Proper waste disposal involves collecting, processing, and recycling discarded items in a designated waste or recycling container. In short, it’s putting trash and recyclables where they belong to minimize waste’s negative impact on the environment and society.
If you’re wondering why proper waste disposal is important and how it benefits the environment, keep reading. Plus, learn three practical ways to start managing your waste responsibly.
Why is Proper Waste Disposal Important?
Proper waste management helps keep the environment safe and healthy. Instead of littering, dumping, and throwing hazardous items in the trash, correct disposal lowers pollution, reduces landfill debris, and promotes recycling. The bottom line is that a cleaner environment means fewer health risks for humans. Below is a deeper dive into the advantages of proper waste disposal.
Environmental Benefits
Here are three ways responsible waste management benefits our planet.
Reduces Pollution
Properly disposing of waste can help reduce pollution. Think of a windy day when trash has blown out of your bin at the curb. Sometimes, this is inevitable, but the less trash we produce, the less will accidentally become polluted.
Littering, illegal dumping, or disposing of garbage in an unauthorized area without permission are other forms of pollution. When these things are thrown away responsibly, pollution decreases.
More Recycling & Less Trash
Improper waste disposal includes mixing recyclables with general trash. Making an effort to recycle – or recycle more – can help reduce the waste that goes to landfills. It’s like a balance: The more we recycle, the less is thrown out. When trash is reduced, it takes up less valuable space in landfills.
In return, the increase in recycling is less taxing on Mother Nature. This reduces the need and energy required to extract natural resources like water, wood, and minerals.
Lowers Greenhouse Gases
Some trash will always reach the landfill. Organic waste, such as leftover food and food scraps, yard trimmings, and livestock manure, is biodegradable and can be broken down. However, during the decomposition process, greenhouse gases are released and can contribute to climate change. Reducing trash, including organic waste, results in fewer greenhouse gases, helping to maintain the Earth’s temperature.
Human Health Benefits
Keeping the Earth healthy is great, but want to know how it impacts people? Here are three ways proper waste disposal can benefit humans.
Less Pollution
Less pollution means cleaner water, soil, and air, which are essential to human health and well-being. Air pollution can cause many health issues for humans, especially respiratory diseases. Water pollution can contaminate drinking water, causing long-term health concerns like cancer and transmitting diseases like dysentery. Soil pollution is just as dangerous. Skin contact, breathing in dust, or eating crops derived from contaminated soil can lead to illnesses and cardiovascular diseases. It can even increase pathogens’ resistance to antibiotics.
Less Organic Waste
Bacteria, fungi, and mold help break down organic waste. It’s important for humans to avoid direct contact with decomposing organic matter. Emissions from food waste, like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, can negatively impact our bodies, including the endocrine, respiratory, and nervous systems. Plus, pests are often attracted to decomposing food and can carry diseases that are harmful to humans.
Reduced Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste, such as electronics, batteries, and automotive oil, is dangerous to throw away with general trash. Different chemicals that come into contact with each other can explode, start fires, or release toxic fumes when they interact. Hazardous materials can even leak into soil and water if they are not disposed of properly. These dangerous effects can cause serious harm to not just sanitation workers, but the general public, too. Instead, set these items aside for a hazardous waste collection or event.
How to Dispose of Waste Properly: 3 Easy Tips
Knowing why proper waste disposal is important is only half the battle. It’s time to take action and discover how to dispose of waste properly.
Separate and Recycle
Garbage goes through an extensive process before it reaches its final destination. While most municipalities send trash to landfills, there has recently been an increase in recycling centers.
Do your part by separating your recyclables from your trash. Keep in mind that different cities and states have various regulations, so contact your municipality or waste management service for a list of what can and cannot be recycled.
You’ll be surprised at the amount of items that can be recycled that actually wind up in the landfill. In fact, data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 50.4% of aluminum beer and soda cans were recycled in 2018. However, only 29.1% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and jars were recycled that same year.
Be Aware of Hazardous Materials
Take special care not to discard hazardous materials with your general trash. Tightly close or seal the items as much as possible and set them aside. Many communities have household hazardous waste (HHW) collection programs or events. Check with your municipality or waste management service, or use the Earth 911 database to help find a program in your location.
Consider Composting
Composting isn’t just for rural folks. Compost bins are becoming increasingly popular in the suburbs and even cities. No matter where you’re located, you can reduce your trash by composting food items like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, paper filters, tea leaves, and egg shells. Other compostable items include landscaping trimmings, grass clippings, and leaves.
Oaks Dumpster Rental: Quality You Can Trust
At Oaks Dumpster Rental, we encourage you to dispose of your waste properly. We recognize it’s not always easy to recycle your pop cans or not throw away your dead batteries, but the environment—and ultimately humankind—will thank you for it.
For anything left over, Oaks Dumpster Rental offers a variety of dumpster sizes to meet your needs. You can book a dumpster online or contact us to speak with our team and find a solution that works for you.