How much waste do I produce in one day and is it really waste, or is there a potential use for it? To find the answer to this question I mapped out all the things I threw in the bin or don’t use.
The first thing in the day is a shower and going to the toilet. How much water do I use in a shower and how much energy do I use to have a hot shower? On average we use 7 litres per minute according to ‘Yarra Valley Water’ using a modern efficient shower head. The first substance I use in my day is already a massive amount of waste that could have many potential uses. So where does this dirty chemical filled water go?
According to ‘Sydney Water’ there are a number of processes that deal with waste water. The water goes through a number of processes that remove impurities. The water is then used back in your home or parks and so on. This process is great for taking impurities out of water.However it uses a great deal of energy.
After a shower, breakfast is the next step in my day. Between the four people living in my household there can be a lot of waste .This includes plastic and food scrap waste which ends up in the bin if food isn’t consummed and in the toilet in a couple of hours if I do. The organic part of this waste can be considered a natural process to keep animals alive. In the wild animal food scraps feed other animals or leave seeds which then turn into more plants for animals to keep eating. So does this happen after I eat or does the scrap food go to land fill? The recycled waste goes into recycling of course. Soft plastics are compressed and kept in land fill, while hard plastics can be pelletised and taken to factories for reuse. Metals are re-melted and reused. General waste goes to landfill. This is a shame as there are so many potentials for food scraps. Some companies such as ‘EarthPower’ collect and recycle organic waste then turn it into fertiliser.
Later through my day I continue to eat and throw things in the bin, which means it instantly goes to land fill unless you throw out things in the correct bin. There is a lot of potential for food waste other than land fill, which I feel should be explored further.
As for toilet waste, the heavy materials and impurities are extracted and turned into fertiliser leaving the water to run off into the ocean.
William Sandstrom, 11997943, Group 3
References:
City Of Sydney, Recycling, Sydney, viewed 10th June 2016,http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/live/waste-and-recycling/recycling
EarthPower, What we Recycle, 35 Grand Avenue Camellia NSW, viewed 11 june 2016, website, http://www.earthpower.com.au/what_we_recycle.php
Sydney Water, Recycled Water, Sydney, Viewed 10th june 2016, http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/plumbing-building-developing/plumbing/recycled-water/index.htm
Wealth From Waste 
I like the way you mapped out the waste map from the beginning of a day to the night. It is clear to see when the waste produced and the activities in related, which can effectively help the analysis process. And the review and self-reflection for the waste audit are very thought-provoking.
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