Waste management is a serious matter that affects all communities; we are all contributors to the loads of garbage and litter that increase day by day. The systems that are already in process to deal with the problems includes waste disposal, waste to energy plants, waste reduction, composting, recycling, land-fill and refuse management. Waste is an ongoing worry that involves everyone living on this earth and the solutions have to come from all areas, including national and local government and residents.
There are two types of waste management. Source reduction is the implementation of methods to prevent and decrease the amount of waste created. Such methods include reusing and recycling second hand products and repairing products instead of discarding them and buying a new item. Another method is to use recycled bags from cotton and paper, instead of the commonly free plastic bags given out at most stores and supermarkets worldwide.
Recycling is another form of waste management. Recycling extracts valued resources from waste products in order to reuse them for the same or totally different products. Recyclable materials are plastics, wood, metals and paper.
Many local authorities have now introduced various systems and procedures to cope with the amount of refuse created by their inhabitants.
Recycling bins are usually found in supermarket areas or some other similar location. Symbols are clearly printed on the front of the bins to show the type of material that can be placed in them and bins are different colors to help distinguish them too. Containers are often supplied for glass, paper, tin cans and plastic bottles. When recycling plastic bottles make sure you empty them of any liquids and remove the lids.
Recycling can also be facilitated for electrical items, used ink cartridges, mobile phones and batteries. You will have to check with your local authority as to whether they offer a service to collect any of these items. If you want to aid the environment and are interested in recycling then find out their policies on recycling. Most council hand out an information pack or leaflet on the services they provide or you can just go online and check out their website.
Refuse the plastic bags offered at most supermarkets and stores in the high street. If you do receive one, keep it for recycling. Plastic bags should be banned as millions of them are produced each year and end up littering the planet. The litter causes thousands of animals each year to suffocate or choke from swallowing them. When they do eventually break down it is into small poisonous bits that end up polluting the rivers, lakes, earth and marine life.
Some local authorities have now banned the use of plastic bags in stores and others are discouraging their use by sticking a small fee if you require one. This is to persuade consumers to supply their own bags. In some districts this has seen a huge decrease in the number of shoppers using them. Reusable shopping bags are increasing in popularity and often recycled from other material, such as string, hemp, or cotton.
Most products gathered for recycling is put to some use. Most daily newspapers that you can find are made from 100% recycled paper and about half of glass containers such as jars and bottles are washed and reused.
Waste management is a concern that has to be dealt with by every local authority. Understanding about waste and recycling will help you in your daily life to assist in the fight against pollution and products that can harm our environment.
Michiel van Kets provides articles for Michael Hagley, who works for Veolia Australia?s environmental services leader in all facets of waste management. For any household Veolia can provide skip bins.
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