Nam Vo Geography essay

Evaluate a local or national scale strategy aimed at reducing the consumption of one named resource Conservation is the management of how humans use a natural resource so that they get the maximum benefit for the present generation and at the same time ensure that they can meet the needs of future generations. Generally, there are four ways of conservation: recycling, reusing, reduction, and substitution. In the UK, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has successfully introduced a recycling system for food waste generated on their estate. Recycling is the processing of waste so that materials can be used. The aim of DEFRAs strategy is to minimize the environmental impacts of its operations, thus promoting its objective to secure a sustainable society and a healthy environment. DEFRA also wants to improve its performance against the UK environmental laws. The EU Landfill Directive pushes the UK to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste in landfill. Landfill is a major source of methane, which is one of the vital greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. Therefore, like many other UK departments, DEFRA is encouraged to recycle food waste, to divert food waste from the general waste stream and to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. DEFRA identified three possible ways to recycle food waste: In-vessel composting, Anaerobic digestion and Thermophilic aerobic digestion. In-vessel composting is a treatment that breaks down biodegradable waste by naturally occurring microorganism in an enclosed vessel or tunnel. Anaerobic digestion breaks down biodegradable waste in the absence of oxygen, producing a renewable energy that can be used to generate electricity and heat. Thermophilic aerobic digestion breaks down biodegradable waste in the presence of oxygen into a liquid slurry or semi-solid form.

Eventually, DEFRA chose the In-vessel composting way to apply for the threemonth pilot scheme in one kitchen in one of the four DELFRA offices in London. Food waste was separated on-site in the kitchen through the provision of a number of food waste bins, and through regular training and guidance. The waste was then transferred daily from the kitchen and stored in the basement before weekly collected by a third-party recycling contractor. After collected from the building, the waste was taken to a local recycling facility where accelerated composting machines are used. The trial turned out to be a success with 2.8 tons of food waste diverted from the landfill in the first three months. DEFRAs scheme has also reduced the waste collections and carbon emissions. The trial was so successful that the scheme has become a permanent waste disposal method across the London estate, with 30 tons diverted from landfill and composted since January 2008. In conclusion, DEFRA has accomplished all of its environmental targets through the recycling system for food wastes. The scheme has not only minimized DEFRAs environmental impacts but also provided a long-term disposal solution for the departments food waste arising from the London estate. Source:
http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Food_Waste.pdf