Learning Outcome No.

Demonstrate sustainable resource use

Introduction

Definition of key terms

Waste management: These are activities carried out to control unwanted or

unusable materials from its inception to its proper disposal. It includes waste
collection, transport, treatment, storage and disposal, in conjunction with
regulation and monitoring of the process as a whole.

Resources they are materials available in our environment which are

technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally sustainable and
help us to satisfy our needs and wants.

Resource consumption: It is the usage of resources in any form to meet our own
needs and wants.

Reduce: It is when resources are utilized in a manner that limits the amount of
waste created or toxicity of waste created.

Reuse: It is a waste management concept that involves using resources again after
cleaning up or treatment. Although the items reused still end up as waste, by
reusing them, waste produced at a given time is reduced and the lifespan of the
item expanded.

Recycle: It is a process that involves converting already waste materials into new
materials and products. Recycling prevents wastage of potentially useful materials
and reduces the use of fresh raw materials.

Types of Environmental resources

Resources can be mainly classified on the basis of renewability, origin, utility,

ownership, and development .The five groups mentioned bellow may well be
arranged for convenience and they might line up this way

Renewability Origin Utility Ownership Development

i)Renewable i)Biotic i)Energy i)Individual i) Potential
ii) Non ii)Abiotic ii)Raw ii)Community ii) Developed
renewable material iii) National iii). Stock
iv) Reserves

1. Category based on renewability; Renewable and Non-renewable Resources

1. Renewable Resources

They are also known as infinite resources. These are resources that are consistently
available despite their utilization. After usage, they can be fairly replaced or
recovered. Examples include air, water, vegetation and energy from the sun.
Animals can also be categorized as renewable resources since they reproduce
offspring to replace the older generation. It is important to note that as much as
these resources can be replaced, it may take a long period of time to do that hence
need to use then sustainably.

Renewable resources are further divided into two categories:

Organic renewable resources. These are those that are extracted from
living things, that is, plants and animals examples include biogas and
biomass,
Inorganic renewable resources. These come from non-living things like
sun, wind and water examples include geothermal, solar energy, hydropower
and wind energy.
 2. Non-renewable Resources.

These are resources that cannot simply be recovered or substituted once they have
been extracted and utilized or destroyed. They are also known as finite resources.
Example includes minerals, fossil fuel. Even though minerals and fossil fuels occur
naturally, they are categorized as non-renewable resources as their formation take a
very long period of time. Most recently, some animals, mostly the endangered
species are also regarded as nonrenewable resources as they are at the verge of
extinction.
2. Classification based on origin; Biotic and Abiotic Resources

1. Biotic Resources

Biotic resources are those obtained from the biosphere. Forests and their products,
animals, birds and their products, fish and other marine organisms are important
examples. Minerals such as coal and petroleum are also included in this category
because they were formed from decayed organic matter.

2. Abiotic Resources

These are resources generated from non-organic and non-living materials.

Examples include water, land, air, minerals.

3. Classification based on development stage; Stock, Reserve, Actual and

Potential Resources

1. Stock resources

They are resources that are present and have been surveyed but their usage is
limited due to lack of technology to extract them. An example of such a resource is
hydrogen
 2. Reserve Resources

These are resources that have been surveyed and their quantity and quality
determined but are not currently been used. They are however to be developed for
profits in the future.

3. Actual or developed Resources

These are resources present in a region whose quality and quantity have been
surveyed and determined, and they are currently being used as the required
expertise and technology is available.

4. Potential Resources

These are resources whose knowledge and existence in a region is present and can
be exploited in the future. For instance, in a region that sedimentary rocks rich in
petroleum; it is a potential resource until its actual quality and quantity is surveyed
and determined.

4. Classification based on utility; energy and raw material.

1. .Energy resources

Energy is the primary and most universal measures of all kinds of work by human
beings and nature. Everything what happens in the world is the expression of flow
of energy in one of its forms. The energy sources can be divided into two types
Conventional and nonconventional energy sources.

Conventional energy sources are exhaustible e.g. coal, petroleum

Non-conventional energy sources are solar energy, wind energy etc.,

2. Raw material resources

For industries raw materials are the main sources. For iron and steel industries iron
ore, manganese, coal is important raw materials.

5. Classification on ownership

1. Individual resource Individual property, characters etc.,

 2. Community-owned resources Cultural and religious dogma is the
community owned resources.
3. National resource Confined to national boundaries e.g. Lands, Minerals
4. International resource Shared by all inhabitants of the earth e.g. air,

Wastage minimization

It entails limiting the amount of waste that is produced hence aiding in eliminating
the production of harmful waste effectively supporting efforts that promote a
society that is sustainable. Minimizing waste includes a change of society patterns
that relate to production and consumption as well as redesigning products to
eliminate the generation of waste.

Benefits of minimizing waste

i. Improved product quality. Innovations and new technological practices will

not only reduce wastage but also contribute to improved quality input
leading to improved products.
ii. Economic benefits. Efficiency and effectiveness in resource use translates to
reduced cost when it comes to purchasing value of products hence affecting
financial performance significantly.
iii. Efficiency of production practices. Wastage minimization will attain more
output of the product in relation to raw materials and environmental
resources.
iv. Environmental responsibility. Minimizing or eliminating wastage makes it
easier for one to adhere to set environmental policies, regulations and
standards.
v. Public image. Embracing wastage minimization of resources boosts an
organization’s image, as it is a reflection of proactive movement in the bid to
protect the environment.

Wastage minimization techniques

a. Optimization of resources.

This involves full exploitation of resources once they are extracted from their
natural setting. For example, a dressmaker will arrange the pieces of a pattern in a
certain manner along the length of the fabric in the quest to use a small portion of
the fabric

Optimization also includes use of all products achieved in the manufacturing or

processing of the main products. These products include by-products and waste
products. Waste products and by-products from one process are used as raw
materials for other processes.

b. Quality control improvement and process monitoring.

Wastage minimization can be put in place to limit number of rejects and wastage
generated. Can be attained through increased frequency of inspection and increase
of inspection guidelines. Resources used in manufacture can be scrutinized through
monitoring and evaluation to make them more effective and efficient minimizing
wastage.

These methods of minimizing wastage are practically similar to the methods for
economizing or reducing resource consumption. Reducing or economizing
resource consumption is a priority sustainability issues because we all share the
burden of responsibility to leave the environment fit if not better for ongoing
prosperity and quality of life for future generations.

c. Waste management procedures following the principles of 3Rs (Reduce,

Reuse, Recycle)

These principles are the most commonly preferred methods for minimizing
wastage. They are the easiest and commonly used techniques.

i. Reduce

It calls for usage of resources that are just enough to cater to your needs for
example, building a small house. It lowers cost in resource consumption. Reducing
can be attained through attaining accurate measurements to ensure that there is
little or no wastage of the resources. The process of reducing begins with
determining what you are using and for what purpose. There are three simple steps
used to assess the reduction value of an item.
They are:

 Is there something else that can be used for this purpose? Use of multi-
purpose items is essential in reduction. This reduces the amount of energy
used or packaging material used.
 Is there something that needs to be done? A lot of waste materials are
considered disposable in the sense that means whether or not the item allows
you to do any real purpose or meaning.
 Is the item a part of something that you need to do or want to do in your life?
There is a limit to what you need in preparation for your life. For example,
when living in the forest, you won’t need a car equipped to handle a desert
sandstorm. Always make certain that what you use matches reality of
potential opportunity in your life.

Some of the things you can do to minimize wastage may include; printing on both
sides of the paper, using cloth napkins instead of proper paper napkins and avoid
using disposable utensils. Another example is Minimize waste by choosing
products with less packaging or by using energy-efficient appliances.

ii. Reuse

It involves re-purposing items for a use different from what it was initially
produced for. One appropriate example is the modular construction of homes and
offices that is being created out of discarded shipping containers another example
is like turning glass jars into storage containers.

iii. Recycle

Recycling means that an item will be transformed again into a raw material that
can be shaped into a new item. Process used materials like paper, plastic, and metal
to make new products, instead of sending them to landfills. The following
approaches can be used to enhance efficient recycling:

By products that are made up of recycled materials, i.e. products that are
environmentally friendly.
Buy recyclable products such as glass bottles.
Create and invent new methods to recycle different items.
Buy non-toxic products whenever possible.
 Buy items made from recycled materials.
Use recycled paper for printing.

Measuring Techniques of Current Resource Usage

Current usage of resources needs to be measured as most of these resources are

exhaustible meaning they are available in a limited quantity and can be used up.
Measuring techniques are thus crucial in order to avoid depletion. Currently, there
is a huge tug of war centered on resource depletion (increased scarcity) and the
exploitation of resources.

A measuring technique involves a six-stage process that involves understanding

your current resource consumption and waste production, understanding how to
measure it, using the data and ultimately making informed decisions.

Stage 1: Understanding resource consumption and waste production. This is

undertaken in two parts: Initial reviews and process mapping.

Initial Review; Helps in gathering basic information. Assists one in understanding

how various resources are being used highlighting areas that can be improved on.

Process Mapping; having acquired an insight from the initial reviews, process
mapping helps controlling resources usage by adopting the most efficient and
effective resource consumption to minimize waste collected, cost and
environmental impact.

Stage 2: Data Collection

This stage involves quantifying the exact amount of resources used. Some of the
data collected may be exact figures while others may be estimates depending on
nature of the resources in question. Data can be collected: by taking measurements,
estimating, financial data and bills, and mass balances.

Stage 3: Data Analysis

This section involves managing and collating the data previously collected.
Collected data is represented in tables, graphs and charts.

Stage 4: Data Interpretation

This stage involves relating data analyze to measuring indicators such as carbon
metrics and carbon footprints. It outlines the current resources usage with trends
cropping up in the sector.

Stage 5: Summary

It involves coming up with a conclusion of the process in relation to knowledge

gathered from the data. It helps identify priority areas to target, how to go about
target setting and to plan on improving on resource consumption to be sustainable.

Stage 6: Reviews and progress communication

This section involves giving a way forward from all you have gained from the
process. A report is developed outlining the whole process and how/what next
from the knowledge gained.

The most commonly used measuring technique of current resource usage is

Environmental Resources Accounting. It is a subject of accounting proper, its
target being to incorporate both environmental and economic information. It is a
field that identifies usage of resources, measures and communicates costs of a
company’s or national economic impact on the environment. Costs include clean
up or reclaim of contaminated sites, environmental fines, penalties and taxes,
purchase of pollution prevention technologies and cost of waste management.

Self-Assessment

Written Assessment

1. Which of the following is not a principle of the 3Rs?

a) Reduce

b) Replenish

c) Reuse

d) Recycle

2. Identify which of the following resource is odd one out.

a) Air

b) Fossil fuel

c) Water

d) Sun

3. Classification of environmental resources is based of the three of the following

apart from?

a) Based on source of origin

b) Based on renewability

c) Based on development stage

d) Based on region.

4. Which is not a wastage minimization technique?

a) Resource optimization
b) 3Rs principles

c) Quality control improvement

d) Replenish

5. Benefits of minimizing waste do not include?

a) Public image

b) Fun

c) Environmental responsibility

d) Economic benefits

6. Explain the principles of 3Rs according to environmental resources giving

examples

7. Briefly outline the types of environmental resources.

8. Give three examples of measuring techniques of current resource usage

Assignment

Write a report on methods or minimizing wastage used in NYS