The issue of waste is a topical one. Images of plastic littering the oceans and overflowing landfill sites make for grim viewing, with the reality that it is all down to human consumption that has made this possible. The threat to the planet is growing, but more and more people are wising up to the need to reduce waste and do more to clear up.
Technology has been revolutionary in innovating business, science and entertainment – could it be the solution for reducing waste too?
Here are some of the ways that tech is being used to combat waste.
Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons
More efficient recycling
Recycling is the one thing that people can do every day to cut down on waste. But many of the common items you think are recyclable aren’t recyclable at all, which is an area that technology is hoping to change. Tech companies are finding innovative ways to recycle materials so that they can be reused to create new, useful items. This requires upgrading old technology and looking for new ways of doing things, with many companies getting on board to help come up with solutions to ongoing problems.
Reducing plastic waste
Plastic waste is certainly in the consciousness these days, with many campaigners looking to end single-use plastics and cut down on unnecessary plastic waste. Technology is at the heart of reducing plastic waste, with cool solutions including 3D printing being used to recycle plastics and give them a new purpose. It’s also important to remember that technology is helping to spread the word about plastic use, helping people in their millions to wake up to the growing threat that plastic waste brings to the planet.
Streamlining manufacturing processes
Many types of manufacturing produce unnecessary waste, but changes to process and upgrades to equipment could soon change this. The process of electroplating products now involves less waste than it did previously, allowing metal to be used more effectively for coating products, while also producing more accurate calculations. Improving manufacturing processes helps the environment in a number of ways, but it can help businesses save money too.
Cutting down on food waste
Food waste is another hot topic, and one that technology has some surprising ways of offering solutions. Some of the ways that technology is helping to cut down on food waste include the use of smart pricing systems to appropriately price products as they near their expiration date, and apps that help people take advantage of restaurant leftovers. These sound like simple solutions, but they are fantastic examples of the way that innovative tech can help to reduce a growing problem.
Through technology, more and more solutions are possible to common problems, and the way we handle waste could soon undergo some drastic changes. Every day we hear the latest tech news on exciting innovations, and waste solutions are providing ways for both organizations and individuals to take action against waste. Through these tech developments, we could soon experience some real global change and reduce our waste ready for other generations to enjoy our beautiful planet.