Every year about one-third of global food production goes as waste. Most of this happens before the food even reaches the consumers. Similarly, varying levels of wastes do occur in other sectors of any economy. By exercising proper care and having suitable safeguards at various stages, we can reduce these wastes and conserve precious resources. Another way of creating value from such wastes is to recycle them for our consumption. Waste for one person or place is the source of wealth or livelihood of another person. Listed here are very common cases of waste or surplus management happening all over the world.
Rainwater: Run off or surplus water from rainfall goes as waste into the oceans. Through the storage structures like dams, tanks, etc., and the rainwater-harvesting techniques, this rainwater is saved which in turn aids in raising the water table in a territory.
Industrial Scrap: Any object unfit for use, or discarded after use is referred to as 'Scrap.' Old paper materials are reconverted for reuse. Metal scraps are melted and purified to get the original element. Waste plastic is recycled for further consumption in making containers of inferior quality and for laying roads. Wood waste is used as fuel and building material. The bagasse of sugar industry forms the raw material of distilleries producing alcohol.
Natural waste: The dry leaf of the banana plant serves as packaging material and fuel while the dry fibrous stem of it is used to make garlands. The withered leaves form the mulch which helps in conserving the soil moisture and humus. The dead tree trunks and animals decay to make the fossils which later become the coal, diamonds, petroleum, etc.. The excreta of birds and animals serve as the natural manure of soil.
Human waste: Waste hairs go into the making of wicks or artificial tress. Dead human organs enable refurbished life. Burial of corpses makes a substratum for many that live on and under the earth. This subterranean activity enriches the soil making it fit for organic farming. On the other hand, cremation leaves the earth poorer as fuel and electricity are wasted. The residues from homes make good manure after due composting. Even the night soil is converted into manure for agriculture.
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is achieved." So never do anything, even eating or sleeping, in a hurry. Remember, the sense of haste always leads to waste only. A person driving rashly is bound to incur the penalty of an accident, one day or other. The economic crisis coupled with a growing global population means each of us needs to play our part in reducing waste.
