Zero Waste (Question 2)

Nowadays, our earth is full of the garbage. The production of garbage such as medical wastes, electrical wastes, hazardous wastes and others is greatly increasing with the progressing of countries. The phenomenon have caused impacts on environment as well as human beings. The quality of human lives as highly associated with nature has downgraded too. In response to these effects, many countries have started to concentrate on this issue and negotiate for appropriate solutions. For example, they have come out with the idea of land-filling and the incineration for waste disposal problems. However, the methods mentioned above are not considered the best solution due to the side effects they have caused such as air and land pollution. A later idea with effective system which called zero waste has been implemented and has resolved the previous problems.

Zero waste is a mean of designing and managing products and process to reduce the volume as well as toxicity of waste materials, conserve all resources, and not burn or bury(“Zero Waste International Alliance”, n.d.). In Malaysia, the waste disposal problems have become seriously. It is totally not the responsibility of government, the public plays a very important role too and they should involve themselves and corporate with government in solving these problems.

First, recycling is one of the common solution. Most of the wastes such as the aluminum cans, papers and glass bottles are recyclable. People should start fostering a good habit of recycling in their houses and within their residential area. Learning how to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste materials is beneficial in decreasing the accumulated household wastes. The recyclable rubbish can be arranged into different groups such as the batteries, papers, glass and others.

Besides, government also play a very important role in solving the waste disposal problems. As we know, recycle bins are rarely found in Malaysia and this has indirectly caused Malaysians lack sense of environmental protection. In order to improve this condition, government should put more efforts such as increasing the number of recycle bins in public places. This will encourage people to recycle and it also brings convenience for people in doing this good deed. Moreover, government can enhance the sense of responsibility among people by educating and making the plans of recycling acceptable. Government should active in organizing more related campaign as a way of educating. For example, the recycling campaign called “Thank You Recycle” was held in March, 2007. This campaign was very successful and during this campaign more than 300,000 waste materials are collected(“CSR Action”, 2007). Furthermore, government should punish the factories which produce the large amount of the wastes. Enforcement of law regulations is always considered an effective way for example, penalties are given to those factories that produce large-scale wastes. In minimizing such losses, the manufacturers will definitely alter their ways of operating.

Besides, there is an increasing accumulation of both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes produced by factories due to industrialization. The zero waste system is an ideal way and should be adopted in the operating of industries. The manufacturers are encouraged to design the products which are environmental friendly and bring the waste amount to the zero waste level. For instances, organic farming avoid the using of synthetic chemical fertilizers but instead environmental-friendly substances such as renewable resources and green manures. These renewable and recyclable materials help in alleviation of environment pollutions.

In conclusion, every individual must bear in mind that their lives are closely related to and heavily dependent on environment. The waste disposal problems bring nothing but suffers to them and even their generation. Therefore, every people and manufacturers must corporate with the government in solving these problems. Zero waste system is considered the best way, at least for now, should be encouraged and widely implemented. Let’s save our earth by reducing, reusing and recycling.


References

Zero Waste International Alliance. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://www.californiagreensolutions.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=58

CSR Action. (2007, March). Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://www.fastretailing.com/eng/csr/news/0706131800%20.html