Recommendations of

3Rs!

Sources of drinking water
rates of utilisation per
day!


The 3Rs- REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE
The phrase reduce, reuse, recycle refers to the recommended
sequence of activities for treating materials to make better use of
materials so that we create less damage to the environment. In addition
to the primary advantages to our environment, these 3Rs also provide
other benefits, such as financial savings. These are also known as the
environmental 3Rs. They are :

1.Reducing

2.Reusing

3.Recycling


First, when possible, reduce or don't use resources you don't need. One
of the easiest ways to do this is to stop using up things when you aren't
making use of them. For instance, turn out the lights when you don't need
them. Don't run the water when you aren't using it (turn it off while you
brush your teeth). This is the best option because you not only save
resources by not using them, you also leave them available for further
use later on, and there are frequently other resources saved by not
needing to create more. For example, if you save water usage, you have
also saved the energy needed to purify and pump that water, and often,
the resources that will be expended in sewage treatment.

Second, by reusing, we also reduce the amount of new resources that will
be used. Reuse can be facilitated by using objects that are sturdy or built
well. When you use standard dishes instead of paper plates, you reduce
the amount of waste that is created.

The third category is often the one we think of first. Recycling is good for
the environment, but not as good as the first two choices. Recycling takes
energy.
Reduce

This is the best practice of the 3Rs.

If we reduce our need for resources, there would
be no need to recycle materials.

It is better as the recycling process also requires
energy.
REUSE
Advantages
Energy and raw materials savings
as replacing many single use
products with one reusable, one
reduces the number that need to
be manufactured.
Reduced disposal needs and costs.
Refurbishment can bring
sophisticated, sustainable, well
paid jobs to underdeveloped
economies.
Cost savings for business and
consumers as a reusable product is
often cheaper than the many
single use products it replaces.
Some older items were better
handcrafted and appreciate in
value

Disadvantages
Reuse often requires cleaning or
transport, which have environmental
costs.
Some items, such as freon appliances
or infant auto seats, could be
hazardous or less energy efficient as
they continue to be used.
Reusable products need to be more
durable than single-use products, and
hence require more material per item.
This is particularly significant if only a
small proportion of the reusable
products are in fact reused.
Sorting and preparing items for reuse
takes time, which is inconvenient for
consumers and costs money for
businesses.
Recycle
Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new
products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials,
reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials,
reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution
(from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by
reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and
lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin
production.

Recycling is a key component of modern waste
reduction and is the third component of the
"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy.
There are some ISO standards relating to recycling such as
ISO 15270:2008 for plastics waste and ISO 14001:2004 for
environmental management control of recycling practice.

Incentives of 3Rs
The 3Rs of reduce, reuse and recycle have been considered to be a
base of environmental awareness and a way of promoting ecological
balance through conscious behaviour and choices. It is generally
accepted that these patterns of behaviour and consumer choices will
lead to savings in materials and energy which will benefit the
environment.

In this context it may be enquired whether certain economic instruments
may be considered to further strengthen these behaviours and choices.
An example may be to reduce the sales tax or value added tax on goods
that are made by recycling used materials, such as paper, plastics,
glass, metals. Another example may be to reduce sales tax or value
added tax on second-hand goods, which may include books, clothes,
house-hold gadgets, bicycles, cars and automobiles, office equipment,
medical and scientific equipment, telecommunication equipment,
agricultural equipment, industrial and manufacturing equipment, boats,
ships, trains and trams, aeroplanes, oil rigs, and so on.
An additional approach may be to reduce the interest rates on the
financial loans, which companies avail of, for their commercial
activities in the recycling, re-use and resale of used material and
equipments.

It is plausible that this may have a significant impact on consumer
behaviour, and may strengthen those sections of the economy and
trade that are associated with such goods and services. Additionally,
this would be consistent with supporting consumer behaviour and
choices that are beneficial for the environment and for the economy.
Video
Recommendations of 3Rs
Managing of Wastes!
Building Materials
Building materials are made from many recyclable
materials, such as metals, wood, glass etc. Recycle
these materials accordingly.

Architectural salvage yards may take these items
for reselling.

Many building materials, such as bricks and wood
can be reused.

Chemical Wastes
Most waste batteries and chemical wastes are
hazardous and recycling them is always the best
option.
Chemical wastes should not be thrown or dumped
in open.
Promote use of rechageable batteries over
ordinary batteries as they have longer life.
Battery recycling services should be provided.
Composting
Composting is an excellent way to recycle kitchen
and garden waste.
Composting is the decomposition of materials that
originated from animals and plants.
These organic materials can be things such as
plant trimmings, vegetable cuttings, eggshells and
teabags.
The composting process produces a dark, crumbly
matter that can be used as fertiliser in garden soil.

Electronic Equipments

Electronic equipments, such as mobiles and
computers should not be thrown away.

These equipments, if not needed, should be
donated to other organisations.

The recyclable materials in them must be
recycled.
Glass
Glass is separated into 3 colours: green, brown
and clear.

Recycling banks should be created where these
glasses can be thrown into appropriate containers.

Glass must be reused as far as possible.

Metals
Metal is usually separated into 2 groups:
aluminium and steel.
Drink cans are usually made from aluminium and
food cans are usually made from steel.
The waste metals can be used by students in their
project models.
These should be deposited in the recycling bank,
where they are processed into useful materials.


Paper
Newspapers and magazines should be collected
from door to door and recycled or reused after
that.
Reuse envelopes by putting stickers on the
address part.
Reduce heavy packaging of products.
Paper can be used for craft purposes.
Other Methods
Green buildings which reduce the consumption of
electricity.
Conversion of used cooking oils into biodisel.
Providing students with bicycles rather than bus
transport.
Reducing the use of paper.
Keeping different coloured garbage bins for
different types of wastes.
Avoiding leakage of pipes.





McDonalds sets examples
Switching to unbleached paper napkins made from recycled
materials.

Creating litter patrols.

82% of consumer packaging is made from renewable
materials.

Recycling the used cooking oil for re-use in variety of
products, including the creation of environmental friendly
biodiesel.
Video
Sources of drinking water to MIT
campus
There are 2 sources of drinking water to the
campus- borewells and municipal water.

About 20 borewells are there in the campus to
supply water.

The municipal water comes from the dam situated
at Hiriadka, near Baje.

Sources of drinking water
The dam water is treated in 2 stages.

Firstly, it is treated there itself and secondly the
water is treated at the water treatment plant in
Parkala.

In summers, when there is shortage of municipal
water, the borewells are used.

The dam at Hiriadka, near Baje.
The used water from the
campus is treated at the
Sewage Treatment Plant
(near X block).
After the treatment of
water, it is used for
gardening purposes.
Rates of utilisation per day

About 25,00,000 litres of water is used per day by
the MIT campus.

The hostels use around 20,00,000 litres of water
per day.

The detailed reports are contained in the Excel
Sheets.
Water consumption in January

Water consumption in February

Water consumption in March

The meters used for
noting the readings and
calculating the amount
of water used per day.
Heading towards a greener
Manipal
During our meeting with the maintenance officials
of MIT, we found that most of them are already
working towards making Manipal eco-friendly.
Still awareness must be raised among the
students, so that even they participate in making
this a reality.
Implementing washers, sensors etc. would help us
solving the water crisis significantly.

References
MIT Maintenance Office (Plumbing & Electricity)

Sewage Treatment Plant (near X block)

Photo courtesy: Derrick I. Joshua (Field Trips)

Video courtesy:
www.youtube.com
www.metacafe.com

THANK YOU