eyðslu

Eyðsla is an Icelandic noun meaning waste or depletion of resources. It covers wasteful use of energy, materials, or money, as well as the destruction or depletion of natural assets. In environmental, economic, and policy contexts, eyðsla is used to describe practices that are inefficient or unsustainable. The genitive form eyðslu appears in phrases such as eyðslu orkunnar or eyðslu auðlinda, indicating the consumption or depletion of a resource.

Etymology and sense development: the word derives from Old Norse eyðsla, connected to the verb eyða, “to destroy.” Over time its meaning in Icelandic has broadened to include not only outright destruction but also wastage and excessive use within various systems, from households to industry and government.

Usage and contexts: eyðsla is commonly discussed in relation to energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainable development. It is contrasted with saving (sparnaður) and responsible resource use. The term appears in environmental reports, policy discussions, and academic writing, where it helps frame concerns about how resources are consumed and whether current patterns are sustainable.

See also: energy efficiency, waste management, sustainable development, resource management, environmental policy.