animals, some of which may not survive in new habitats. Recycling the cans will reduce the need for mining, thus minimizing the effects.

Recycling cans will help preserve more water bodies as well as their purity. During mining, water bodies are polluted and sometimes a streams movement is disrupted and distracted. In cases like that of Jamaica, leaching can cause water poisoning, which creates health complications. Recycling easily minimizes such incidents and saves a nation the costs involved in rectifying them. Some of the damages may be permanent and could haunt a country for along time even after the mining process is complete.

Recycling is considered less messy than making new aluminium, which involves mining. Storage during recycling is much easier and takes less space since it involves little sorting and separation of compounds. Since bauxite is not available everywhere, shipping it from different countries is a dirty and environmentally threatening process. Spillage along the road and in water causes pollution and could be poisonous if the spillovers are in large quantities.

Recycling requires less raw materials than making new aluminium. Making new aluminium requires bauxite and introduction of other ions in the electrolysis process. Recycling on the other hand only requires remelting and remoulding the cans. Gases emitted from bauxite are avoided and the cost is reduced since there are no new materials required.

Recycling is an easier and shorter process than making new aluminium. It is estimated that cans take only five days in the recycling process before they are back on the shelves. The process of making new cans may take up to weeks and sometimes longer, depending with the availability of bauxite and its accessibility. Recycling cans at home is an equally easy process. For people who use them as storage cans at home, all it takes is cleaning. In the informal sectors, they are simply cut and reshaped to the desired objects. When the new objects are old and used up, they can then be recycled to make new cans.

Recycling cans is a less hazardous process than making new aluminium. The case of Jamaica has been used many times as a reference point to show how risky bauxite is to human health. Leaching can easily cause water contamination, which then causes heart and respiratory complications to those who drink the water. If proper safety measures are not in place, inhaling bauxite for a long period of time can cause chronic respiratory problems. Recycling cans has no health hazards, as long as they are cleaned and disinfected accordingly. Most importantly, recycling consumes less energy and emits less carbon dioxide than making new aluminium. The process consumes 5% of the energy used for making new aluminium, and it emits only 5% of the carbon dioxide emitted during creation of new raw materials (Schlesinger, 2007).

Conclusion

Recycling cans is today more popular with consumers than any other material currently being recycled (Chiras, 2010). Millions of people consume different can beverages everyday and can soda is one of the favorites. Millions of cans are used and disposed everyday. For example, it is estimated that in the United Kingdom only, more than five billion drink cans are sold every year. Recycling therefore, appears to be the right measure for the sake of the environment.

Beverage cans are made out of aluminium and can be hazardous to the environment if left unattended to. Since aluminium does not easily decompose, the only option in the past was to bury them in landfills, which are now now taking up too much space in many countries. Recycling the cans means re-using them in different products after they have been emptied, re-melted and re-molded. They can be reconstructed to new containers and can be used in different applications which require light weight materials.

Recycling cans has proven much more advantageous as opposed to making new ones. It is less expensive and less involving since it eliminates the mining part of the process. It has less effects to the environment, emitting only 5% of the carbon dioxide emitted during the aluminium manufacturing process. The process consumes 5% percent of energy used in making new cans. As a result, energy costs are minimized and the cans cost less.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of recycling rather than making more aluminum is the benefits the option offers to the environment and health. When bauxite mining is avoided, less land is destroyed and the ecosystem is more protected. Human beings and animals relocation is minimized and water pollution is reduced. Less people are exposed to health risks arising from spillage and dust from mines.

Several organizations and shops have put in place measures to encourage recycling of cans. In some shops, customers leave a small amount of deposit for every can they purchase and get a refund once they return them. In other places, people can accumulate their cans and sell them per kilo or in numbers. Some non-governmental organizations offer incentives for countries and communities willing to encourage the habit of collecting and recycling cans. The effort seems to pay off and more countries are today recycling their cans rather than burying them in landfills.

Reference list

Chiras, D.D. (2010). Environmental science. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Green, J.A. (2007). Aluminium recycling and processing for energy conservation and sustainability. Materials Park, Ohio: ASM International.

Pichtel, J. (2005). Waste management practices: Municipal, hazardous and industrial. Boca Raton, FL: CRS Press.

Schlesinger, M. (2007). Aluminium recycling. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis Group.

Earth is crying for help&

• Climate change is challenging;
• Industrialization and climate change (Garlapati, 2016);
• Technology and climate change;
• Human activities mainly primarily to blame.

Climate change is one of the most challenging concepts of this time. The issue has become extremely urgent due to the ever growing human population. It can be argued that there are various factors that have contributed to the degrading state of earth. Garlapati (2016) explains that apart from the growing human population, one also has to consider the impact of civilization, industrialization, and technology in enhancing climate change. The growth of the economy has largely been influenced by the significant development of different industries. These industries release their waste to the environment. The fact that a majority did not dispose of their wastes properly has led to the current environmental problem.

When Your Tech produces waste&

• Technological advancements have also contributed significantly to climate change.
• Waste is generated in the manufacturing of hardware used in making tech such as computers and phones (Khan, Inamuddin & Asiri, 2020).
• More waste is collected after the hardware devices expire or get spoilt.
• These types of wastes are called e-wastes.
• Contributes to air, water, and land pollution.
• Analyzes the impact of e-waste in the Southern New Jersey community and provides a possible solution for the same.

Arguably, e-waste is one of the largest contributor to pollution right now. Khan, Inamuddin and Asiri (2020) explain that different countries have different indexes on their e-waste management. The essay will specifically look at e-waste management in the US. In particular, the essay will analyze the Southern New Jersey community in regards to the same.

Earths fertility is under siege

• E-waste impact on environment.
• Explores land pollution.
• Explains water pollution.
• Instructs air pollution.
• Explains impact of lead.

When lead becomes a culprit

According to UNEP (2020), one of the critical chemicals that are used in electric and electronic devices is lead. The provided infographic is from UNEP (2020) and it shows where lead is used and how it affects life. It is important to note that there are numerous things that have lead in them, such as paints. However, it has been specifically highlighted in this presentation due to the fact that e-waste is growing every day. The poor disposal of the same is also growing. This means that more chemicals are finding their way into soil and water. Lead can stay active for 2000 years, therefore, has disastrous effects on both land and water.

Your Phone is wasting away&

• Waste produced during the manufacturing of hardware.
• Therefore, old computers, phones and tablets are considered e-waste.
• Shipping of e-waste.
• New Jersey requires people to recycle their e-waste by law (Veit & Bernardes, 2020).

New Jersey is one of the few states in the US that have a developed policy on matters e-waste. Veit and Bernardes (2020) explain that the law allows small companies that have less than 50 employees to recycle their electronic waste for free through the e-cycle process. Due to the fact that the focus has been put on businesses, there are people still disposing their e-waste poorly. This has led to some sections of the state having heaps of dumped e-waste while others do not. The video gives more content on the e-cycling law in New Jersey.

The state wants to pick up your e-waste

• DEP recycles e-waste for the general public.
• Manufacturers recycle their left overs.
• Manufacturers collection plans developed by state.

Now what?

This infographic is from UNEP (2020). UNEP is charged with issues of climate change and monitoring the health of the environment as a whole. One way they suggest can be used to prevent the negative impacts of e-waste disposal is through extending the life span of the electric and electronic devices. Currently, more electric and electronic devices have shorter life spans due to the speed of changing technology. Secondly, UNEP (2020) argues that recycling through recycling networks is vital. This is ideally what New Jersey has been doing for the last few years, albeit facing challenges. Thirdly, electric devices should be handled with care so that the toxic chemicals that are inside them do not leak. Additionally, this will contribute to the devices long shelf life. UNEP (2020) also encourages communities to lobby for better policies. This can also be tied to New Jersey as the public has often commented on the e-cycling methods and suggested ways to address the challenges faced.

Linking you and your manufacturer

• DEP picks up wastes and sends them to manufacturers.
• A better solution would be for the manufacturers to deal with the end-user directly.
• Promotes accountability from individual manufacturers of products.
• Manufacturers get back relatively good spare parts for their new devices.
• Removes the element of bureaucracy.

Ideally, this is a better solution due to the fact that the state will easily identify manufacturers who are not picking their e-waste and hold them accountable. The approach connects the manufacturers and the end-users directly. The state will be charged with providing permanent pick-up points for all types of e-waste. The public takes their e-waste to the allocated center and the manufacturers pick the same at a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. Another advantage of this solution is that the e-waste is not handled by one person, therefore, each manufacturer gets their devices/waste in a better condition for easier disposal on their end. Arguably, the manufacturers cannot burn the waste. They can, however, use the same as raw materials for their new devices. In doing so, the same raw materials are used and re-used to ensure there is none that negatively affects the environment.

But this is not easy&

There are three main challenges to the suggested solution. The three are:

• Coordination;
• Capital intensive;
• Technological advancements.

The infographic from UNEP (2020) shows the different forms of e-waste. Using this, it is evident that there needs to be significant and effective coordination for the suggested solution to work. The coordination should be done by the state, through respective county offices. They will be in charge of creating schedules for pick up and drop offs as well. It is vital that the public is also aware of the different drop-off points they have for their e-waste. Additionally, proper communication has to be done to ensure the public understands what comprises of e-waste as identified in the infographic. Arguably, setting up the collection points will be capital intensive. Since this will be done by the state, it is expected that it will be funded by taxes. It is important to have at least one recycle collection point per every neighborhood. The fast rate of technological advancements is a challenge as it has contributed to the growth of e-wastes. People tend to want to purchase newer versions of the electric and electronic products they have. For example, iPhone releases a newer more improved version of their phones every other year and people end up replacing their older ones even though they might not be damaged or expired.

Earth is calling on you..

• Governor, earth is calling on you to please establish more recycle collection centers.
• Department of Environmental Protection let us work together to engage better with manufacturers so that they are connected to the end-user.

There are three call to actions that are required to take the solution further. The first is to the state, and it is for the relevant officers to start building more recycle collection centers. There has been a shortage of these, which has also led to the increase in the wrong disposal of e-wastes on land. It is suggested that each neighborhood have its own recycle collection center. This will allow people the chance and ease to recycle their products well. The second call to action still targets the state, which has to reach out to manufacturers and encourage them to pick their own wastes. Therefore, at the collection center, the waste will be divided based on brand. Manufacturers will then be charged with identified days they pick up the waste. The third call to action to for proper communication in order to allow the public to fully understand the concept of e-cycle and how it benefits the environment.

Now that we are here, let us agree&

• E-waste is a big concern all over the world.
• New Jersey has been keen on ensuring proper disposal of all types of waste in the state.
• In regards to e-waste, there is a comprehensive bill on the disposal of the same.
• The state has several e-cycling collection centers where individuals and companies are encouraged to take their e-waste.
• There has been low uptake of the same due to poor communication.

And as we conclude&

• A possible suggestion is to give manufacturers the lead in regards to e-waste collection and disposal.
• Thus, manufacturers pick their brand-associated e-waste from the collection centers.
• A call to action is the increase of the collection centers as they are currently few.
• A second call to action is for the state to let the manufacturers lead the process of collecting their own brands that are part of the e-waste.

References

Khan, A., Inamuddin, & Asiri, M. A. (Eds.). (2020). E-waste recycling and management present scenarios and environmental issues. New York, NY: Springer.

Garlapati, K. V. (2016). E-waste in India and developed countries: Management, recycling, business and biotechnological initiatives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 54, 874-881.

UNEP. (2020). E-waste 2.0: Recycling for sustainability. Web.

Veit, M. H., & Bernardes, M. A. (2020). Electronic waste: Recycling techniques. New York, NY: Springer.

Introduction

Aluminum has emerged as the ultimate solution in enhancing eco-efficiency in beer and soft drinks packaging. Aluminums expanded use in making of cans is owed to its properties. These include ability of its thin walls to withstands up 90 pounds of pressure, its shiny surface after finishing which facilitates easy decoration process, its cheap costs due to ease of smelting, and its light weight. Most importantly, aluminum has been able to fit into the ideal modern day dream of creating sustainable manufacturing practices through its ease of recycling. Aluminum is remarkably one of the highest recycled packaging materials in the recent times (WBCSD, 2000). In developed countries, industries have created collection points for used cans. One such case is Pepsi in America (Reid & Miedzinski, 2008: 34).

Raw Materials

Aluminum beverage can is primarily made of aluminum. Unlike, in the past where only the top was aluminum today the whole can is made from aluminum. However, small amounts of other metals are also present including 1% Mg, 1% Mn, 0.4% Fe, 0.2% Si, and 0.15% Cu. It is traditionally derived from bauxite which is smelted to produce molten aluminum ingots. Considerably large percentage of cans manufactured, are a product of recycling. In America, up to 95% of beer and soft drink cans are a product of aluminum recycling and a total of 25% of total American aluminum are obtained through recycling. Significantly, a considerable amount of energy saving is attained through recycling of aluminum cans. It has been proved that for every pound of aluminum recycled, a total saving of energy resources required to produce approximately 7.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity is achieved.

Manufacturing Process

Aluminum cans undergo a process known as two-piece drawing and wall ironing (Hwang, Huang & Xu, 2006). The aluminum ingot, about 76cm thick is rolled into a thin metal sheet, after which its cut into a circle through blanking. The blanks form the bottom part of the can. The blanked pieces typically have 14 cm diameter. The lost material during this process is re-used as scrap (up to 14%). The circular blank is then drawn to form a cup of 8.9 cm diameter. The drawn cup is moved to another machine where a sleeve is used to hold the cup in a specific position; punch is then used to redraw the cup to attain a diameter of 6.6cm. This results into an instantaneous rise in the cups height from initial 3.3 cm to 5.7 cm (Hosford & John, 1994: 51). It is then subjected to punching against ironing rings which stretch and thin its walls. At this point, the cup attains a height of 13 cm. another punch is used to press the cup base resulting into its inward-bulging shape. The bulge is meant to counteract pressure resulting form the carbonated liquid its intended to hold (Singh, 2003). The lower and the bottom can parts are made slightly thicker than the other can parts for purposes of enhancing strength.

After drawing and ironing, the cup is left rather wavy at the top. This is a characteristic common with aluminums crystalline structure. To achieve a straight upper wall, trimming is done and some material is also lost at this stage, which is recycled for use. The aforementioned processes leave the outer part of the can smooth and shiny and hence no need for additional finishing. The can is cleaned and redecorated then squeezed to produce an outward neck flange at the top part. This part is later to be folded after addition of the lid (Larson, 2003).

The lid is slightly made differently from the rest of can. This is due to its specification requirement that it be stiffer and stronger as compared to the base. More magnesium and reduced manganese are therefore used for this process. The lid, which is a stronger metal, is cut to produce a diameter of 5.3 cm. The center is then stretched outwards in order to produce a rivet. This is where the pull lid is inserted. For ease detachment when pulled by the consumer, the lid is scored. The cans are evaluated for cracks prior to usage (Hosford & John, 1994). The can is then ready to be filled and sealed and hence destined for the larger market.

Byproducts/Waste

From the manufacturing process described, some aluminum is lost at various production stages. However, due to the can eco-efficiency, no actual loss is recorded as the pieces are re-used (WBCSD, 2000: 24). The ultimate can, after use by consumer is also fed back into the system for recycling. Re-used can require lesser processing energy and saves a lot to the manufacturing in addition to preservation of the environment (Boulanger, 2010). The cans eco-efficiency can generally be summarized by the flow diagram below:

As shown by the diagram, the system re-admits most of the waste which would have otherwise found its way to the environment negatively impacting on the same (Schlesinger, 2006). Additionally, the recorded energy savings could be directed fro other purposes within society (Lovins, 2008).

References

Boulanger, P.M. (2010). Three strategies for sustainable consumption. Journal of Sustainable Development, 45(3), pp. 234-256.

Hosford, W. F. & John, L. D. (1994). The Aluminum Beverage Can. Scientific American, 12(4), pp. 48-53.

Hwang, J.Y., Huang, X. & Xu, Z. (2006). Recovery of Metals from Aluminium Dross and Salt cake, Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, 5 (1), pp 47-62

Larson, M. (2003). New Ideas Come In Cans. Packaging, 12, pp. 30-31.

Lovins, L. H. (2008). Rethinking production in State of the World. Geneva: International Standards Organization, p. 34.

Reid, A. & Miedzinski, M. (2008). Eco-innovation: Final Report for Sectoral Innovation Watch (Brighton: Technopolis Group), Web.

Schlesinger, M. (2006). Aluminum Recycling. CRC Press, p. 248

Singh, S. P. (2003). Internal Gas Pressure on the Compression Strength of Beverage Cans and Plastic Bottles. Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 32(7), pp. 129-31.

WBCSD (2000). Eco-Efficiency: Creating more value with less impact. World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

WBCSD (2000). Measuring Eco-Efficiency: A guide to reporting company performance. World Business Council for Sustainable Development

The problem of waste has been a global problem for all humankind for many years. Moreover, its number is still proliferating all over the planet. Recently, the popularity of raising the problem of waste recycling has been growing and increasing. The generally accepted methods of getting rid of garbage and waste are burial and liquidation. However, such waste disposal can harm the environment and human health. In the article The Reign of Recycling authors main purpose is to show how recycling can be damaging for the environment.

The problem of waste recycling has had its roots since ancient times. At first, before the spread of large settlements, people did not have such an amount of waste to pollute the environment. However, later, with the advent of permanent settlements, the amount of garbage increased significantly. In the Middle Ages, people dumped it near houses or even out of the window and often set it on fire to get rid of the unpleasant smell. Thus, not only the soil was polluted, but also water bodies. With the growth and development of technologies and the industrial industry, the sphere of waste and garbage processing began to develop. However, along with industrialization, the amount of garbage began to grow, which was no longer so easy to process on time. It is also worth noting that the volume of waste increased dramatically when cheap disposable products appeared.

The problem of recycling is discussed in the article The Reign of Recycling by John Tierney. The author argues that despite decades of exhortations and mandates, it is still typically more expensive for municipalities to recycle household waste than to send it to a landfill (Tierney, 2015, para. 4). Moreover, the financial side of refining, such as the price of materials, has undergone changes due to a significant decrease in the price of oil and a reduction in demand for materials from other countries.

Pollution is also one of the most severe problems in the waste recycling industry. If toxic components are present in the processed material, these components may remain after the processing process and end up in the newly created product. The most important thing is that the presence of toxins and harmful particles in the recycled material in some cases cannot be noticed immediately. Moreover, all people know that not only during the disposal of various wastes but a large amount of pollutants is also released. They are also released from the exhaust gases of cars that transport garbage to recycling stations or landfills. Due to the increase in the number of garbage, the number of transport that deals with its distribution also increases. By adding more trucks to this area, organizations increase air pollution.

Among the negative aspects of waste processing for the state are high financial costs at the initial stages of conducting production. Moreover, later, the land plots on which processing plants were organized became unsuitable for any activity and the residence of people and animals. Studies also note that most products made from recycled materials are short-lived, given that the production process of these products can become quite expensive. After all, the environment is also suffering due to the fact that the procedure for recycling garbage and waste has not yet become widespread in many, especially in economically underdeveloped countries.

On the other hand, recycling has several positive sides. Thus, the state provides material support for industrial enterprises that have expressed a desire to contribute to the purification of the planet from waste. Tierney (2015) emphasized that the environmental benefits of recycling come chiefly from reducing the need to manufacture new products  less mining, drilling, and logging. (para. 18). Moreover, significant funds are allocated to combat harmful emissions into the environment. Apart from reduced greenhouse gas emissions, recycling due to the fact that a large amount of raw materials is processed gives states the opportunity to stabilize and improve their production capacities. As another comic advantage, we can highlight the fact that large enterprises make large profits since there is practically no competition in the market.

To solve the problem of using a large amount of transport, thereby reducing exhaust gases, recycling all the garbage together was proposed. This is also due to the fact that the demand for processed products is multiplying, and enterprises cannot cope with it. That is why it is proposed to collect all the garbage together and sort it directly at the recycling plant. However, such a decision does not have positive consequences. Such additional work requires new equipment, and the pollution will be transferred to those factories that will produce such equipment. This problem also affects the ratio and predominance of the amount of processed material over the quality. At the moment, most organizations focus on achieving the highest speed of task completion. Thus, even more, significant problems are caused for the planet.

In conclusion, with the rapid development of society and the industrial industry, the problem of waste and garbage processing is particularly acute in modern society. This problem has become severe due to its harmful and irreversible impact on the environment. The evidence for such opinion can be found in the article The Reign of Recycling by John Tierney. Moreover, utilization of waste is still only a small part of refuse disposal. It is not fully used in most industries, even more so in countries with a weak economic situation.

Reference

Tierney, J. (2015). The Reign of recycling.The New York Times. Web.

Introduction

Through the analysis of Gupta and Gangopadhyay, it was noted that food waste was one of the leading preventable contributors towards the sheer amount of trash that winds up in many of the todays landfills (Gupta and Gangopadhyay, 14). It is defined as preventable since through its very nature as a biodegradable substance; it could be put towards other uses aside from merely being a by-product of human consumption.

Do note though that studies such as those by Kelleher explain that the nitrogen released by food waste is actually a wasted resource that could be put to better aside from merely letting it escape into the atmosphere or letting it languish in a garbage dump (Kelleher, 36). Kelleher explains that nitrogen is an important component in soil health as well as can be utilized as a method of energy production.

Mirabella and Sala describe modern-day landfills as a wasted asset since the amount of food waste that goes into them could be utilized to power homes or develop nutrient-rich soil that could aid in creating vegetable gardens for families or in providing cheap fertilizer for farmers (Mirabella and Sala, 28). It is based on this that this paper will delve issue of nitrogen being released from food waste and how it can be put to better use.

Environmental Benefits

The recycling of food waste has environmental benefits related to the decrease in the amount of garbage in local landfills, protection of underground aquifers as well as ensuring the continued health of the soil (Emerson, 25). The inherent problem with food waste is that it contributes significantly to the amount of pollution found in many of todays landfills.

Combined with the fact that the tainted liquids from food waste have a very real possibility of getting into local aquifers through the soil, it can be seen that it is necessary to establish some method of addressing such an issue. This can be done through home-based methods of recycling and proper consumption of biological food products. Emerson explains that more than 60% of modern-day processed food goes to waste since it is not properly consumed by grocery shoppers (Emerson, 25).

These products often end up in the landfill after they have passed their expiration date. It is based on this that in order to reduce the amount of food waste in todays landfills, todays shoppers should only buy the products that they can consume within the immediate future rather than allow such items to expire within their cupboards.

Soil Benefits

Since food waste is easily biodegradable, it acts as an effective means of producing a cheap and sustainable fertilizer for households and farms. First and foremost, what must be understood is that the process of decomposition helps to break down food waste into its basic properties, which enables it to be easily absorbed into the soil.

Decomposition not only results in the release of nitrogen, which is a necessary component for creating healthy plants but also helps to create a mush like substance that is rich in minerals, vitamins, and healthy bacteria that aids in creating a fertile soil mixture (Comber and Thieme, 1197). Taking these factors into consideration, some of the potential practices that could be implemented to put food waste to good use would be to create compost piles.

A compost pile can be described as a collection of different items that are in the process of decomposition. Through such a process, natural fertilizer has created that aids in the growth of a variety of plant species. As such, in order to decrease the reliance of households and farms alike on artificial fertilizers, it is recommended that a shift towards the use of compost piles is to be implemented.

Not only would this help to reduce the amount of food waste in garbage dumps, but it would also help farmers to save money on the amount of fertilizer and water that they use on their crops.

Health Benefits

Some of the benefits that come with recycling food waste come in the form of preventing bad doors from landfills, enabling the creation of natural recycling and promoting the proliferation of beneficial soil-based organisms. One of the problems with allowing the current wasteful practices involving food waste to continue is that it promotes the spread of foul-smelling odors from landfills.

Not only that, farmers often utilize a variety of chemicals in the nutrient mixes that they give to their craps that actually kill beneficial soil-based organisms (Comber and Thieme, 1197). It is based on this that by reducing the amount of food waste the enters into our local ecosystem, we can help to reduce the increase in the size of todays landfills as well as create a better environment that is more beneficial for soil-based organisms, such as worms, that promote good soil health.

Conclusion

Overall, this paper has shown that food waste is one of the leading preventable contributors towards the sheer amount of trash that winds up in many of todays landfills. As such, since it is preventable, we should act in limiting its proliferation through recycling and more natural methods of crop fertilization.

Works Cited

Comber, Rob, and Anja Thieme. Designing Beyond Habit: Opening Space For Improved Recycling And Food Waste Behaviors Through Processes Of Persuasion, Social Influence And Aversive Affect. Personal & Ubiquitous Computing 17.6 (2013): 1197-1210. Print.

Emerson, Dan. Federal Agencies Get With The Food Recycling Program. Biocycle 54.6 (2013): 24-25. Print.

Gupta, Rahul, and Sumita Gupta Gangopadhyay. Urban Food Security Through Urban Agriculture And Waste Recycling: Some Lessons For India. Vikalpa: The Journal For Decision Makers 38.3 (2013): 13-22. Print.

Kelleher, Maria. What Is Waste Food?. Biocycle 54.8 (2013): 36. Print.

Mirabella, Nadia and Serenella Sala. Current Options For The Valorization Of Food Manufacturing Waste: A Review. Journal Of Cleaner Production 65. (2014): 28-41. Print.

Recycling is rarely seen as a service in which individual buyers are likely to be interested, which can explain the low enthusiasm for recycling among general audiences. Therefore, the service that Best Buy recently provided can be regarded as an ingenious way of encouraging people to recycle by offering an approach that specifically targets their needs and does not inconvenience them in the slightest (Solomon et al., 2019). Due to the focus on the requirements and demands of the audience, particularly the plight to make the process of recycling more accessible for the general population, Best Buys new service is a prime example of form utility.

Indeed, according to the article by Vembar (2022), in its attempt to promote the recycling of electronic devices and gadgets among intended audiences, Best Buy has done everything imaginable to simplify the process. As a result, the services offered by the company are perceived as an opportunity rather than a burden by the general population. Specifically, the fact that Best Buys customers can request the services and order them as they purchase items at the shop embodies the companys effort to cater to customers every possible need (Solomon et al., 2019). The increased ease of recycling facilitated by the service in question aligns with the concept of form utility as the product or service design defined by customer-specific needs (Vembar, 2022). Therefore, the recycling service offered by Best Buy falls in the category of form utility. Creating the premise where customers cannot possibly consider recycling a burden but, instead, are encouraged to see it as a rare and, therefore, useful opportunity, the service that best Buy provides meets the public demand. Consequently, the significance of the service should be interpreted as a form of utility.

Reference

Solomon, M. R., Marshall, G. W., Stuart, E. W., Barnes, B. R., Mitchell, V. W., & Tabrizi, W. (2019). Marketing: Real people, real decisions. Pearson UK.

Vembar, K. (2022). Best Buy just launched a $200 home pick-up recycling program. Is it necessary? Retail Dive.

Waste or used tire is a mixture of rubber fillers bound with giant blenders. A typical tire combines 30 ingredients during its production phase (Ahmet 23). The features of tire production include ply, belt, shoulder, spie, & grove, beads, sidewall, read and rib. The production process combines different rubbers extracts called Banbury mixers to produce a dark rubber mix. Consequently, the mixture is then cooled in a special mill to improve its composition. The tire features are threaded into its properties to give a fished product (Kurt 18). Consequently, the finished product is compressed and cured with rubber molds to engrave the manufacturers identity and brand differentiation. However, the life cycle generates concern for environmentalist. Used tires cause environmental hazards and pollution if not properly managed. The effects of these challenges influenced the recycle measures of environmentalists and standard control agents (Mojtowicz 8).

As a result, several recycling designs have been invented to reduce the health challenges of used tires. The procedures include collection, transporting, sorting, shredding, steel removal, grinding, testing, and distribution. However, these methods can be expensive compared to the compaction machine and clamping system. This report will describe the aims, technical information, problems, design concept, recycling procedures, and health benefits of recycled tires. The paper will explain the features of tire compaction and clamping system.

Aims and Objectives

Tires are manufactured with rubber, steel, and synthetic materials under pressure and gravity. As a result, the product becomes difficult to manage under normal conditions. The aims of the tire design machine include time efficiency, cost reduction, hazard control, raw materials availability, and waste control. However, the paper will focus on the tire compaction machine and clamping system Thus, an effective clamp and the compaction machine will reduce the menace of tire combustion.

Benefits of a Tire Compaction Machine

The products of tire conversion include mouse pads, rubber mulch, car mats, carpet underlay, parking curbs, speed bumps, roof shingles, and soaker hoses. Thus, an effective design of the tire compaction machine will save oil, energy, reduces pollution, influence reuse, improve landfill mass, reduce health problems, and emissions (Murugan 2760).

Technical Information

The compaction machine uses force, size, and pressure design to recycle waste tires. However, an effective clamp system must accommodate the size load and speed markings of used tires. The paper will summarize the size, load index, and speed markings of different tires. Tire production stipulates safety requirement using specific recommendations. The technical information about tire includes size, pressure, speed, load index, and force. As a result, manufacturers engrave the information on each product as required by law. The information provides guidance and tire options for different vehicles. This paper will summarize the load index, speed markings, and pressure chart of various tire products.

Table 1: Speed ratings

Please note that the speed ratings indicated the load capacity per tire. Thus, the value of each speed marking must be referenced to standard guidelines.

Table 2: Load index of tire

The load index measures the tire capacity to resist pressure, force, and speed.

Table 3: Tire size chart

An example for 13 rim tire

Problem to Solve

To mitigate the effects of used tires in the environment, tire compaction and clamp design are recommended to solve the problem. The effect waste tires include pollution, health challenges, fire outbreak, storage space, transportation cost, and human safety.

Design Concept: Compaction Machine and Clamp System

The punch and die device uses pressure, and forces to bear and hold waste tires. The features of the punching device include a stripper, tire punch and the die. However, the clamp machine maintains a punch sequence and selection to improve the cut registration. The die punching machines can be used for die cutting, rubber shredding, embossing, and creasing jobs. Thus, waste tires are clamped and pressurized into various sized to ease transportation. The punch design depends on the manufacturers modification. However, manufacturers embed staples, clamps, flywheels, and cutters in the punch design to improve performance. The punch design can be mechanical, electronic, or pneumatic (Owen and Mervyn 790).

The design concept depends on its use and concept. However, the bulk density of each machine determines its use. Thus, an efficient compaction machine must pressurize and shred many tires to reduce labor time. The design is controlled by replaceable baled to boost efficiency. Consequently, the waste tires are mounted on a motorized piston which is driven by a pneumatic machine (Ozden 893). The cutter is placed inside the clamp wheel, which rotates at intervals to improve the cutting edge. The die section of the clamping system engages the cutting edge to regulate the pistons balance. However, the piston mechanism engages the pressurized rotation of the die to reinforce the cutting motion of the punching machine.

Health and Safety

Tire shredding require careful monitoring and implementation program. The tire components can cause health problems to the operator if not properly managed. As a result, the operator must wear a protective vest to avoid shredding hazards. Consequently, the synthetic components released during cutting must be cleaned to avoid environmental pollution. The machine components must be cleaned and lubricated daily to avoid rusting. The work area should have proper ventilation to avoid toxic inhalation and heart attack. However, a safety aid box must be labeled and position at strategic points.

Works Cited

Ahmet, Turer 2012, Recycling of Scrap Tires. Web.

Kurt, Reschner 2011, Scrap Tire Recycling; A Summary of Prevalent Disposal and Recycling Methods. Web.

Mojtowicz, Auisch. Pyrolysis of scrap tires: Can it be profitable? Web.

Murugan, Suram. The Use of Tyre Pyrolysis Oil in Diesel Engines. Waste Management 28.12 (2008): 2743-2749. Print.

Owen, Rosenboom and Mervyn Kowalsky. Reversed In-Plane Cyclic Behavior of Posttensioned Clay Brick Masonry Walls. The Journal of Structural Engineering ASCE 130.5 (2004): 787-798. Print.

Ozden, Ben. Seismic base isolation using low-cost Scrap Tire Pads (STP). Materials and Structures 43.6 (2013): 891908. Print.

Introduction

History of Batteries (Types  Production  Consumption) in Europe, the USA and China

One of the most revolutionary ideas at the time of the invention was the battery. A battery is defined as a device where energy is stored and delivered through electrical means. Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery in the early 1800s. Based on his theory of the Voltaic pile, Volta was able to produce a steady supply of electricity. The unit of measurement, Volt, is named after him in honor of his work that largely contributed to the field of electricity. The metals used in his first battery were copper and zinc. Volta noted that there was electrical interaction when two different plates of metal were submerged in an acidic solution and in close proximity to each other.

Further work was carried out by John Fredrick Danielle who constructed a multiple plate battery that was made up of both copper and zinc plates in combination with copper and zinc sulfates. This battery was used in the early days in the operation of many devices such as the telegraph and doorbells. This was later followed by the invention of another type of battery in 1859, the lead-acid battery. Early batteries could not supply enough voltage for a continuous period. This led to fluctuations in the level of voltages supplied and the use of batteries had to be limited to small-scale electric devices. Currently, the number of battery types has significantly increased. Modern people use zinc-carbon, silver oxide, nickel-metal hydride, alkaline, zinc-air, small sealed lead acid, and many other types of batteries. More generally, two basic types of batteries are primary (these can be used only once) and secondary (these ones can be reused).

The production of batteries was intensified during and after the World War I where the batteries were used to power small devices such as torches and radios. The development of radio and TV Broadcasting also helped to accelerate the production of the batteries as battery-operated televisions could be operated from home. At present, batteries are produced all over the world and consumed by a large number of people. China is the leader in batteries manufacturing, whereas the United States and the countries of the European Union have the highest rates of batteries consumption.

What Is a Battery?

Composition

The battery is composed of plates made of lead and lead dioxide. The two plates are both immersed in concentrated sulfuric acid. The reactions that take place in the battery are completely reversible, which makes it possible to reuse some batteries. The reactions involve the combination of sulfate that leads to the creation of lead sulfate whereby one electron is added. When the battery discharges, there is a build-up of PBso4 plus water in the acid giving out a characteristic voltage of about 2V. By combining six cells, one is able to harness the characteristic 12V that one normally finds in the Lead acid battery. When compared to the Zinc Carbon battery, recharge is easy as the reactions are completely reversible. The reaction in a zinc carbon battery involves no giving back of hydrogen into the electrolyte; thus, the recharging becomes difficult.

Design

Any battery, irrespective of its type or kind, has a case the main function of which is to protect electrolyte and all the battery components. Each cell in the battery has a separate reservoir separated by the walls in the case. All battery cases are different: Some battery cases are made from translucent plastic and the electrolyte level is visible through the case, which allows the electrolyte level to be checked without removing the cell vent caps. When the case is made from another material, the lifetime of a battery can be defined based on the work of the device.

Lifetime

The lifetime of non-rechargeable batteries varies depending on the type of battery. When it comes to estimating the lifetime of rechargeable batteries, it should be remembered that these batteries are prone to faster discharge than their primary counterparts. The lifetime of such batteries is measured in lifecycles which is the rate of charging and discharging that the battery can undergo. Degradation of the cell normally happens when the electrolyte that is contained within the battery shifts away from the electrodes or in some other cases where the electrode is eaten away or becomes corroded. In the case of most of the batteries, the thicker the plates that make up the electrode, the longer lifespan the battery will enjoy. The lifetime of batteries can be extended if they are exposed to a lower temperature; this tends to slow the chemical reactions that the battery undergoes.

Size

Among the most common battery sizes, there are AA, AAAA, C, D, N, and 9-volt batteries. They all have a cylindrical shape but differ in height and diameter. Thus, AA battery is 50.5 mm in height and 14.5 mm in diameter; AAAA is 42.5 mm in height and 8.3 mm in diameter; C battery has a height of 50.0 mm and diameter of 26.2 mm, while D batterys height is 61.5 mm and its diameter is 34.2 mm. The smallest of all is the N battery the height of which is 29.35 mm and the diameter is 11.95 mm. Finally, 9-volt battery is 48.5 mm in height and 26 by 17.5 mm in diameter.

Re-Think for Batteries

The Importance of Batteries

In the operation of devices, such as laptops, mobile phones and other devices, the battery has become our friend as we cannot operate these devices without power supply. The case is especially true when we are talking about portable devices. The use of batteries is not limited to portable devices only, but also to large scale forms of engineering such as ships, airplanes and automotive cars. The batteries are also used as back up when the power from the national grid cuts off or becomes messed due to other factors. The research has shown that the battery industry contributed about $ 48 billion in America alone; this shows how enormous this field is.

Choose the best one (quality)

Among all the types of batteries, there are only several ones that can be called the best. Among these, there are lithium-ion, nickel-metal-hydride, and lead-acid batteries. Lithium-ion battery has the lowest weight and high-energy density. It is most often used in medical devices owing to its durability. Nickel-metal-hydride battery also has high energy density; this type of battery does not contain any toxic metals. Lastly, lead-acid battery is the most widespread; its weight is low and it is quite economical. The choice of the battery should depend on its application and the time which a device is expected to serve.

Recharge (Reuse)

Rechargeable batteries are used in portable devices and in tools that require uninterruptible power supply. When compared to primary batteries, rechargeable batteries undergo low self discharge rate. This means that the battery is able to sustain up to 70% of the said rated capacity. Rechargeable batteries are used not only in devices, but also in different applications, such as the power grid energy storage. In this application, rechargeable batteries are used for load leveling where the energy is collected by various energy sources; those can be solar panels used at night. Their use helps to reduce costs and is considered to be more environmentally friendly.

The Effect on Environment (Toxicity)

Batteries have come under fire from environmental activists as one of the major contributors into pollution. It has been found out that the metals used in the production of the batteries, such as lead, are toxic. Another factor is that used batteries contain electronic waste the recycling of which is extremely difficult. Several laws have been put in place to govern the recycling and disposal of the batteries. With a vast majority of citizens of all the countries using batteries, it has become a major concern to take care of the environment with the numerous amounts of batteries that are being disposed of all the time.

Recycling of batteries

Collection (Methods of Collection in the UK and the USA)

Collection of used batteries takes place according to different schemes. The matter is that recycling of the batteries has to take place in a way that would be not harmful for the environment. In addition, some of the batteries may discharge toxins if they are not properly recycled. This is why in the UK, for instance, a number of local authorities now collect waste household batteries as part of multi-material kerbside collections, such as the well-publicized Bristol scheme. As far as the USA is concerned, the country also implements a number of Battery Collection programs (quite often cooperating with Canada at this). Apart from this, used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones are collected in frames of free programs and then shipped for recycling.

Most Common Processes in Battery Recycling

The processes in battery recycling are numerous. Most of them are aimed at discovering different toxic materials in the used batteries. Among these materials, there is lead, mercury, plastics, nickel, metal content, acid, etc. One of the most common processes is heat treatment. This process is used for discovering lead, acid, and plastics in the used batteries. Similar thermal techniques are used for the discovery of cadmium in Nickel-cadmium batteries. Moreover, vacuum-thermal treatment is also one of the widely used processes for battery recycling. It is mostly used for recycling batteries that contain mercury. Finally, some of the batteries are reprocessed mechanically, by means of smelting, or thermal-metallurgical processes.

Hydrometallurgy Process (Description and Process Diagram)

Hydrometallurgy process is also widely used for recycling the batteries. It is used for battery crashing with the purpose of extracting some components (especially from the lead-acid batteries). This process is carried out in several phases (crushing and powdering ones). First, the battery is crushed and then powdered; after this, dry process is used to separate grains with the help of the screening or magnetic methods. This all takes place without water and under low temperature, which minimizes the possibility of the toxins getting into the sewer or air. The following diagram presents the hydrometallurgy process of recycling the batteries:

Pyrometallurgy Process (Description and Process Diagram)

Pyrometallurgical process for battery recycling is based on thermal treatment of batteries for separating certain components from them. A definite metal can be discovered from a battery if the latter is heated to a definite temperature at which the desired metal vaporizes. Basically, this is a mere distillation process. After the recovery of necessary metals from the used battery, hydrometallurgical process takes place. The following diagram presents pyrometallurgical process:

Classification of Battery Recycling Technologies around the World

There are three main recycling technologies used around the world. One of them is artificial separation technology. It consists in cutting the used battery and separating the components of this battery from each other. The remnants are then put into a chemical solution which allows separating some other materials. Another technology is the pyro-cycling one. As in case with the pyrometallurgy process, the battery is first broken and then heated to a rather high temperature at which certain metals and substances vaporize. Finally, the third technology used is the wet-recycling technology. This technology involves leaching to which the used batteries are exposed. This is the least expensive technology for battery recycling.

Battery legislation, collection and recycling in other developed countries

In the United States, the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act is used to regulate and enforce the ban of sale of mercury batteries or batteries that contain mercury as electrolyte. Disposal of batteries is also regulated in states using different legislatures. For example, in New York, batteries cannot be disposed in a form of solid waste.

The countries of the EU are also quite active in issuing legislation as for battery recycling. Already in 1991the Union has introduced a Directive on Batteries and Accumulators which required all the batteries containing more than 25mg of mercury (except alkaline manganese batteries), 0.025% of cadmium by weight and 0.4% lead by weight to be collected separately from household waste for recycling or special disposal.¹² In 1998, this directive has been amended; this time the permissible heavy metal limits were reduced and marketing of the batteries that contained definite levels of mercury was prohibited. Currently, the directive is also experiencing amendments; the EU and the Member States are trying to reduce the permissible heavy metal limits even more, to make the recycling of the batteries more effective, and to place a ban on incineration of any industrial batteries. This shows how much the countries of the EU strive to preserve the environment and make the recycling of the used batteries safe. Moreover, this increases the contribution of each of these countries into preservation of the environment and health of the worlds population.

Application of Batteries

Electrically Powered Vehicles

These are vehicles that do not use the conventional fuel for power. Such vehicles use batteries that are in the form of hydrogen cells. Electrically powered vehicles are touted as cars of the future due to the low carbon emission that is emitted to the ozone and their being environmentally friendly. The other cars generate their power from fossil fuel. Electrically powered vehicles run on the lead-acid batteries. This type of batteries is the most convenient in case with these vehicles due to its low cost and high availability. Besides, lately re-engineered lead-acid batteries have higher power density and increased longevity.

Mobile phones

Batteries are used in mobile phones and other mobile devices due to the portability factor. In mobile phones, the most widely used batteries are Lithium-ion ones; this is due to their weight to power ratio. Several years ago, nickel metal-hydride batteries were the most popular in case with the mobile phones owing to their low weight and small size. However, due to high voltage depression, they were replaced by the Lithium-ion ones which, in addition, are even lighter. At present, the majority of the mobile-phone manufacturers prefer using lithium-polymer batteries the shape of which can be changed in accordance with the shape of the mobile phone.

Laptops

Laptops are used everywhere and they demand more power than mobile phones. Batteries normally used to power laptops are Lithium-ion batteries. The batteries are much stronger than those that are manufactured for mobile phones. The researchers are also coming up with the ways to reduce the energy that is wasted in batteries. It is known that not all the energy produced by the cell gets used by the device; much of this energy is wasted in form of heat energy. This energy is also a limiting factor when you are operating devices as they will not operate at optimum level. By getting rid of the heat, the devices are able to operate well. Apart from the Lithium-ion batteries, laptop manufacturers also use Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries. As for the Nickel-Cadmium batteries, they are used rather rarely because, due to the problems with memory, the batteries not always get fully recharged. This is why Nickel-Metal Hydride and Lithium-Ion batteries remain the most widely used in the manufacturing of the laptops.

Advancing battery technology

New types of battery

With the development of technologies, new and better forms of the energy started to emerge. New types of batteries are much smaller than the earlier versions, which allows manufacturing smaller and lighter electronic devices. Power that can be derived from these new batteries is ever increasing. The paper battery, for instance, consists of nanotubes and nanowires made up of silver due to its highly conductive nature. Moreover, research labs have come up with the ways to use the bacteria as the source of power. Some new types of batteries are based even on the decay of nuclear power. Such batteries are claimed to be 10 types more powerful than the usual ones; the same is said about the air-fueled battery that is capable of unbelievably large energy storing. All this will soon dictate new ways into how we will be able to store and harness.

Improving battery efficiency

Batteries have long been considered as a storage unit and they have served mankind in the best way possible. Despite the toxic effect caused by the batteries, degradation of the environment can be reduced with better disposal of the batteries and newer forms of technology that can lead to less pollution. With the advancement of technologies, pollution is likely to be reduced. There have been advancements in green energy and we have also seen the rise of solar cell battery that can be found to lead to cleaner energy. Lighter batteries are being developed and the students at MIT have recently come up with battery that is in the form of a paper. The technology used to drive this technology is nanotechnology

New types of power supply

Apart from the batteries, modern manufacturers of electronic devices have invented other types of power supply. AC adapter is one of these types. It is mostly known as an adapter block; it consists of a small transformer (possibly with diodes) surrounded by a constant magnetic field which remains stable unless the adapter is unplugged. One more new type of power supply is uninterruptable power supply that can generate energy from more than two sources at once. The load can hardly ever experience interruption because the storage battery always reserves some power and is ready to work in case of a dropout. Finally, there is also programmable power supply where the output voltage can be easily changed remotely. Some of these power supplies can be board-mounted, while there also exist floor- and wall-mounted ones.

Conclusion

Modern people can hardly imagine their lives without batteries because everything they have at hand has either usual or rechargeable batteries. Types and kinds of batteries are numerous and new varieties of them continue emerging. However, the biggest problem the world is preoccupied with is the recycling of the used batteries. New legislation has to be issued to make the recycling of the used batteries more environmentally friendly and less harmful for the worlds population.

Bibliography

Barak, M, Electrochemical power sources: primary and secondary batteries, IET, Washington DC, 2005.

Call2Recycle, Recycling at work, 2010, Web.

Collins, D, Batteries research and development in non-mechanical electrical power sources: proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium held at Bournemouth, Pergamon, Bournemouth, 2004.

David, H, Recycling of consumer dry cell batteries, William Andrew, Scotland, 2005.

Erjavec, J, TechOne: Basic automotive service and maintenance, Cengage Learning, New York, 2004.

Jennifer, C, Taking out the trash: a no-nonsense guide to recycling, Island Press, Chicago, 2005.

John, S, Your complete guide to renewable energy technologies and sustainable living: Real Goods solar living book, Gaiam Energy Tech, Inc., New York, 2005.

Lamar, L, Storage battery engineering: a practical treatise for engineers, Oxford Publishers, London, 2008.

Linden, D & Reddy, T, Handbook of batteries, McGraw Hill, New York, 2002.

Minami, T, Solid state ionic for batteries, Springer, Michigan, 2005.

Ronald, D. Understanding batteries, Royal Society of Chemistry, Great Britain, 2006.

Rosch, W, Winn L. Rosch hardware bible, Que Publishing, New York, 2003.

Samuel, L, Battery hazards and accident prevention, Springer, Michigan, 2004.

Steven, H, Major industrial products with the greatest environmental pollution levels, Spear Books, Ohio, 2006.

Waste Online, Battery recycling information sheet, 2005, Web.

Recycling is the process of making waste materials from industries useful through re-using. Recycling in the refinery industry; helps to conserve the environment as these industries produce wastes like gases which if not properly managed, pollute the environment and human existence in particular. The wastes from refinery industries form a problem because when inappropriately disposed of; they can explode, corrode, react to or act like toxins, posing a threat to the environment and causing damage to the ecosystem supporting life that includes; water, land, and the air. These wastes kill marine life in the rivers and other water bodies when released into them. The gases produced destroy the ozone layer resulting in climate change thus droughts and famine in the world due to the lack of rainfall (Porter, 2002) (Tierney, 2006) (Guilan, 2008).

The nature of the wastes to be recycled varies from more to less hazardous forms. For instance, in some refinery industries, the amount of hazardous solid waste produced is estimated to be 55units out of a total of 4061 units of waste produced. Most of the hazardous waste is generated from gas extraction; while the less hazardous or non-hazardous waste is produced from the activities involved in oil production. The waste materials produced; should be characterized according to their origins of supply, classes, categories, industrial activities, and weather; they are in solid, gaseous, or liquid form (Lavee, 2007).

Different methods are used in the recycling of waste materials from refinery industries; among them being, where waste containing sludge is separated into oil and water content through heating or subjection of the two contents to heat; in order to come up with coke and cooking liquid. The main purpose of water is to satisfy the coking cycle; sludge that is denser settles at the bottom of the storage tank, leaving the less dense compounds above. This method is helpful in generating a less volatile coke compound. During this process, the fumes produced are polluting the environment; and are also capable of harming individuals exposed to them. This process is expensive, as a lot of heat energy is required to separate the different compounds. On the other hand, this method prevents waste oil from contaminating water; which directly pollutes the water bodies to which they are channeled. This process is also helpful; in the formation of less volatile coke; and still producing big amounts of sludge (Gunter, 2007) (Harlow & Morgan, 2002).

Large volumes of wastes are produced by refinery industries making it difficult to recycle them. As a result, their recycling process is expensive; thus the industries may result in inappropriate waste management that results in pollution. These expenses are associated with the extensive coking machines and large furnaces required; making the overall process costly. On the other hand, recycling creates job opportunities for the persons who are employed in running these recycling plants; as well as delaying the losses that would result from the exhaustion of these resources, due to their overuse. The other advantage of recycling is that; it consumes less energy compared to that used in producing fresh resources. As a result, the overall expense and costs incurred on energy provision are reduced (Bonnie, 2006).

The reason for the failure of recycling mechanisms; results from the polluting effect of gases produced during this process; the high costs involved; and the unfelt reduction in improper waste management. Due to this phenomenon; it is evident that a way forward needs to be implemented to realize the full potential of waste recycling. As a corrective measure; environmentally friendly and resource-saving technologies, need to be employed in helping reduce the far-reaching effects of disposing of useful waste. Attempts to achieve full recycling of hazardous waste; should be made to reduce the instances of pollution that result from their release. However, environmentally friendly recycling methods should be sought; in ensuring that only those methods that consume less energy while producing less smoke should be adopted. Finally, refinery industries should come up with strategies to recycle and properly manage all the recyclable wastes (Vigso, 2004).

References

Bonnie, D., 2006. Rewarding Recyclers, and Finding Gold in the Garbage. New York: New York Times.

Guilan, C., 2008. Reusing and recycling. Heineman Educational Books.

Gunter, M., 2007. Do Economists Reach a Conclusion on Household and Municipal Recycling? PDF

Harlow, R. & Morgan, S., 2002. Garbage and recycling. Kingfisher Press.

Lavee, D., 2007. Is Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Economically Efficient? Environmental Management. Green Design Institute Publications.

Porter, R., 2002. The economics of waste. Resources for the Future.RFF Press

Vigo, D., 2004. Deposits on single-use containers  a social cost-benefit analysis of the Danish deposit system for single-use drink containers. Waste Management & Research 22 (6): 477.

Introduction

The proper use of available resources and efficient initiatives on their recycling is the key to preserving the environment. In this case, the applicable methods differ depending on the type of materials and other factors, but the most significant aspect is not the procedure but peoples awareness regarding the need to act. Therefore, the paper aims to present one of the issues of this nature, which is paper waste in offices and propose a medium for informing employees regarding their influence on this ecological challenge.

Problem Statement

The work of present-day organizations and businesses heavily depends on the paper. Whether it is used for printed newspapers or manufacturing contracts, the companies keep wasting this material. The problem arises when the statistics concerning its production are evaluated. For example, according to researchers, each weeks Sunday papers of the New York Times require 75,000 trees (Ferguson). Considering this fact, it is easy to imagine what the misuse of this resource might mean for the environment. In turn, recycling stemming from environmental consciousness can help avoid harm. As per the data provided by scholars, the attention to this matter in the past could have saved about 26 million trees per year only by recycling newspapers (Taylor). Therefore, it is vital to take immediate action in this respect for the well-being of humanity in the future.

The described situation should be viewed as a problem because it implies severe consequences for both animals and people. The former suffers from the loss of habitat since 80% of them live in the forest (Ferguson). This outcome indicates a crash in biodiversity and the lack of other resources, such as soil or clear water (Ferguson). Consequently, the threat is posed to the security of humans since bears, foxes, and other species go out searching for food (Ferguson). In addition, the neglect of this issue contributes to climate change and the creation of an environment unsuitable for living. Hence, addressing this challenge is essential because of its connection to other serious obstacles to survival.

Overview of the Project

The Objective of the Project

The principal objective of the project is to raise awareness among people regarding their contribution to the preservation of the environment. More specifically, it aims to explain the impact of improper use of paper in offices in the field and motivate them to take action in this regard. As follows from the analysis above, the situation in this area remains critical, and the problem is not new. It means that the decisions and initiatives of environmentalists and political activists in the past did not provide sufficient results and were inefficient in combatting this challenge. In turn, a change might come in the form of a shift in peoples consciousness in relation to the case under consideration. It will be underpinned by their desire to assist worldwide organizations in eliminating the identified threats deriving from paper waste and thereby improve the quality of their lives in the long run.

How It Can Raise Awareness About the Problem

The practical implementation of the project will help raise peoples awareness of the problem in several ways. First, citizens do not seem to be familiar with the statistics presented above, and the provision of this information will be beneficial for enhancing their understanding of the actual situation. It will attract their attention to the outcomes of paper waste for humanity as a whole and motivate them to learn more about the consequences. Second, the explanation of the role of this issue in other spheres of life and the threat to the availability of essential resources will contribute to citizens intention to participate in corresponding organizations. The seeming lack of connection between the misuse of paper and other fields does not allow to link them in their perspectives and thereby adds to the overall inactivity of the population. In turn, once they see the harm caused to different areas, it will be easier to convince them of the importance of immediate measures.

Target Audience

The target audience for the project is employees of different companies. Their selection is conditional upon the fact that most paper waste in the United States comes from the daily operations of various enterprises (Ferguson). It makes the introduction of the plan in this setting feasible since the awareness of these people concerning their individual contributions to the matter can make a difference. It is clear that it is impossible to refuse to use paper for documents at this stage. Meanwhile, the shift in attitudes can reduce the number of trees destroyed for this purpose. In addition, the presentation of practices allowing to avoid complications in this regard will be a good complement to the initiative in the future.

Medium

The medium selected for the project is a series of short animated videos comprised of particular elements. They will start with the scenes in which office employees use paper improperly, for example, making airplanes out of old reports or drawing cartoons. These episodes will be contrasted by the typical ways of waste, such as using only one side of the paper when sending faxes, followed by the question: Do you see the difference? Afterward, brief facts containing statistics as shown above and other data will be demonstrated. In this way, the workers will start perceiving the two ways of improper use of this material as equivalent in terms of the outcome. Consequently, their behavior will be automatically readjusted as they will start to understand the importance of their actions and their effects on the environment. These results will be underpinned by the development of appropriate practices by the managers in the future.

Practical Implementation of the Idea

The creation of videos is insufficient for ensuring the required outcomes regarding the change in peoples perceptions of paper waste. Hence, this step should be complemented by deciding where they should be demonstrated to employees. This part of the project depends on the presence of screens and other technological solutions for showing the episodes. Moreover, they should be located in such a way that workers could unintentionally see them during the day, and the information could be acquired in a natural way. It will be beneficial in terms of efficiency since they will feel no pressure regarding the need to learn something which is not directly related to their duties in the workplace.

Conclusion

To summarize, the proposed project for increasing the awareness of companies and their employees concerning paper waste and the elimination of corresponding threats is feasible from the perspective of the outcomes of this issues neglect. They include the overall harm to the environment, people, and animals combined with the lack of essential resources and security issues in the long run. Since the actions of environmentalists were insufficient for overcoming the challenge, change is needed in peoples perceptions and, consequently, motivations. Thus, the chosen medium, short animated videos, will efficiently address this task in the identified setting.

Works Cited

Ferguson, Anara. The Problem with Paper. Busch Systems, 2017, Web.

Taylor, Sally. Negative Effects of Paper Wastes. Sciencing, 2019, Web.