Waste Management Outlook for Qatar

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Qatar is counted among the world’s fastest growing economies as well as richest countries in the world. The rapid industrialization of the country and high population growth generates a lot of wastes in the form of municipal wastes, construction & demolition debris, industrial wastes etc. Annual solid waste generation in Qatar has crossed 2.5 million tons, which corresponds to daily waste generation of more than 7,000 tons per day. The country has one of the highest per capita waste generation worldwide which ranges from 1.6 to 1.8 kg per day.

Solid Waste Management Scenario

Solid waste is mainly comprised of organic materials while the rest of the waste is made up of recyclables like glass, paper, metals and plastics. Waste is collected from across the country and predominantly disposed off in landfills. There are three landfills in Qatar; Umm Al-Afai for bulky and domestic waste, Rawda Rashed for construction and demolition waste, and Al-Krana for sewage wastes. This method of waste disposal by landfill is not a practical solution for a country like Qatar where land availability is limited and only 8% of the waste is recycled.

One of the promising developments in solid waste management sector in recent years has been the creation of Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) at Mesaieed. This centre is designed to maximize recovery of resources and energy from waste by installing state-of-the-art technologies for separation, pre-processing, mechanical and organic recycling, and waste-to-energy and composting technologies. It will treat 1550 tons of waste per day, and is expected to generate enough power for in-house requirements, and supply a surplus of 34.4 MW to the national grid. 

Government Strategy

The Qatar Government has identified the need for better waste management and has made plans to address this issue in Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016. According to this plan the Government proposes to contain the levels of waste generated by households, commercial sites and industry and to recycle much more of the waste generated. Accordingly, the plan prioritizes actions to reduce the pressure on the environment, with the most preferable goal being the avoidance of waste. Where waste cannot be avoided, the preferred goals would be to reduce it, reuse it and recycle it, and the least desirable action is to dispose of materials.

The plan also proposes to initiate new policies to encourage firms to export recycled items and manufacturers to use recycled material. The Government is to consider providing subsidies to encourage more firms to enter the recycling business and public awareness campaigns to encourage waste separation. It also plans to improve collection networks and to provide recycling bins.

To generate new recycling activity sponsored demonstrations and public awareness activities are planned. Citizens will be made aware of the opportunity to use recycled products, such as furniture made from recycled wood or compost produced daily in Mesaieed. Citizens are to be encouraged to see waste reduction and recycling as a duty with the welfare of future generations in mind.

The critical step in establishing a solid waste management plan will be to coordinate responsibilities, activities and planning. The plan, to be aligned with the Qatar National Master Plan, will cover households, industry and commercial establishments, and construction and demolition. The plan will also provide classifications for different types of domestic and non- domestic waste, mapping their sources.

Future Perspectives

When the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 was conceived, the plant at Mesaieed might have been seen as an ideal solution, but by the time the project was completed the capacity of the plant to handle waste has been overwhelmed. The centre in Mesaieed can treat only 1550 tons of the 7000 tons generated everyday and this is only going to increase in future. Qatar needs a handful of such centers in order to tackle the growing menace of urban wastes.

While steps are being taken to handle waste generated in future, the Government needs to focus on creating mass awareness about 4Rs of waste management viz. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recovery. If this can be achieved then the public can be expected to play its part in helping to reduce the generation of waste and in recycling waste by making the process easier by segregating waste at the source. The public needs to be made aware of its responsibility and duty to the future generations. Since Qatar is predominantly a Muslim country, the government may also take help of Islamic scholars to motivate the population to reduce per capita waste generation.

Improvement in curbside collection mechanism and establishment of material recovery facilities and recycling centres may also encourage public participation in waste management initiatives. After a period of public education and demonstration, segregation-at-source needs to be implemented throughout the country. Legislation needs to be passed to ensure compliance, failure of which will attract a penalty with spot checks by the Government body entrusted with its implementation.

Biogas Potential in the Middle East

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Anaerobic digestion is the natural biological process which stabilizes organic waste in the absence of air and transforms it into biofertilizer and biogas. It is a reliable technology for the treatment of wet, organic waste.  Organic waste from various sources is biochemically degraded in highly controlled, oxygen-free conditions circumstances resulting in the production of biogas which can be used to produce both electricity and heat.

Anaerobic digestion is particularly suited to wet organic material and is commonly used for treating animal manure, organic fraction of MSW, sewage and industrial effluents. Anaerobic digestion is a unique treatment solution for organic wastes as it can  deliver  positive  benefits  related  to  multiple  issues,  including  renewable  energy,  water pollution, and air emissions. Anaerobic digestion of organic wastes is fast gaining popularity as a means to protect the environment and to recycle biodegradable materials efficiently.

biogas in middle east

Many industries produce liquid and solid wastes that are suitable for anaerobic digestion, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, paper manufacturing and tannery industries. Some of the wastes might be difficult to digest as a sole substrate, but they can be biochemically degraded in combination with manure or sewage sludge. The combined digestion of different wastes is called co-digestion.

Biogas Potential in the Middle East

There is a large untapped potential for biogas generation in the Middle East which is mainly contributed by municipal solid wastes, sewage, industrial wastes and farm wastes. MSW is the best feedstock because of high organic content in solid wastes in Middle Eastern countries. On an average, more than 50 percent of the municipal waste stream is constituted by biodegradable fraction.

Huge quantity of sewage sludge is produced on daily basis across the region which presents a serious problem due to its high treatment costs and risk to environment and human health. On an average, the rate of wastewater generation is 80-200 litres per person each day. The handling of sewage sludge is one of the most significant challenges for municipal authorities in the Middle East. Anaerobic digestion is among the best methods for management of municipal wastewater worldwide.

biogas potential in middle east

The Middle Eastern region has strong animal population. The livestock sector, in particular sheep, goats and camels, plays an important role in the national economy of the Middle East countries. Many millions of live ruminants are imported into the Middle Eastern countries each year from around the world. The most attractive method of converting animal wastes into useful form is anaerobic digestion which gives biogas that can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines, to generate electricity from small gas turbines, burnt directly for cooking, or for space and water heating.

The food processing industry in Middle East produces a large number of organic residues and by-products that can be used as biomass energy sources. In recent decades, the fast-growing food and beverage processing industry has remarkably increased in importance in major countries of the Middle East. The mushrooming of hotels, restaurants, fast-food joints and cafeterias in the Middle East region has resulted in the generation of huge quantities of food wastes.

food_waste

The relevance of biogas technology lies in the fact that it makes the best possible utilization of industrial organic waste as a renewable source of clean energy. Diversion of industrial waste from landfill sites and taking it to plants which can turn it into biogas and biofertilizer will ensure that it is treated in such a way that it becomes a useful product instead of a harmful one.

Environmental Legislations in Bahrain

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The Kingdom of Bahrain has been responding to the massive industrial and commercial development taking place in the country and understood that economic development and sound environmental management are complimentary aspects of the same agenda and without adequate environmental protection, development will be undermined. With this aim, the Legislative Decree-law No.21 of 1996 was enacted to establish the Environmental Affairs Agency under the Ministry of Housing, Municipalities and Environment in 1996.

environmental legislation in bahrain

The process of making and enforcing environmental legislation in Bahrain started when the Government formed the Environmental Protection Committee (EPC) in 1983 which was later upgraded to a full-fledged Environmental Affairs (EA) office. Based on the Legislative Decree No. 21 of 1996, two main directorates were formed namely The Directorate of Environmental Assessment and Planning & The Directorate of Environmental Control. The EA was later upgraded and at present is the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) which is managing and monitoring of the environmental resources of the country headed by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Mubarek bin Daina, as Chief Executive.

Bahrain is committed to the cause of environmental protection and has thus decided to incorporate necessary environmental legislations to solve the problems of pollution and environmental degradation. In addition, Bahrain is a signatory of all major regional and international environmental Conventions, Treaties and Protocols. Since past decades, many environmental legislation have been made and enforced related to air, water, waste, chemicals, fisheries and occupational health.

As per the legislation, anybody seeking to establish a facility or industry in the country has to obtain a ‘No Objection’ permit from the SCE, satisfying the requirements of raw materials, products, by-products, generation of solid, liquid and hazardous waste, chemicals, resource usage (electricity, gas, fuel, water etc.). They are required to submit a statement showing that their project/ activity is not going to harm the occupational and public health and impact the fragile national environmental resources, such as wildlife.

The industrial establishments are regularly being visited by the environmental professionals and inspectors to check their compliance with the various environmental attributes. The non-compliance often leads to warnings and repeated offence leads to cancellation of the Commercial Registration License.

littering-bahrain

The SCE formulates rules, regulation, policies, standards and legislation for the control of any form of pollution, safety at industries, waste management and conservation of environmental resources.

The copy of all environmental legislations enforced in the Kingdom can be obtained from the SCE office. A hotline is also operative whereby, people can call regarding any environmental offence or violations or report any incident or accident that affects the environment. It is to be noted that legislations alone cannot preserve the environmental resources. Each individual has to participate and be aware of their environmental responsibility and to plan and act in a manner to avoid any pollution that may harm us and our future generations.

The Impact of Urban Heat Island Effect on Sustainability

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Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect arises due to absorption of incident radiation from the sun by built surfaces of tall buildings, roof, concrete structures and asphalt roads and then releasing it in the form of heat. The term “urban heat island” describes the built-up areas that are significantly hotter than the surrounding open, natural or rural areas.

It occurs on the surface and in the atmosphere. The built surfaces are made of high-percentage of non-reflective and water-resistant construction materials. These materials act as heat sinks that absorb the radiated heat and store it for long time.

urban heat island phenomenon

The Urban Heat Island Phenomenon

Lack of sufficient wind, change in thermal properties of the surface materials and lack of evapotranspiration rate in urban areas cause the urban heat island effect. On the other hand, green, wooded and open spaces composed of vegetation and moisture trapping soil use large proportion of absorbed radiation and release them through evapotranspiration process. As evaporation causes cooling effect, the released water vapour contributes to cool the air in the vicinity.

On a hot summer day, the urban surfaces are exposed to high temperature of   50–90°F (27–50°C) hotter than the air, where as the temperature of the shades or green open areas surrounding the urban surfaces remain close to air temperature. These changes in temperature between two areas create an “island” of higher temperature in the urban landscape. Normally the temperature difference of higher than 10 degrees forms heat islands.

Impacts on Sustainability

The increase in temperature in cities due to urban health island effect can have detrimental impacts on three pillars of sustainability, i.e. environment, people and economy.

Some of the negative effects of urban heat islands include:

  • Increase in energy consumption – Increase in temperature leads to increase in demand for cooling, which subsequently puts pressure on electricity supply during the peak periods of demand.
  • Increase in emission of air pollutants and GHGs – As more electricity is needed to cool the surfaces, demand on energy supply leads to emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from the power plants. Even use of ozone depleting refrigerants such as CFCs in the air-conditioning system cause depletion in stratospheric ozone layer. Elevated temperature also promotes the formation of ground-level ozone.
  • Demand on water – As the surface and air get hotter, people consume more water for both indoor and outdoor usage and it puts pressure on water supply.
  • Ecosystem – Hot surfaces transfer the absorbed heat to water features such as rivers, streams, ponds, lake etc. increase the surface water temperature and alerting the aquatic  ecosystem structure and functions
  • Quality of life – Elevated day and night temperatures along with higher air pollution can cause respiratory diseases, discomfort, heat stress and decrease productivity and increase heat related mortalities.

UHI Effect in the UAE

Urban heat island is quite common in cities located in the temperate zone. However, a very few studies are done so far to find how cities in semiarid and arid areas act as urban heat islands. UAE consists of seven emirates and weather here is tropical desert climate. Out of seven emirates, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have experienced a rapid rise of high and low intensity urban areas in recent years.

Planting more trees and vegetation will go a long way in reducing the impact of urban heat islands

Dubai the most populated and developed emirate and a very few studies indicated that its urban climate is mostly affected by land use changes, vegetation cover, and expansion of built of areas. It was thought that cities in arid region have possibility to act as daily urban cool islands (UCI). However, there are not many studies done so far to establish this. Rather some studies indicated that Dubai has seen 64.8% change in land cover and a 1.5 degree C rise in land surface temperature (LST) in past 10 years. These are the common indicators of UHI.

How to Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effect

Studies have found that the mean daily temperature increase is consistent with increase in urban development. The composition of land cover features can significantly influence the magnitude of land surface temperature.  Hence, increase in percent of vegetation is the most essential driver of reducing the land surface temperature and hence the UHI effect.

Therefore, proper management of green spaces is needed to mitigate the UHI effect in the urban cities of arid and semi arid countries. The heat island effect can be reduced by using following strategies.

  • Build small – Minimise building footprint and maximise open space
  • Minimize hardscape – Design driveways, roads, parking space and hardscape areas smartly by using permeable materials or surfaces such as vegetated roofs, porous pavement and grid pavers. Use open grid pavement system, which is at least 50% pervious and locating the parking space under the building will help reducing the urban heat island effect.
  • Use of reflective materials – Use high reflective materials with high solar reflective index (SRI) values for roofs and non-roof exterior surfaces.  The SRI value is the combined value of reflectivity and emmitance.
  • Shading – Provide shading with existing tree canopy or new trees or with other structures. The surfaces can also be coved by solar panels that produce renewable energy. Shading with some architectural features of SRI of at least 29 will also help to reduce the heat island effect.
  • High albedo cool roof and green roofs: Combination of high albedo cool roofs (roofs with controlled SRI) and vegetated roof surface can reduce heat island effect significantly.

Conclusions

The composition of land cover features can significantly influence the magnitude of land surface temperature.  Hence, increase in percent of vegetation is the most essential driver of reducing the land surface temperature and hence the urban heat island effect. Therefore, proper management of green space is needed to mitigate the UHI effect in the urban cities of arid and semi arid countries.

Qatar’s Fight Against Climate Change

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Qatar’s environmental records have always been in news, of course for the negative ones, but it has always strived to work towards reduction of GHGs emissions. Qatar is already doing plenty to help poor countries with financing and it seems unfair to focus on per capita emissions for a country with estimated population of 2.6 million making it the 143th most populous country on earth. (For climate talks, that is heresy). This may sound harsh, especially since Qatar’s contribution to global warming is tiny compared with the United States, China or India.

In recent years, Qatar is making itself a benchmark for all future sustainable and renewable initiatives in the Middle East. Qatar is committed to creating a cleaner and more energy efficient environment which is expected to make significant contributions in addressing climate change challenges and moving towards a more sustainable future.

climate change mitigation in qatar

However, these positive moves will not be enough to cover up the fact that Qatar, much as the other oil-producing countries in the Gulf, has still not made any commitment as part of the UN climate talks. Here’s more about climate change mitigation in Qatar:

Qatar’s Revamping Climate Plans

In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Sustainable development has been identified as one of the top priorities in Qatar’s National Development Strategy. Environmental Development is one of the four main pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to manage rapid domestic expansion to ensure harmony between economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

According to recent reports, Qatar is getting close to opening its long-delayed 200-megawatt solar tender. Qatar currently has a stated goal of installing 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity by 2030; the 200 MW solar tender represents just a portion of the installations expected over the coming years, but is still a noteworthy quantity. Qatar, as part of its environmental commitment and sustainable development, is turning to renewable sources of energy such as solar power, with initiatives already underway.

Qatar Foundation plays an instrumental role in Qatar’s sustainability efforts as it helps transform the country into a knowledge-based economy. It also endeavors to realize this vision by making sustainability an integral part of the day-to-day lives of local residents. By doing so, QF is working towards achieving its own strategic mission of unlocking human potential and promoting creativity and innovation.

Qatar Foundation, in partnership with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), is setting up a pioneering Climate Change Research Institute and a Global Climate Change Forum as part of MoU signed on sidelines of COP 18 UNFCC Doha conference in 2012. The Institute, the first of its kind in the region, will seek to fill critical gaps in research on mitigation, adaptation and climate resiliency for key regions such as tropics, sub-tropics and dry lands. However, it is making a very slow pace due to various issues.

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is producing up to 85 percent of Qatar’s total solar energy as it announced the launch of one of the Gulf region’s first Energy Monitoring Centre (EMC) to manage its smart grid and monitor solar power generation across all sites within Education City. The EMC is part of the recently completed Solar Smart-Grid Project that added a total of 1.68MW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at various facilities. The PV systems at QF now generate 5,180 MWh of clean energy annually, resulting in savings of around 2,590 tons of CO2 emissions every year.

The Qatar Green Building Council, a QF member was established in 2009 to promote sustainable growth and development in Qatar through cost efficient and environment-friendly building practices. There has been rapid progress in green building sector in Qatar with the emergence of many world-class sustainable constructions in recent years. With the fifth-highest number of LEED-registered and certified buildings outside the U.S., Qatar has valuable experience and inputs to offer on the system’s local relevancy and application.

Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) which hosted Doha UNFCCC climate conference COP 18/CMP8 was the first LEED certified project in Qatar and remains its largest rooftop solar system installed to date. Subsequently, Qatar Foundation continues to have the largest pipeline of all PV installations in the country, in addition to its pipeline of LEED-certified green buildings. With more than five megawatts of solar energy installations planned, Qatar Foundation’s clean efforts are one of the largest in the Gulf region.

qatar national convention center

QF is equally dedicated to sustainable infrastructural development. For instance, the student-housing complex at Education City is currently one of the only platinum LEED-certified student housing complexes in the world. Having earned 12 Platinum LEED certifications in the category of ‘New Construction’ from the US Green Building Council, it is also the largest collection of platinum LEED- certified buildings in one area in the world.

Qatar Solar Energy (QSE) has officially opened one of the largest vertically integrated PV module production facilities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The 300 MW facility, located in the Doha industrial zone of Qatar, is the first significant development of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels in favor of more renewable energy sources. Qatar’s fledgling forays into the solar PV sector have gathered pace last year, when state-backed Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) acquired a 29% stake in SolarWorld in a move that raised eyebrows throughout the industry.

The Head of Qatar’s state-run electricity and water company (Kahramaa) has already announced ambitious plans to install solar panels atop the roofs of many of the country’s 85 reservoirs. With these latest plans are for creative solution to Qatar’s lack of viable land space (the country measures just 11,571km²), it is a must in a country with very little available land for large-scale solar plants. Qatar will adopt a scattered model, installing several small- to medium-sized PV installations.

Qatar’s National Food Security Programme (QNFSP) has been a driving force behind the nation’s thirst for renewable energy, creating an action plan designed to better utilize Qatar’s abundant solar radiation. Meanwhile, Qatar Solar Tech 70% owned by the Qatar Foundation has announced that it is scaling up its local manufacturing capabilities, and will build a 297 acre solar farm in the country’s Ras Laffan Industrial City.

As the host country for 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar has pledged solar-powered stadiums and the country is also working on a range of other solar projects gearing up to this football extravaganza.

Conclusions

Climate change and increase in temperatures is making Qatar even more vulnerable to the lack of water and food insecurity. Every single drop of water that is used in Qatar needs to be desalinated. Every single gram of food that is eaten needs to be either imported or grown with desalinated water. The plunging price of oil, coupled with advances in clean energy and resource conservation, offers Qatar a real chance to rationalize energy policy.

seawater-desalination-qatar

مشاريع المياه تعتبر من المشاريع المكلفة

Qatar can get rid of billions of dollars of distorting energy subsidies whilst shifting taxes towards carbon use. It is heartening to see that Qatar has recognized the importance of renewable energy and sustainability and its fight for reducing its ecological footprint. A cheaper, greener, sustainable and more reliable energy future for Qatar could be within reach.

القضايا البيئية الكبرى في منطقة شمال أفريقيا

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هي منطقة جغرافية تقع في أقصى الجزء الشمالي من قارة إفريقيا، و تمتد من مصر شرقا إلى المغرب غربا، إنها شمال أفريقيا. تضم المنطقة مجموعة من الدول وهي السودان، مصر، ليبيا، تونس، الجزائر، والمغرب. تقدر المساحة الإجمالية لمجموع هذه البلدان ب ٧١٩١٥١٢ كم مربع، كما يقدر عدد سكانها بما يناهز ٢٢١٧٦٣٠٢٦ مليون نسمة.

يحيط بمنطقة شمال أفريقيا العديد من المسطحات المائية، حيث يحدها شرقا البحر الأحمر وشمالا البحر الأبيض المتوسط، أما غربا فنجد  المحيط الأطلسي والذي يعد ثاني محيطات العالم مساحة بعد المحيط الهادي حيث يغطي حوالي ٢٠%  من مساحة الكرة الأرضية وتقريبا  ٢٦% مساحة المياه الكلية للأرض. يسود هذه البلدان مناخ متوسطي، معتدل شتاء و حار صيفا، مما يساعد على انتشار الزراعة في المنطقة.

litani-river-pollution

تتميز المنطقة بغنى تنوعها البيولوجي الذي يعتبر أساس وجود هذه المنطقة على كوكب الأرض، حيث  تشمل بيئات ومنظومات طبيعيـة مختلفة، وأصناف نباتيـة وحيوانية نادرة وموارد جينية متنوعة.

تواجه بلدان شمال أفريقيا كباقي دول العالم العديد من التحديات، أهمها المشاكل البيئية التي تفاقمت في الآونة الأخيرة.  فحسب استطلاعات الرأي التي قامت بها الجمعيات و المهتمين بهذا المجال في مختلف دول المنطقة، فإن المنطقة تعاني من مشاكل بيئية مشتركة  تحول دون تحقيق أهدافها السامية في هذا المجال، مما يحد من تنفيذ إستراتيجياتها ويجعلها أسيرة شبح فقدان تنوعها  البيولوجي الذي يعتبر إطار حياتها وعماد رخاء سكانها  ومحور معيشتهم وثقافتهم وهويتهم، مما أدى إلى عظم الأثر السلبي على نمو المنطقة اقتصاديا واجتماعيا.

يعتبر تواجد المصانع بالقرب من المناطق السكنية من أهم المشاكل التي تعاني منها المنطقة، و ما يرافق ذلك من انبعاث الغازات والمخلفات السامة التي تلوث الهواء والماء على حد سواء ويتسبب في انتشار جلة من الأمراض والأوبئة التي تكون في بعض الأحيان قاتلة، كأمراض الجهاز التنفسي والذبحات الصدرية والقلبية وضعف المناعة. كما يؤدي رمي النفايات سواء من قبل السكان أو المنشآت الصناعية  في المياه العذبة السطحية (كالوديان والبحيرات) أو الجوفية  (كالآبار) إلى تلويث والقضاء على هذه  الخزانات المائية البالغة الأهمية كمورد وحيد  للشرب ولحياة الكائنات الحية المائية وجودة الزراعة.

ينتشر سلوك رمي النفايات  في الشارع العام بشكل كبير بين سكان شمال أفريقيا، فتجمع النفايات يشوه المظهر العام للشارع، ويتسبب في انتشار الروائح الكريهة مما يؤدي إلى عواقب وخيمة على صحة وسلامة المواطن وأيضا يساهم في تدهور قطاع السياحة.

pollution-nile

و مرد كل هذا إلى غياب فلسفة الاهتمام بالمجال البيئي، وعدم دمجه في البرامج والمناهج الدراسية، إضافة إلى غياب التخطيط المنهجي لتنفيذ برامج الحماية وانعدام الإرادة السياسية لردع المخالفين أفرادا كانوا أو مؤسسات صناعية، علاوة عن العلاقة المتوترة في أغلب الأحيان بين الجمعيات ومؤسسات الدولة, وعجز الجمعيات ومؤسسات المجتمع المدني عن إيجاد خطاب مناسب للتوعية وتعزيز الحس بأهمية المحافظة على الثروات الطبيعية  كإرث معنوي وحضاري وغير متجدد.

إن لهذه المشاكل البيئية دور في خرق الحدود الجغرافية بين البلدان فهي لم تعد قضية محلية فقط، بل قضية إقليمية وعالمية،  فالتلوث ينتقل من مكان لآخر وتأثيره لن يكون محصورا في منطقة واحدة من الكرة الأرضية عن غيرها من المناطق. فمشاكل شمال أفريقيا البيئية مثلا هي قضية مشتركة وعامة، فالمشاكل التي تشهدها المنطقة اليوم قد تسبب خللا عاما في التوازن البيئي. وبالتالي فإن أهمية الحفاظ على البيئة لم يعد ترفاُ فكرياً أو دعوة للتضامن بل أصبح ضرورة من ضروريات الحياة لأن الحفاظ على البيئة ليس مسؤولية الفرد لوحده ولا مسؤولية مجتمع بعينه أو دولة بحد ذاتها، فالحفاظ على البيئة هو عمل وجهد جماعي يجب أن يقوم به الجميع في كل الدول وفي جميع أنحاء العالم.

إن الحفاظ على البيئة يتطلب نشر توعية ترتبط باحترام البيئة وتبين مدى الحاجة إلى الحفاظ عليها، فاستمرار الإنسان وبقاؤه مرتبط أشد الارتباط بسلامة البيئة المحيطة به، ولذا، يجب وضع محدودية الموارد البيئية الطبيعية  قدرة الأرض على تحمل الاستنزاف من ناحية والتلوث والتدهور من الناحية الأخرى في عين الاعتبار.

Solar Panel Maintenance: The Basics Every Homeowner Should Know

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Nowadays, people are joining the wagon of sustainable practices. One of the most popular ones is using solar panels to provide renewable energy for the whole household. While purchasing solar panels can be expensive, they can be worth the investment in the long run because of the many benefits they bring.

One of these benefits is saving electricity bills since solar panels collect energy from the sun and store it for you to use in your home. However, to maximize your investment, you should know the basics to maintain the quality of your solar panels.

how to maintain your solar panel

How Long Do Solar Panels Last?

Generally, solar panels can maintain 80% of their optimal capability for about 25 years. Solar panels that experience wear and tear usually don’t break down completely. Instead, they work at a decreased capacity. If, for instance, you have 300-watt solar panels, during the latter part of their 25-year mark, they’d still be able to produce 240 watts of output.

The problem, however, lies in the equipment you use in conjunction with the solar panels, like inverters and batteries. These pieces of material have a shorter life span and break down more easily. You can expect to replace solar inverters at least once or twice during the entire life span of your system. The good thing is inverters usually have a warrant for up to 10 or 20 years.

If you’re using batteries as well, expect additional costs as they’d need to be replaced often, depending on how you maintain them. For lead-acid batteries, replacement generally occurs every three to seven years. On the other hand, lithium batteries have at least 10-15 years of usable life span.

In addition, residential solar panel installations may also have an impact on your panels’ life span. But when done right, the panels won’t break easily. Similarly, low-quality installation may increase their chances of being easily damaged.

We recommend looking into informative and reputable local solar companies in your area with good warranties. For instance, SunPower by Custom Energy will guide you through the process and offers an industry-leading 25-year warranty to ensure you receive what you need.

How Do You Ensure Your Solar Panels Last Long?

Though solar panels need little maintenance for them to function, it’s vital to still look after them to ensure they last long. Here are ways to properly maintain your solar power system.

1. Make Regular Inspection Of Your Panels

More often than not, solar panels are located in higher areas, so they’re less susceptible to breakage caused by ground-level debris. But it’s still an excellent preventive method to check in on your solar panels every once in a while. Taking preventive maintenance like this ensures your panels are free from any buildup of dirt, tree materials, or pollen.

Another factor that could compromise your solar panels’ quality is extreme weather conditions, like hailstorms. Scheduled checkups can ensure your panels didn’t incur any damage after a storm or similar calamity.

2. Clean Your Solar Panels

Although cleaning solar panels can be a labor-intensive activity, it’s vital for their usability. Regularly cleaning your solar panels ensures there isn’t any object blocking them. If your panels are blocked, they may not be able to receive proper insulation. And without proper insulation, you won’t be able to maximize your panels’ energy output.

solar panel maintenance

Scheduling a regular cleanup would depend on how much dirt or debris accumulates over a certain period of time. Thus, a routine inspection is necessary so you could check whether your panels need cleaning. If they do, make sure you use a soft rag or washcloth and mild biodegradable soap for cleaning. If dust buildup is your problem, you can run water through a hosepipe on them. This way, you’d avoid causing damage to the panels.

3. Make Sure Your Panels Are Under Well-Lit Areas

You can get your solar panels’ maximum capability if they’re properly installed. So ensure they’re placed directly under sunlight or the panels aren’t covered by shade. Remember, the energy produced by solar panels decreases significantly if there’s an obstruction between the panels and the sun. So if a tree is obstructing the sun, consider trimming it down if you can. Additionally, make sure to remove unnecessary objects near the panels.

4. Tighten Loose Parts

Just like any other equipment, solar panels come with small parts like bolts and joints, which may loosen over time. Try to check on these as often as you can to ensure optimal energy production at all times.

If you want to take the extra mile, consider using an energy production monitoring device. This would keep track of the energy produced by your panels. When you notice drastic differences in the energy produced, it may be a sign of faulty parts. Compromised components in the panels’ wiring may lead to accidents. Make sure to immediately check your panels out as faulty parts can cause electrocution or even fire.

5. Keep Track Of Your Panels’ Daily Performance

Another effective solar panel maintenance strategy you can follow is to record any critical information that you get. This may be the average energy production in a given amount of time or the daily amount of energy produced at a specific time of the day. If you’re keeping track of the data yourself, you might see discrepancies in the record.

solar panels maintenance

For this, it might be best to get a manufacturer-approved monitoring system to get the most accurate results. With such a system, you can check whether your panels are working correctly and efficiently.

Conclusion

Installing solar panels may be one of the best ways to save on electricity costs. However, if you don’t know how to maintain them, they may not yield optimal results. Thus, considering the basics above can help you maximize your solar panel investment.

The Environmental Impact of Guitars

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Since the guitar was invented in the 16th Century, Spain, it has been enjoyed by people all around the globe – with an estimate of at least 900 million guitars existing today. Although, many musicians do worry about the carbon footprint that their instruments leave behind.

Guitars are made from rare woods and old growths. Over the years the manufacturing industry has had its fair share of issues, from illegal logging, scarcity in souring, and environmental regulations.

In this article, we are going to be speaking in more detail about the impact guitars have on the environment.

environmental impact of guitars

Do guitar factories produce a lot of emissions?

Globally, factories produce over 10 billion tons of CO2 each year and account for around 50% of the world’s pollution. While the guitar manufacturing companies only play a small role in these figures, they do of course play a role.

Nonetheless, as we become more environmentally aware, many guitar companies have taken action to equalize their carbon footprint. A prime example is the Music Wood Coalition, a Greenpeace initiative in the US that focuses on moving alternative certified wood sources, and filter out old growths and the deforesting of tropical woodlands. They have worked with huge brands such as Fender, Gibson, and Yamaha, aiming to use 80% alternative wood.

As for electric guitars, brands including Simon Lee have evolved into using recycled material such as CDs, or even old yogurt pots to create fusion into a dynamic polymer. So, whilst there are things we can do to prevent factory emissions, the main problem guitars pose to the environment is their use of rare wood and their participation in deforestation.

What guitar woods are endangered?

Deforestation amounts to ⅕ of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Whilst many companies are planting new trees per product sale, the planting rate is still too slow. As stated above, guitars are generally made from rare woods such as ebony or alder, and around 40% of this is sourced illegally. The problem for major tonewoods is the decreasing availability of the highest quality specimen, which generally means the oldest.

Mahogany as a whole is not yet endangered, but when you look at the age of the trees, there has been a great effect. As the old growths have been preferably harvested, we are left with smaller and younger mahogany, which guitar builders regard with lesser worth. The specific Cuban mahogany, on the other hand, is officially endangered.

Other woods to join the endangered list include; Spanish cedar, Madagascar ebony, Brazilian rosewood, and Japanese oak. Some of the vulnerable woods include okoume, utile, Honduran mahogany, and walnut.

Where do guitar companies get their wood?

Most of the highest quality, top in line guitars are made in America or Japan, more alternative wood guitars are made in South Korea, China, Mexico, or Indonesia. These are meant for mass production sales.

The actual wood can be sourced from several other countries. Popular areas include Honduras, Belize, and India, then it is imported around the world. However, with the search to find more alternative wood, this has been changing in recent years. Nowadays, most guitars are made from spruce, which is not yet endangered. This is native to the Western states of North American, from Alaska to California. In addition, guitar makers have moved to using Jatoba as the fretboard wood of choice as other varieties have become less available.

Guitars consist of Northern wood and Southern wood. The Northern wood is used on the top of the guitar body, and the Southern wood is used for the side and back. The Northern wood is particularly important to help resonate sound.

Conclusion

The main environmental impact of guitars is the use of rare or old-growth woods. Guitar makers can be extremely fussy about the type of wood they use as it has a direct impact on the sound of the guitar. Nonetheless, with modern technology and knowledge, companies are coming up with ways to make eco guitars which are more environmentally friendly.

The plus side to guitars is that they generally have a long life span, and realistically, there is no need to replace your current guitar very often. A well-looked-after guitar can last up to 30 years, depending on quality. This should mean that the manufacturing demand can remain at a manageable rate.

How Low-Calorie Meal Planning Supports Sustainability

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You probably have never considered how the type of food you eat can impact the environment. Yet, your meal choices make waves. If you are sustainability conscious, then low-calorie meal planning could be one way of minimizing the impact your food choices have on the environment.

Mindful eating reduces waste and resource use, acting like a smart thermostat for your pantry and planet. Plant-based meals and ethical sourcing also add layers to this eco-friendly puzzle.

sustainability benefits of low-calorie meal planning

Imagine taking small steps that ripple into global change – it is possible with the right plan on your plate. Let us dive deeper into how these delicious solutions create harmony between health and habitat, turning everyday dining into an impactful practice.

Ethical Sourcing

Another crucial aspect of sustainable eating involves ethical sourcing. You can tailor your low-calorie meal planning around mindful choices about where ingredients come from, reducing environmental strain. This approach could mean choosing responsibly farmed and harvested foods that support ecosystems and ensure producers follow environmentally friendly practices.

Supporting certified organic or Fair-Trade products means advocating for reduced pesticide use and fair labor conditions. These choices protect the planet and promote social justice within food systems.

They also demonstrate a conscious effort to lessen ecological footprints while supporting industries focused on preservation rather than exploitation.

Mindful Portions

Mindful portion control is also another way low-calorie meal planning supports sustainability. It means cooking and serving food with an eye on what you truly need and cutting down on waste. Smaller portions mean fewer leftovers, which leads to reduced landfill contributions.

Planning meals around realistic servings saves money and resources in the long run. Buying only what fits your plan reduces unnecessary consumption of packaging materials and energy for production.

Embracing mindful eating encourages healthier habits. This strategy aligns personal health goals with environmental awareness by promoting a balanced relationship between nourishment and nature’s limits.

Water-Saving Strategies in Meal Planning

Besides mindful portions, water-saving strategies in meal planning can have a significant impact on sustainability. Prioritizing foods that require less water to grow, like grains and legumes over beef or dairy products, helps conserve this vital resource.

Opting for cooking methods that use minimal water – such as steaming or stir-frying – increases efficiency. This choice benefits both your health and the planet’s resources.

Selecting drought-resistant crops from local markets means supporting farmers who employ sustainable practices. These conscious decisions contribute to the larger goal of reducing agricultural and domestic water waste while maintaining nutritious and satisfying meals on your plate.

Vegan Recipes for College Students

Seasonal Ingredients and Sustainability

Incorporating seasonal ingredients into low-calorie meal planning is another excellent way of enhancing sustainability through your eating habits. Seasonal produce is often grown closer to home, reducing transportation emissions and supporting local economies.

This practice means enjoying fruits and vegetables at their peak ripeness, offering superior taste and nutrition. Seasonal eating encourages diversified farming that aligns with nature’s cycles, promoting soil health and biodiversity.

Moreover, these choices typically involve fewer artificial interventions like preservatives or chemical treatments. Focusing on what grows seasonally in your area allows you to embrace natural processes while supporting food systems less reliant on resource-intensive practices.

Energy-Efficient Cooking Techniques

Adopting energy-efficient cooking techniques aligns perfectly with sustainability. Choosing methods such as pressure cooking, steaming, or microwaving helps cut down on both time and energy consumption during meal preparation.

Using appliances designed for efficiency can significantly lower electricity use without compromising the quality of your meals. For instance, slow cookers are a great option that combines low-energy needs with flavorful results.

You could also consider streamlining recipes to minimize preparation steps and ensure resources are used wisely. These thoughtful choices in the kitchen allow you to enjoy satisfying dishes while also contributing to a smaller carbon footprint.

Sustainable Ordering Options

Eco-friendly meal planning and cooking can be challenging in today’s fast-paced world. Busy lifestyles often leave little time for these activities, leading many to order food instead.

Selecting establishments focused on eco-friendly practices means you support businesses committed to reducing waste and sourcing responsibly. Look for places offering seasonal ingredients and ethical sourcing as part of their menu philosophy.

Consider a weekly subscription of low-calorie dishes from these sustainability-conscious providers to simplify mealtime without sacrificing values. This approach helps maintain balance in your diet and the environment, allowing convenience and conscience to coexist seamlessly in everyday choices.

Food Storage and Preservation

Embracing food storage and preservation techniques also goes a long way into promoting sustainability within low-calorie meal planning. Utilizing methods like canning, freezing, or pickling extends the shelf life of seasonal produce and minimizes waste.

Storing foods correctly maintains their nutritional value while preventing spoilage. It means less frequent trips to the store, saving both time and energy resources.

Employing reusable containers helps reduce reliance on single-use plastics in your kitchen routine. This simple shift not only protects the environment but also supports a more organized approach to meal preparation.

Composting and Waste Reduction

Mastering food storage leads to another essential aspect of sustainability: composting and waste reduction. Transforming kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost is a powerful way to minimize waste and enrich soil for future growth.

food waste disposal

Your leftover fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, and other organic materials become compost, creating a cycle supporting garden health without chemical fertilizers.

Maintaining a simple compost bin at home allows you to manage biodegradable waste effectively. This process not only reduces landfill contributions but also empowers you to contribute positively towards creating more sustainable ecosystems within your local community.

Final Words

Every meal you choose contributes to building a healthier planet. Integrating sustainable practices in low-calorie meal planning turns daily eating into impactful action. By focusing on mindful consumption, ethical sourcing, and waste reduction, your choices extend beyond personal well-being to foster environmental health.

As you embrace these strategies, you join a collective effort to sustain the world for future generations. Every conscious decision matters, be it through energy-efficient cooking or supporting eco-friendly vendors.

Your journey can also inspire others to consider how their plates affect our shared home. With each choice reflecting values of sustainability and health, we edge closer towards ensuring harmony between humanity and nature’s resources.

The Promise of Olla Irrigation

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Efficient traditional methods of irrigation that could be of great use on small and medium sized farms and gardens were not well studied or publicized until recently. The olla (buried clay pot or pitcher) method of irrigation is one of the most efficient systems known and is ideal for gardeners and small farmers and can be used in a patio container.[1] I first learned about it in a Chinese agricultural text from 2000 years ago. Olla irrigation uses a buried, unglazed clay pot filled with water to provide controlled irrigation to plants as the water seeps out through the clay wall at a rate that is influenced by the plant’s water use.

olla irrigation system

Why use ollas?

A 2013 study in Kenya found the olla system was much more efficient than furrow irrigation —saving 97.1% of applied water for maize and 97.8% for tomatoes. The increase in yield per unit of water was up 32.2% maize and 43.7% for the tomatoes. In a study in India, the yield of olla irrigated melon was 25 tons/hectare using only 2 centimeters of irrigation water, compared with yields of 33 tons/ha using 26 cm of water with flood irrigation. The stable soil moisture maintained by olla irrigation enables crops to be grown in saline soil or with saline water where conventional irrigation would not work. High tomato yields, 27 tons/ha, were obtained in India using saline irrigation water, EC 10.2 mmhos/cm.

In addition to being more efficient than drip systems, ollas can be used without pressurized, filtered water supplies. The clay pots can be made with locally available materials and skills and are less likely to be damaged by animals or clogged by insects than drip systems. And finally, the ollas may require added water only once every few days or once a week. This makes ollas ideal for farmers and gardeners who are busy with other crops, children, household duties, or who must work away from home much of the week.

commercial ollas

Olla irrigation allows soil amendments to be placed only where they will benefit the crops not the weeds. This is very important as studies of traditional farming systems have found that as much as 30% of the labor is for weeding — labor that could be put to more productive use.

A study in India found that the dry weight of weeds was only 62 kg/ha using ollas compared to 465 kg/ha with basin irrigation. In one of my tests there were kilograms of weeds instead of tons per ha.

olla irrigation

How to Get Started

  1. Buy or make a test olla. Make sure water seeps through the pores and wets the outside of the olla
  2. Dig a pit wider and deeper than the olla (mix in manure and compost if possible)
  3. Fill the pit with water — let drain
  4. Put the olla in the hole after adding enough soil in the pit so the stem is about 5 cm above ground.
  5. Fill the pit around the olla and firm up the soil by pressing on it
  6. Fill the olla with water and cover the olla opening with a lid or stone
  7. The next day see how far out from the olla the soil is still damp
  8. Plant seedlings or place seeds in the damp soil
  9. Refill olla as needed
  10. After the season is over scrub the pots and store upside down.

Any good potter should be able to make ollas. If pots are made specifically for irrigation the clay should not be fired much above 1,000°C or the porosity will be limited. Adding more grog (ground old ceramic) to the mix can increase porosity. The drawbacks of ollas include the cost of the ollas and the energy required to make them. The pores in the pots may clog over time and require scrubbing and soaking with some vinegar or re-firing to clean out the pores.

Buried clay pot irrigation is outstanding. Try it this year. It works so well for container plants. Grow parsley, mint, chives, cilantro, egg plants, cherry tomatoes, or flowers for home use. Or try them for a garden or small farm.

Further reading

Kefa C.C., E. C. Kipkorir, J. Kwonyike, P. C. Kubowon, H. K. Ndambiri. 2013. Comparison of water use savings and crop yields for clay pot and furrow irrigation methods in Lake Bogoria, Kenya. Journal of Natural Sciences Research. 3(8):34-39.

Bainbridge, D. A. 2015. Gardening with Less Water. Storey Publishing.

Bainbridge, D. A. 2013. Fan Shengzhi an agronomist of ancient China. https://works.bepress.com/david_a_bainbridge/35/

Bainbridge, D. A. 2001. Buried clay pot irrigation. Agricultural Water Management 48(2):79-88.

Stein, T.-M. 2019. Pitcher irrigation bibliography: https://www.vl-irrigation.org/content/thematic-content/pitcher-irrigation/pitcher-irrigation-bibliography/

[1] YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voibQvxkSXs

What is a Healthcare Reimbursement Plan – Explained

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Healthcare Reimbursement Plan or HRA are reimbursements offered by an employer to their employee for health expenses claims. They are an alternative traditional group healthcare plan.

Healthcare reimbursement plans are different because the employer covers health expenses by offering a certain allowance amount instead of choosing a “one-size-fits-all” group health insurance.

A healthcare reimbursement plan can provide an employee with an allowance for medical expenses that includes insurance premiums.

What Is A Healthcare Reimbursement Plan

How Do They Work?

Healthcare reimbursement plans require some legal documentation to be constituted as a formal arrangement.  They are also subject to complex federal regulations which need to be fulfilled such as:

  • Eligibility criteria
  • What medical procedure will be reimbursed
  • How long the process will take
  • The method of payment
  • In case of dispute, what will be the plan of action?

Healthcare Reimbursement Plans Can Be Cashed Out?

No! You cannot cash out your healthcare reimbursement plan. These plans are like an agreement between you and your employer. The funds for your reimbursement are non-existent until you make a claim.

For example, if a certain year you had negligible medical expenses so the funds will roll over to the next year. Although the employer can increase the amount transferred from one year to another, they mostly keep it the same.

What Qualifies As A Reimbursement?

As an employer or an employee, you might be thinking about what might qualify for a reimbursement. The medical expenses that will qualify for reimbursement include yearly health checkups, prescription medicines, insulin, therapy sessions at psychiatrist/psychologist and other medical treatments. They can also be provided for paying insurance premiums.

On the other hand, the expenses that will not be approved for reimbursement include gym memberships, funeral services, non-prescription medication and other services deemed not necessary.

HRA or Reimbursement Plans VS Group Healthcare Plans

Depending on the size of your organisation you will have to choose between an HRA or a traditional group healthcare plan. The thing to keep in mind is that HRA offers more flexibility and requires a small business to spend less money to cover health expenses.

A group healthcare plan provides the same benefits to each employee. The employee has no choice but to spend through their pockets if a certain service is not covered. While a health reimbursement plan lets the employee choose their plan which will cover their medical expenses and get reimbursed by the employer.

HRA’s are also tax efficient because they come under reimbursement regulations. The amount provided to the employees is not considered in income tax so it also benefits the employee. Instead, the business can file for tax deductions when they payout reimbursements to their employees.

HRA’s are easier to plan and arrange because they do not require a high amount of money or budget, to begin with. They can be arranged for a business that has very few employees, unlike a group healthcare plan where 100s of employees must pool money.

If you are an SME looking for a health reimbursement plan suitable for your organization then you should check out Take Command Health HRA. They are providing you with healthcare plan solutions that are tailored to your requirements and making it easier for your business to provide health benefits.

Recycling of Polystyrene Wastes

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Polystyrene (also known as EPS Foam or Styrofoam) is a highly popular plastic packaging material which finds wide application in packaging of food items, electronic goods, electrical appliances, furniture etc. due to its excellent insulating and protective properties. Polystyrene is also used to make useful products such as disposable cups, trays, cutlery, cartons, cases etc.

EPS foam packaging

Despite the attractiveness of polystyrene, municipalities and organisations are facing a growing problem in disposal of polystyrene packaging and products. Being large and bulky, polystyrene take up significant space in rubbish bins which means that bins become full more quickly and therefore needs to be emptied more often. Polystyrene is lightweight compared to its volume so it occupies lots of precious landfill space and can be blown around and cause a nuisance in the surrounding areas.

Although some companies have a recycling policy, most of the polystyrene still find its way into landfill sites around the world. As per conservative estimates, hundreds of thousands of tons of waste polystyrene is produced in the Middle East and sent to landfills each year.

Environmental Impacts of Polystyrene

While it is estimated that EPS foam (or polystyrene) products accounts for less than 1% of the total weight of landfill materials, the fraction of landfill space it takes up is much higher considering that it is very lightweight.  Furthermore, it is essentially non-biodegradable, taking hundreds perhaps thousands of years to decompose.

Even when already disposed of in landfills, EPS can easily be carried by the wind and litter the streets or end up polluting water bodies.  When EPS foam breaks apart, the small polystyrene components can be eaten by animals which can cause choking or intestinal blockage.

Polystyrene can also be consumed by fishes once it breaks down in the ocean.  Marine animals higher up the food chain could eat the fishes that have consumed EPS, thus concentrating the contaminant.  It could be a potential health hazard for us humans who are on top of the food chain considering that styrene, the plastic monomer used in manufacturing EPS has been classified by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a possible human carcinogen.  Styrene is derived from either petroleum or natural gas, both of which are non-renewable and are rapidly being depleted, creating environmental sustainability problems for EPS.

Trends in Polystyrene Recycling

There seems to be a common misconception that polystyrene is non-recyclable.  Being a thermoplastic, it can actually be melted and molded into many different plastic items.  At present, the recycling of polystyrene (or EPS foam) basically follows the following process:

Segregation – EPS foam products are separated from other wastes and then sorted.

Compaction – The segregated EPS foam products are fed to a compactor in order to reduce its volume.  Some compactor systems have a compaction ratio of up to 50:1, which means that it can reduce the volume by up to 98%.

Shredding – Larger pieces are shredded into flakes.  Packaging “peanuts” – small EPS foam pieces used to cushion fragile items – normally skip this step and are fed directly to the pelletizing machine.

Melting/Extrusion – The flakes are forced through pelletizing extruders where they are heated and melted, then allowed to cool in order to solidify. The resulting material can then be used, through reheating and melting, to produce clothes hangers, picture frames, DVD cases and numerous other plastic products.

Major Bottlenecks

Although the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers have reported that the recycling rate for post-consumer and post-commercial EPS in the United States have risen to 28% in 2010 from around 20% in 2008, this value is still lower than most solid wastes.  According to USEPA, auto batteries, steel cans and glass containers have recycle rates of 96.2%, 70.6% and 34.2% respectively. Because it is bulky, EPS foam takes up storage space and costs more to transport and yet yields only a small amount of polystyrene for re-use or remolding (infact, polystyrene accounts for only 2% of the volume of uncompacted EPS foams). This provides little incentive for recyclers to consider EPS recycling.

Products that have been used to hold or store food should be thoroughly cleaned for hygienic reasons, thus compounding the costs.  For the same reasons, these products cannot be recycled to produce the same food containers but rather are used for non-food plastic products.  The manufacture of food containers, therefore, always requires new polystyrene.  At present, it is more economical to produce new EPS foam products than to recycle it, and manufacturers would rather have the higher quality of fresh polystyrene over the recycled one.

Silver Lining

The cost of transporting bulky polystyrene waste discourages recyclers from recycling it.  Organizations that receive a large amount of EPS foam (especially in packaging) can invest in a compactor that will reduce the volume of the products. Recyclers will pay more for the compacted product so the investment can be recovered relatively easier.

There are also breakthroughs in studies concerning EPS foam recycling although most of these are still in the research or pilot stage.  Several studies have found that the bacteria Pseudomonas putida is able to convert polystyrene to a more biodegradable plastic.  The process of polystyrene depolymerization – converting polystyrene back to its styrene monomer – is also gaining ground.

Meanwhile, for the rest of us, we can start reducing our polystyrene consumption by opting to use products that can be reused, such as bringing our own coffee mugs and food containers to stores that serve their food and drinks in EPS foam.  A small change in our lifestyles can make a big difference for the environment.