Types of waste
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Did you know that the US only recycles around one-third of its waste? Approximately half the waste generated goes to landfills. The rest is mostly burnt as it is toxic or a biohazard. An individual generates between 4 to 5 pounds of waste every day. This amounts to a whopping 250 to 300 million tonnes of waste in a year. It is hard to imagine the amount of space that would be required to take care of this ever-growing mountain of garbage should it be collected in one spot!
The increased use of disposable products, whether it is food packaging, stationery, or single-use materials, has become a monster that the world is struggling to cope with. Every individual and community must take stock of this situation and understand how to control the amount of waste produced and find alternate methods of disposal. Duck Creek Disposal sheds light on the different types of waste and how waste is disposed of in a landfill.
- Solid Waste - includes plastic, paper, metal, and glass that may be generated out of homes or offices and other commercial places. This consists of bottles, boxes, packaging, containers, etc, and makes up the largest chunk of waste. If these materials can be recycled, reused, and segregated before being thrown out, it will tackle the biggest problem of waste accumulation and disposal. Unfortunately, most people ignore this aspect and allow these materials to go into landfills instead of recycling or reusing them.
- Liquid Waste - dirty water, detergents, sewage, industrial and chemical waste all come under liquid waste. It is very important to have liquid waste treated and sanitized before disposal as it can mix with the groundwater causing harm to the water table, soil, plants, and animals, leading to the leaching of chemicals into the food chain. This is hazardous to health and the environment.
- Organic Waste - consists of food-related waste, manure, rotten meat, and garden waste. Organic waste can be broken down by microorganisms and is biodegradable. It should be segregated, reduced, and made into compost.
- Hazardous Waste - may be chemical, therefore toxic and corrosive. It can be highly reactive and a fire hazard. Usually, industries and factories or fossil fuel-related products generate hazardous waste.
It is important to identify and segregate waste at the source to be reused and recycled wherever possible. If you are in Wichita, Texas, search for a roll-off dumpster near me for the collection of waste that needs to be put into a landfill.
What is a landfill?
Ever wondered where your garbage goes after it leaves your home? The answer: into a Landfill. A Landfill is an area that is specially prepared to collect and bury waste that cannot be bio-degraded, recycled, or reused. It is lined with either clay or plastic to ensure that the waste does not come in contact with the soil after it is collected and deposited by an on-site dumpster rental service. The garbage is also kept away from natural forces like rain and groundwater, even air, to minimize decomposition. There are several considerations and regulations when choosing a site for a landfill which include the porosity of the soil, impact on the natural flora and fauna, water resources around the site, and how much and for how long the waste can be compressed and held in it. In addition, ensuring that there is no build-up of gasses like methane which can cause explosions in an airtight landfill, also has to be taken care of.
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