WASTE
By Hannah, Kiera, Kobi, Lakeiya and Pippa
Waste is something “to become consumed or spent
uselessly or without being fully utilised”, “anything
unused, unproductive, or not properly utilised”, “having
served a purpose and no longer in use”.
HISTORY OF WASTE
Aboriginal people who lived in Australia for over
60,000 years before colonial settlement produced very
little rubbish. Archaeologists found debris of bones,
shells and stone tools, but all the other waste had
been decomposed naturally.
TIMELINE OF WASTE IN AUSTRALIA
• 1788
• First European settlers arrived in Australia.
• Brought animals, plants and products from
England including flasks, bottles, metal and
other technologies.
• Food scraps were used to feed their
animals.
• Lots of materials were reused because new
things were not easy to obtain or make.
• 1800s
• More people sailed from England to
colonise Australia.
• Increase people and supplies,
• Establishment of the first meat and
vegetable stores, and the waste was
increased.
• Mostly thrown into the streets and rodents
that had hitched a ride on the ships from
England multiplied, feeding on the waste
and spreading diseases.
• Late 1800s
• Horses and carts were used to collect
waste from households in towns and
transport it to land outside the towns to
bury.
• Australia’s first landfill sites
• Residents often burnt their waste
(continued into mid to late 1900s)
• 1890s
• Canning was invented and metal cans
began to arrive in Australia.
• Collected and reused by some people, as
more cans arrived the less need to collect
and reuse the metals.
• 1930s
• Plastics were invented.
• Following World War II there was an
explosion in the production of plastic items.
• Plastic bags were invented to use for
shopping and many food products were
packaged in plastic.
• 1970s
• People continued to burn household waste
in their backyards.
• This was stopped due to air pollution
concerns.
Western Australia by the department of environmental
protection definition
”Waste is the act of using resources inefficiently, excessively
or needlessly. The act of wasting results in waste materials
that are perceived to have little or no value and therefore
discarded. In many cases a material becomes waste because
it is not socially acceptable, or economically and
environmentally viable for it to be recycled or reused”
(Department of environmental protection).
TYPES OF WASTE
• Waste is classified into either living (organic) or
non-living (inorganic)
o Organic waste can include food scraps,
paper, grass clippings and other plant
material.
o Inorganic waste includes items such as
plastics, glass, aluminium and other
metals along with sand and bricks and
hazardous waste.
o Municipal solid waste which is produced
by households and workplaces.
o Industrial solid waste which is produced
by mines, farms, industries.
• Liquid waste which is waste in non-solid form.
Some solid waste can be converted to a liquid
waste. E.g. wash water from homes, liquid used
for cleaning and in industries and detergents.
• Hazardous waste which is a potential threats to
the environment and human life e.g. inflammable
(which can be easily caught on fire), reactive (can
easily explode), corrosive (which can eat through
metal) or toxic. E.g. fire extinguishers, mercury
containing equipment lamps and batteries.
• E-waste which is discarded electronic appliances
e.g. mobile phones, computers and televisions
• Recyclable waste which includes all the rubbish
that can be used again.
• 1980s
• Recycling started with bottle banks (a place
where used glass bottles may be deposited
for recycling) for glass, paper recycling and
aluminium cans.
• 1990s
• Awareness that litter was an increasing
problem in Australia.
• Plastic bags were killing ocean wildlife.
• The first Clean Up Australia Day was
launched in 1990.
• 2000+
• More people are recycling.
• Recyclables are collected through the local
council.
• Climate change is an issue affecting us all and
our consumption and waste production
impacts on climate change.
• People are aware of environmental issues.
 WASTE
By Hannah, Kiera, Kobi, Lakeiya and Pippa
Reduce
Avoid waste while looking for ways to produce and
use goods that allows a stop in generating waste.
There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste
we produce. These include:
• Reduce your use of single-use and disposable
products where possible and choose
alternatives which can be used again.
E.g. Instead of buying bottled water out take a
bottle from home.
• Buy products with limited/minimal packaging
• Bulk buy as you save money but it limits the
amount of packaging you buy
• Use refillable/reusable containers
• opt for no plastic bags
• Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic wraps
And remember reducing waste also reduces litter.
Recycle
Recycling is a key component of modern waste
reduction and is the third component of the 3 R
mantra.
Recycling is a process to change materials into new
products and prevent waste of useful materials (even
if they are no longer useful to you).
It also involves the reducing of energy consumption,
air and water pollution by reducing conventional
waste disposal.
Recycle waste material into usable products. These
materials may include:
• Glass
• Paper
• Metal
• Plastics
• Electronics
• Cardboard
• Materials
• Food
• Garden waste
Materials to be recycled are either brought to a
collection centre or picked up from the curb (recycling
bins along with curb side collections), then sorted,
cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound
for manufacturing
Reuse
When you reuse items you are becoming cost
effective, helping yourself and many others by
preventing the materials going into waste.
Simple ways to reuse:
• Re use containers, packaging or waste
products.
• Give unwanted clothes or items to others in
need
• Reuse takeaway containers (these make
excellent freezer containers or ice bricks)
• Use glasses to store food in. (they help to
prevent pantry moths too)
• Those extra plastic bags you have laying
around your home – use them to pick up
after your pet.
• Trash for treasure
Reusing items over and over again makes good
sense, and can save money too.
You might refill your plastic or glass drink bottle,
turn your glass jars into a vase or a lantern or
remodel your old clothes to make something
new?
Plastic Bag Ban
Lightweight, single-use plastic shopping bags
will be banned in WA from July 1 2018. The ban
has brought WA into line with South Australia,
Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT
with Queensland also planning to ban plastic
shopping bags next year. Woolworths, Coles
and IGA have indicated they support the ban by
not providing single-use plastic bags. Some
retailers, including Aldi and Bunnings, already
do not supply single-use plastic bags to
customers.
Excursions/ Incursions
• Piney Lakes Environmental Education
Centre
• The Worm Shed
• Regional Resource Recovery Centre
• Recycle Right incursions
• Foothills Sustainability Centre
 WASTE
By Hannah, Kiera, Kobi, Lakeiya and Pippa
Disadvantages in recycling
• Not always cost effective
Recycling is not always cost-effective. Sometimes, there may be a need to establish separate
factories to process reusable products. This may create more pollution in terms of cleaning,
storage and transportation.
• Recycles products may have a short life span
Recycled products are always not of durable. Items are mostly made of trashed waste, picked up
from heaps other waste products which are of fragile or overly used.
• Unhygienic recycling plants
Places where all sorts of waste are dumped are conducive for debris formation and spread of
disease and other dangers caused by harmful chemicals and waste.
• Not available on a large scale
This process is just a small part of long-term success. Recycling often occurs at a small scale-
homes or schools and has failed to be useful at a large level
• Costs
Huge costs can come up as a part of acquiring different utility vehicles, upgrading the processing
facility, educating residents by organizing seminars and other programs, disposing of existing
waste and chemicals etc

Don’t Rubbish It Waste Management

Recycling is an important part of
your household rubbish
collection. The Southern
Metropolitan Regional Council
processes the contents of
recycling bins from six Perth local
councils and 33 country shires at
its facility in Canning Vale, which
also turns household waste into
compost and processes green
waste collected from several
councils in the southern suburbs.
Classroom Application
• Incorporating reduce, reuse
and recycle programs within
the class
• Completing waste audits
within the school
• Plastic Free Day/ Waste
Free Day
• Worm Farms
• Paper Recycling Bins
• Creating sustainable options
for student’s lunch boxes
• Completing lunch box audits
• Literacy and Comprehension
activities based on relevant
children’s literature
• Litter clean-up day
Waste Management is Waste management is all of the activities
that handle waste materials, from the time it is made to its disposal.
(Australian Government, n.d.)
So According the Australian Government – department of
environment and energy, waste management the management of
waste is the responsibility of state and territory governments which
regulate and manage waste in accordance with their respective
legislation, policies and programs. (Department of Environment and
Energy, 2013)
Each local government have the responsibility of waste
management in their local areas. “Managing waste is not just the
responsibility of governments. A range of industries and businesses,
as well as communities, households and individuals are involved in
waste management and resource recovery”. (Department of
Environment and Energy, 2013)
Australian governments have a long history of partnership on waste
policy and actions. The first widespread domestic approach to waste
management was agreed under the 1992 National Strategy for
Ecologically Sustainable Development (the National Strategy for
ESD) by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), which
obligated Australia to improving the efficiency with which resources
are used, reducing the impact on the environment of waste disposal;
and improving the management of hazardous wastes, avoiding their
generation and addressing clean-up issues. (Department of
Environment and Energy, 2013)
The National Waste Policy sets six key directions:
• taking responsibility
• improving the market
• pursuing sustainability
• reducing hazard and risk
• tailoring solutions
• providing the evidence.
 WASTE
By Hannah, Kiera, Kobi, Lakeiya and Pippa

Landfill
A landfill site (also known as a tip, dump, rubbish
dump, garbage dump or dumping ground and
historically as a midden) is a site for the disposal of
waste materials by burial. Historically, landfills have
been the most common method of organized waste
disposal and remain so in many places around the
world.
Landfill is one of the most efficient and convenient
forms of waste disposal.
As long as the landfill is well designed and managed
it can be one of the most hygienic and cost efficient
ways of waste disposal. (Wikipedia, 2018)
The characteristics of a modern landfill include
methods to contain leachate such as clay or plastic
lining material. Often waste is compacted to
increase density and stability it is then covered to
prevent attracting animals and bugs.
Landfills are not intended to break down waste, only
to store it however garbage in a landfill does
breakdown, although slowly and in a sealed,
oxygen-free environment. Because of the lack of
oxygen, bacteria in the waste produce methane gas,
which is highly flammable and dangerous if allowed
to collect underground. This gas is also a very
potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global
warming. (Ashford, 2010)
There are many currently running landfill sites in
Perth some being the Henderson Waste recovery
park, the Armadale landfill and recycling facility,
canning landfill and recycling facility.
INCINERATION
Incineration is a waste treatment process that
involves the combustion of organic substances
contained in waste materials. Incineration and
other high-temperature waste treatment systems
are described as "thermal treatment". (Wikipedia,
2018) It is used to decrease the volume of waste
by 20-30% During incineration waste material
that is treated is converted in to gases, particles
and heat. These products are later used for
generation of electricity.
An Incinerator is used to dispose of waste during
the incineration process
An incinerator is a furnace where waste is burnt.
Modern incinerators are equipped with pollution
improvement systems, which play their part in
cleaning up the Flue gas and such toxicants.
(Waste Management Resources, 2009)
Incineration is much popular in places like Japan
where there is a shortage of land. The energy
generated by incineration is highly demanded in
countries like Denmark and Sweden. In year,
2005 it was estimated that 4.8 percent of the
electricity as is consumed by Danish nation was
produced by incineration and the amount of heat
was some 13.7 percent out of total. Other than
Denmark and Sweden many European countries
are recovering heat and electricity from waste.
(Waste Management Resources, 2009)

ALTERNATIVE WASTE TREATMENT(AWT)

Alternative waste treatment (AWT) describes a range of activities that process mixed solid waste that
would have gone to landfill into products such as compost, fuel or biogas, and increase recovery of
resources including plastics, glass and metals. (Australian Government, n.d.)
Landfill waste contains biodegradable organic matter. As this organic matter decomposes it releases
gases such as methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.
This method avoids releasing methane that would occur when waste decomposes in landfill by
diverting mixed waste to AWT facilities, where it is sorted and processed.
Three types of waste processing can be used in the method:
• composting—where organic matter in waste is broken down by microorganisms to produce a
nutrient rich soil product.
• anaerobic digestion—where organic matter in waste is broken down by bacteria in the absence
of oxygen. This produces biogas which is then combusted and can be used to heat boilers or
to generate renewable electricity.
• process engineered fuel manufacture—where organic matter in waste is processed to produce
a solid fuel substitute that can be used to replace conventional fossil fuels.
There are three main elements in a project using this method:
• constructing a new AWT facility or expanding an existing facility.
• processing the mixed waste.
• calculating the emissions from the waste treatment process. (Australian Government, n.d.)
 WASTE
By Hannah, Kiera, Kobi, Lakeiya and Pippa

Curriculum Links
Science:
• Science involves observing, asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events
(ACSHE021)
• People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things
(ACSHE022)
• Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use
(ACSSU074)
• Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships (ACSHE061)
• Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE083)
Design and Technologies:
• People produce familiar products and services to meet personal and community needs (ACTDEK001)
• People design and produce familiar products, services and environments to meet local and community
needs (ACTDEK001)
• Ways products, services and environments are designed to meet community needs (ACTDEK010)
• Ways products, services and environments are designed to meet community needs, including
consideration of sustainability(ACTDEK010)
• Characteristics and properties of a range of materials and components, and the suitability and safe practice
of their use (ACTDEK023)
• Characteristics, properties and safe practice of a range of materials, systems, tools and equipment; and
evaluate the suitability of their use (ACTDEK023)

Sustainability
OI.1 – The biosphere is a dynamic system providing conditions that sustain life on Earth.

OI.2 – All life forms, including human life, are connected through ecosystems on which they depend for their well-being and
survival. World Views

OI.5 – Worldviews are formed by experience at personal, local, national, and global levels, and are linked to individual and
community actions for sustainability. Futures

OI.6 – The sustainability of ecological, social, and economic systems is achieved through informed individual and community
action that values local and global equity and fairness across generations into the future.

OI.7 – Actions for a more sustainable future reflect values of care, respect, and responsibility, and require us to explore and
understand environments.

OI.8 – Designing actions for sustainability requires evaluation of past practices, the assessment of scientific and technological
developments, and balanced judgements based on projected future economic, social, and environmental impacts.

OI. 9 – Sustainable futures result from actions designed to preserve and/or restore the quality and uniqueness of
environments.