António Guerner: Recycling and climate change
Seventeen years ago, our country had 311 dumps and just one waste sorting station. However, since then, there was a significant evolution in terms of waste separation. According to data from Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV), “nearly 70% of the population already separates the waste.” Nevertheless, that separation is only partially made, that is to say, some materials are separated while others are not. Within the framework of this topic, we have asked António Guerner, a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, to answer some questions.
Jornal Pau de Giz – What is the impact of recycling as a climate change mitigation measure?
António Guerner – Recycling of waste that can be recycled will certainly make an important contribution to mitigating some of the causes and some of the effects of Climate Change (CC). When we produce a sheet of paper, a plastic bag or a glass bottle, from virgin material (wood for paper, oil in the case of plastic and silica sand in the case of the glass bottle) we are, on the one hand, consuming natural resources that are finite, and on the other, consuming energy. Regarding power consumption, if this energy results from fossil fuel sources, it entails the emission of large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere and, as it is known, the CO2 is one of the main gases proved to have greenhouse effects. However, if a sheet of paper, a plastic bag or a glass bottle is produced from the recycling of the same material waste we are on the one hand, saving natural resources and, more importantly, we are producing the same materials, and consuming a considerably inferior amount of energy. Accordingly, we can say that the great contribution of recycling to the mitigation of CC results in a positive impact, as CO2 emissions are much smaller than if the same materials were produced from virgin raw materials. JPG – Do you consider this measure as the most significant or can you point other mitigation measures that are more effective? AG – This measure is an important one, but perhaps not the most significant or the most effective in reducing climate change. There is a measure that has a more direct effect, and that has mainly to do with the use of fossil fuels for transport. If we started using public transport more frequently, if we started walking or riding more frequently, etc., instead of systematically using our private car to move around, surely this would be one of the most important measures for reducing CO2 emissions and, consequently make a major contribution to combating climate change. However, if we can achieve recycling rates similar to those obtained in the northern European countries such as Germany, Belgium, Holland, etc., surely recycling would provide a major contribution and perhaps we could come closer to the contribution that can be made by reducing the use of private transport. JPG – Awareness is extremely important to the efficiency of the recycling process. Can you point out the most important measures to raise awareness and motivate the population? AG – Awareness is a very important step for recycling. Still, it is not always easy to achieve. The separation of waste we do at our house, and that is placed in recycling drop-offs (Ecopontos), and afterwards goes to recycling, represents an average of 10% of the total waste that is produced in Portugal. In other words, we are still far from the values that are achieved in the countries of northern Europe. In the current economic context, I admit that it is difficult to achieve better values using only awareness campaigns. |
I think we need to find ways to motivate people, even if those forms go through financial compensation. For example, in schools it is easy to set up a process of paper collection, creating a prize to be awarded at the end of the year to the student who could deliver the greatest amount of paper.
In turn, the school once a month, or whenever it considers appropriate, can contact a paper recycling company to go to the school, take the paper, and paying the corresponding value of the amount of paper collected. It is a simple campaign, easy to assemble and where everyone can win. JPG – Do you consider necessary to create legislation that makes waste separation compulsory in every household? AG – Knowing the mentality of the people in our country, I believe that imposing a mandatory measure may not have the best effect. I understand the necessity to be able to improve waste separation in our homes because it really is insufficient. However, I believe that a good awareness campaign, particularly addressed to the younger generations, students in schools can be more efficient than creating legislation aimed at forcing people to make that separation at home. I am perfectly convinced that when we try to force someone to do something, there is always a natural resistance to those measures taking effect. So, establish legislation does not seem to be the most efficient process to lead people to separate their waste. To understand more about the reality of recycling in our municipality and to further deepen this matter, we have also interviewed the engineer Marisa Lima, of the Resinorte company. |
Work by: Catarina Ferreira, Bruna Almeida, Pedro Alves e Soraia Coelho
10th Grade
Escola Básica e Secundária de Infias (Middle and High School), Vizela
This work was carried out under the Flash Seminar held on the 9th and the 16th of April 2015 at Escola Básica e Secundária de Infias (Middle School), Vizela. Students developed media content based on interviews with experts in various fields related to climate change and research on the subject.
10th Grade
Escola Básica e Secundária de Infias (Middle and High School), Vizela
This work was carried out under the Flash Seminar held on the 9th and the 16th of April 2015 at Escola Básica e Secundária de Infias (Middle School), Vizela. Students developed media content based on interviews with experts in various fields related to climate change and research on the subject.