Eliminating waste: The 3R’s at The Cliffs Interpretation Centre

The 3Rs of the Environment are remarkable ways to eradicate waste and protect the environment.  The Cliffs Interpretation Centre encourages a sustainable way of life based on reducing waste and ultimately, the carbon footprint.

Reducing

The best way to manage waste is to not produce it in the first place. If there is less waste, then there is less to recycle or reuse.

One way of reducing waste that is employed at The Cliffs Centre is the use of cotton bags. The use of such re-usable environmentally-friendly bags reduces the waste which is otherwise created if plastic bags are used. Another very efficient way of reducing the carbon footprint at Dingli Cliffs is through the innovative tours offered by The Cliffs Interpretation Centre. The practice of walking, whilst enjoying the countryside, and learning about the surrounding areas and their historical importance doesn’t cause any environmental damage.

Energy is also reduced through the use of electricity. The Cliffs Interpretation Centre saves energy through its green structure. Since the building is surrounded by glass apertures, there is a reduced need to turn on artificial lightning.  All bulbs used at The Cliffs Interpretation Centre are energy efficient bulbs. Other methods incorporated within the building to reduce energy used include its design and seasonal sun orientation, shafts that carry cool air under the structure during the hot summer months

Reusing

Reusing products is an efficient method that is not only economic but also environmentally friendly. Water re-use is employed at The Cliffs through water that is collected, used, purified and reused on site. Apart from recycling material, the Cliffs Interpretation Centre also encourages direct re-use of materials. Empty wine bottles are collected directly from local winemakers, who then fill the glass bottles with their produced wine. 

Recycling

The last resort to manage waste is by recycling, which uses material that is remanufactured into a new product, such as glass, plastic and paper for recycling at the centre.

Concluding Remarks

Practices of the 3Rs at The Cliffs Interpretation Centre are aligned to the directions that the European Commission is following. Environment for Europeans is a regularly published magazine by the European Commission. The latest published magazine of February 2016, which is currently available at The Cliffs Interpretation Centre discusses the economic model that Europe has to take; which is based on transforming the idea that resources are abundant, to one which favours the 3Rs of the environment to ultimately reduce waste. The EC also establishes that better eco-design and waste prevention bring savings for businesses, whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions.