Waste can refer to any material that is no longer considered useful after a process has been completed. The types of waste we encounter could range from scrap metal to discarded food packaging.
Waste isn't waste until we waste it
Scrap metal consists of the leftover offcuts and waste from metallic products that can be recycled and re-used. The UK scrap metal industry is worth over £5.6 billion and includes both ferrous and non-ferrous materials from commercial and domestic sources. Reusing scrap metal contributes enormously to minimising CO2 emissions and reducing pollution and water consumption.
To transition to a better future, we must create a circular economy. One focused on reduced demand for goods, on the extension of product life, and on the reduction of waste, only returning readily re-absorbed outputs such as water and compost to the environment. Circularity refers to the re-design of products and business models to promote the reduction, repair, re-use, re-distribution, and recycling of products. We have to change the way we produce, the way we operate and the way we live.
