Circular economy: A call for waste valorization & more

Every crisis opens a door to numerous opportunities. The urgency alone motivates us not only to work harder but to find new ways of seeing, thinking and addressing it. The ongoing oil crisis is one of them. Just imagine how quick the prices rose. Not only that, it seems that prices have wide and open ceiling. No one knows how high it will fly. 

Though controversial, at least, there are a few things normally set aside (probably, because it is not politically convenient) in this country that have found new meanings and relevance. One of them is waste valorization. Though not so familiar to most of us, one of the types of waste valorization will always ring a bell. That’s waste-to-energy conversion. And in times like today where an energy crisis obtains, a closer look into this technology is a must.

Undeniably though, some of us believed that while this waste management tool might lead to a huge landfill reduction by up to 90% and generates the much-needed energy, the threats of greenhouse gas emissions and toxic pollutants cannot be ignored. 

Therefore, expected to face some headwinds, as concerned citizens, can we do something? If we care to go deeper into it, waste valorization, like the waste-to-energy conversion, simply talks about minimizing our wastes. So that, avoiding indiscriminate disposal of all kinds of wastes is one of them.

Incidentally, this is the call of the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board (CCSWMB) led by Emma Ramas. It aimed to “keep 85 percent of the city’s daily garbage out of landfills within just one year” by enforcing “strict segregation, expanding composting, and building recycling hubs.”

Undeniably, we all (individually) have wastes. That is why institutions like the CCSWMB is calling for us to recycle, reuse, repurpose, remanufacture, refurbish, share, etc. If you are keen enough, these are all aimed at reducing wastes and minimizing use of resource inputs (like raw materials coming from trees, mineral deposits, marine life, etc.). All part and parcel of what we call circular economy.

Simply put, as opposed to the traditional linear economy which has a “take, make and dispose” model, according to Wikipedia, the circular economy “aims to keep products, equipment and infrastructure in use for longer, thus improving the productivity of these resources.” Then, “waste materials and energy should become input for other processes through waste valorization: either as a component or recovered resource for another industrial process or as regenerative resources for nature (e.g., compost).”

Fortunately, there are huge companies that have heeded the call for a serious look on these initiatives. Whether on purely minimizing waste or embracing the circular economy.   Notably, Microsoft is in the mix. It committed to “reaching zero waste by 2030 for its direct waste production. It is “building a system for reusing and recycling electronic equipment used in its data centers, and pledged to eliminate single use plastic packaging by 2025.” In 2020, “Starbucks vowed to halve the amount of trash produced at its stores and in manufacturing.” 

Likewise, Amazon reported about its efforts “to reuse and repair its data center hardware.” More importantly, on the retail side, the company is supporting the sales of used items on its platform and working to cut packaging waste, including a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to improve plastic recycling.”

Obviously, therefore, as individuals, we can always contribute. Additionally, disposal of used clothes or should we say, preloved or preowned items must also be largely considered.  Instead of dumping them in a trash bin and become pollutants, you can always sell them. To the buyers, if you feel too little about buying preloved or preowned items, consider these facts. Back in 2015, credible researchers “estimated that the wider circular economy was a US$4.5 trillion opportunity (this includes the many services as well as goods sold between people).” In November, 2020, it was estimated that fashion alone was a US$5 trillion circular economy opportunity. 

So, instead of just letting those rats and termites feast on them or dump them in the landfill, sell them and recover a few pesos for your next buys and help prevent natural disasters.   Needless to say, along the way, you will be able to help accelerate the growth of the circular economy.