{"id":38994,"date":"2024-03-22T02:21:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T02:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/?p=38994"},"modified":"2024-03-22T02:21:05","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T02:21:05","slug":"waste-diversion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/social-responsibility\/waste-diversion","title":{"rendered":"What is Waste Diversion?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Waste diversion refers to the practice of diverting waste materials away from landfills or incinerators towards more environmentally sustainable alternatives such as recycling, composting, or reuse. The primary goal of waste diversion is to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfills or incinerators, thereby reducing environmental pollution, conserving resources, and promoting sustainability.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Waste diversion strategies include recycling programs, where materials such as paper, plastics, glass, and metals are collected, sorted, and processed into new products. Composting is another form of waste diversion, where organic waste such as food scraps and yard trimmings are decomposed into nutrient-rich compost for use in gardening and agriculture. Waste diversion may also involve initiatives such as donation programs for reusable items or materials, waste-to-energy processes, and education campaigns to promote waste reduction and proper disposal practices.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Waste diversion is vitally important for numerous reasons. Waste diversion helps us conserve precious natural resources by recycling materials instead of constantly extracting new ones, something crucial for sustaining our environment in the long run. Waste diversion also reduces the strain on landfills, which not only helps prevent pollution but also preserves land for other purposes. By diverting waste from landfills, we also lower greenhouse gas emissions, as decomposing waste releases methane, a potent contributor to climate change. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In addition, waste diversion and the refurbishment, reuse or recycling of materials saves energy compared to producing new items from scratch, contributing to overall energy efficiency. Economically, it creates jobs in recycling and waste management industries while reducing disposal costs for businesses and municipalities. Ultimately, waste diversion is a key strategy for protecting the environment, conserving resources, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Waste Diversion: What Can Be Kept out of Landfill?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Not all waste can be diverted from landfill, but you may be surprised by how much garbage can have a second life outside of simply producing methane at a rubbish tip. The kinds of waste that can be most readily diverted falls into three broad categories; recyclables, compostables and reusables.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Recyclables<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>

The category of r<\/span>ecyclables<\/span> encompass<\/span>es<\/span> any<\/span> material that is eligible for collection and processing to be used for new products or purposes. Technological advances continue to increase the number of materials that can be recycled, but as it stands, the most commonly recycles materials include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>