1. THEORETICAL PART

If we talk about the basics of waste management, we should first clarify the most important terms. What is waste and what is garbage? It is an important question, as many people confuse the two. Materials that have become useless at the place of their origin and whose owner wants to get rid of them are considered waste, yet they still contain usable, valuable material and/or energy. Garbage is a material that has become useless and its owner cannot or does not want to use it anymore. Garbage is removed from the cycle of the economy, as it does not contain material and/or energy that can be used economically and is stored and dumped in a mixed manner. Important terms include reuse. After the product becomes waste, it is used for the same purpose, preserving its original form and function. For example, a PET bottle is made from a PET bottle in the same way, shortening the process of producing the product, saving raw materials and energy. Recycling is similar to the previous concept, but with an essential difference (Figure 1).

1. Figura Recycling logo

After the given product becomes waste, secondary materials or products with a different function are produced, which also help to reduce the use of raw materials. A set of activities and procedures aimed at reducing the hazardous effect of waste, preventing and excluding environmental pollution, and returning it to production or consumption. The priorities and target system of waste management are the following in order of importance: prevention of the generation of waste; reducing the danger of waste, reuse, recycling, thermal utilisation, and finally disposal (Figure 2).

2. Figura The purpose of waste management system

On the following pages, we present reuse technologies also used in our country that can contribute to meeting the 55% target. The following case studies concern the plastic and paper waste that dominates our everyday consumer lives, as well as polystyrene, which is challenging in many ways.