20/01/2021
Top 6 Methods Used for Conserving Resources
Method # 1. Material Substitution
There are many possibilities of material substitution by which, the use of a material resource can be restricted by finding an alternative resource. The problem in this is that many materials have extensive uses and also joint uses.
Copper sheet can be substituted by aluminium, which at the same time would reduce demand for soldering agents made from and lead. Aluminium is being extensively substituted for tin, particularly, in the production of metal cans and containers. Plastics are being used for insulation and anti-corrosive purposes where lead and zinc respectively were previously used.
Method # 2. Product Life Extension
This is a method by which the durability of the product is extended by deliberate design, so that the need for replacement would be postponed.
Method # 3. Recycling
Recycling is a popular and widely practiced method throughout the world by many industrial units. This is a process by which the life of resource is extended by means of recycling it or reusing it as an input or output. This is applicable only to on-energy resources, since the use of a material as an energy resource results in its useless dissipation into the atmosphere.
Industrial wastes and by Āproducts can be profitably recycled. But, the profit seeking firm will make an attempt to recycle a product only when the cost of recycling is lower than use of āvirginā resource material. Further, the differential cost between recycling and using virgin resource must remain for a fairly long period.
Method # 4. Optimum Recycling
The optimum level of recycling is the point at which the extra cost of recycling does not outweigh the extra benefits. For a private firm, the decision to recycle depends upon the difference between the cost to the firm of using the āvirginā material and the cost of using recycled material.
Method # 5. Recycling and Pollution Taxes
The above analysis of optimum recycling relates to ratios for a given output. It is often said that pollution taxes will be levied to encourage recycling of the resources. We shall make an attempt to integrate the above analysis with pollution taxes.
Method # 6. Waste Reduction
The problem to conservation of resources exhibit in two ways, one to consume or exploit the resources in a minimal way and the other is to avoid or reduce wastage in the process of production. If greater attention is paid to the latter, i.e., waste reduction, it will automatically ensure lesser exploitation of resources.
Waste reduction can be achieved by appropriately redesigning industrial processes, so that there will be technological efficiency in utilizing the resource and avoidance of waste to the minimum.
