It's been more than a year that Lebanon has been experiencing a garbage crisis. Our crisis started to build up longer than a year ago and it is the cause of extreme negligence. Sometimes, we get rid of trash by using landfills and other times we burn it. Sure, burning trash is a very serious problem as it adds to air pollution and can produce a range of poisonous compounds. However, Sweden is here to tell you that sometimes trash needs to burned in a responsible and safe way of course where energy can be used from the burning of trash.
QUICK FACTS:
- Three tons of waste contains as much energy as one ton of fuel.
- Less than 1 % of Sweden's Trash ends up in landfills.
- Most Swedes separate all recyclable waste in their homes and deposit it in special containers in their block of flats or drop it off at a recycling station.
- Waste is a relatively cheap fuel.
- Sweden imports 70,000 tons of waste from other countries.
- The smoke from incineration plants consists of 99.9 % non-toxic carbon dioxide and water, but is still filtered.
- Garbage loses 75 % of its weight after burning
- Metals can be extracted from the ashes and recycled
- Porcelain and tile, which do not burn, can be used as gravel for road construction
In conclusion, we really need to learn from Sweden. We are constantly wasting the energy emitted from the trash burnings. Most importantly, we need to recycle and stop food waste.
