Resource efficiency: progress and challenges of 3Rs technologies and policies

Abstract

Resource efficiency and waste management lacks a holistic approach which cover the whole chain of product life cycle and its management. The quantities of waste generation increases in close relation to economic growth, however, the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle (3Rs) technologies and policies are introduced through the strategic planning and management. The effective waste management is an efficient method which include both to increase resource efficiency and to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Sustainable production and consumption from the extraction-material use-disposal, could be directly linked with waste management. Addressing the problems and solutions of waste management system from 'waste' to 'resource', 'waste and resource management' and 'circular economy' all reflect the significant impact of decoupling between economy and waste management. Resource recovery and recycling activities generate revenue from the recovered and recyclable materials, compost and energy. The main objective of this study is to analyse the waste treatment strategies with the combination of progress and challenges of 3Rs technologies and policies towards resource efficiency. This paper also identifies the positive contribution of waste and resource management through financing and provide better and improved environmentally sound waste management system.