Let’s be honest, not all of us know much about waste management aside from the fact that we just set it outside our homes occasionally. Little do some of us know that garbage is already becoming one of the industries that need more attention.
Garbage is actually becoming a huge problem in different parts of the world, especially these days because of the pandemic. Fortunately, there are ways how we can help. If you’re looking for solutions for your garbage, here are some things you can do for easy waste management.
Recycling
One of the most effective solutions to managing your waste is recycling. Most waste is actually recyclable. However, only a small percentage of it is recycled. This is usually because only a few people have an idea about recycling. The rest, however, don’t know which materials can be recycled and how they should be recycled.
For starters, what you can do first is to ensure getting the right containers. This means you’ll need to have different bins for different materials. If you’re not sure which bins to use or if you don’t have bins big enough for your garbage, you can opt for a skip bin hire instead. This way, you’re sure that the recyclable materials won’t mix with other trash, making it easier to recycle.
Once you have different bins, separate paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, batteries, metal, electronics, light bulbs, etc. from each other. This will keep reusable materials from getting dirty, so it’s easier to repurpose them.
If you have bigger waste, such as cardboard boxes, try to compress them as much as you can. This will help you maximize your bins’ space. Plus, you can save more money once the collectors pick them up.
Composting
Composting is yet another sure-fire way to deal with your garbage. If you have food waste, you can turn them into a safer fuel for your own garden. The good thing about it is that it’s safe for any kind of garden. And even if you don’t have a green thumb, composting your food waste will benefit your plats a lot.
If you don’t have your own garden, don’t worry. You can donate your food waste instead. Public gardens usually accept food waste donations. With this, you won’t just get to help your community, but you’re also able to limit your carbon footprint.
For this solution, you’ll only need a small container. But, you need to strategically place them on top of each other. You’d want to place carbon-rich materials at the bottom of your container as it will help aerate your compost.
Eventually, they will heat up. But, give them a week or two to cool down before you place them in your garden. Also, note that the smaller the pieces are, the better. This is because it would be easier for these materials to decompose, which will benefit your garden a lot.
Reusing
These days, many industries are participating in reducing their carbon footprints too. Hence, many shops opt to use paper bags or cloth bags.
If you’re not sure how to dispose of these bags, reuse them instead. You can save cloth bags for your next shopping, so you won’t need to buy another.
For paper bags, you can cut them into smaller pieces and reuse them as scratch papers. Or, you can use them as compost instead. But, make sure that you’re not using glossy or colored papers. This is because such materials release toxic chemicals when they decompose, which can harm your gardens, your soil, and even your water supply.
If you need to deal with cardboard boxes, on the other hand, you can reuse them as storage instead. Or, you can save them for when you need to pack items that are needed to be shipped, especially when you’re moving to a new home.
If the boxes aren’t in a good condition for storage, you can repurpose them and use them as materials that your kids can play with. You can make cut-outs out of it, have them draw on it, or anything that will help with their imagination.
Anaerobic Digestion
This process happens when bacteria break down organic matter, such as food waste and animal manure. When these decompose without the presence of air, they release a gas rich in methane that you can use as a renewable heat and power source. You can also use them as fertilizer.
Garbage is becoming a huge problem in many parts of the world, and we need to deal with it fast, so future generations will have a better environment.