Proper waste management play an important role in protecting the environment, resource conservation, ensuring public health, and facilitating sustainable economic development in New York State.
With each household producing tons of waste every day, how this waste is disposed of can impact the planet in more ways than we may realize. There are sustainable and effective ways of getting rid of waste, but there are also harmful, wasteful and destructive ones. Let’s examine the best and worst methods of getting rid of household waste, and how each affects the environment.
Best ways to disposing of Domestic Waste
Recycling
It is one of the most eco-conscious way to dispose of domestic trash. It is where products are made from materials such as: Paper, Cardboard, Plastics, Metals, and Glass.
Advantages: It helps in the conservation of raw materials, saves on energy, and reduces waste that ends up in landfills. Newspaper recycling, for instance, saves trees, while recycling plastics reduces fossil fuel demand.
How to Get It Right: Separate materials based on community recycling guidelines, clean out food waste and don’t pollute recycling bins with non-recyclables.
Composting
Sustainable: Trap organic waste and rotten food, such as leftovers, leftovers and garden waste, plants waste, and form mulch for gardening and landscaping.
Benefits: Composting helps to keep organic materials out of landfills, where they create methane gas. It also enriches soil and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and promotes healthier ecosystems.
How to Do It Right: Build a balanced compost pile by combining “green” waste (food scraps, grass clippings) with “brown” materials (leaves, cardboard). Do not compost meat, dairy or oily foods to avoid smells and critters.
Donating and Reusing
Clothing, furniture, electronics, and appliances in usable condition can be donated or reused. Many charitable organizations, thrift shops and online marketplaces will take gently used goods.
Advantages: Less waste as fewer new products are created, conserves resources and aids people in need” It also reduces the need for new products, and thus the pollution associated with manufacture.
How to Do It Right: Before donating or selling items, check that they are in good condition and still functional. Repurpose old objects: find creative uses for old materials, such as making jars into storage containers.
Common Hazardous Waste Collection Programs
Households tend to produce hazardous waste, such as batteries, electronics, paint and cleaning chemicals. These products need to be discarded via specific processes to avoid ruining our environment.
Why it matters: Burying rubbish means harmful substances will not seep into soil, air and water. Many cities maintain designated drop-off sites or hold collection events for hazardous waste.
How to Do It Right: Keep hazardous materials safely separated until they can be taken to an authorized spend facility. Check local guidelines to see what is acceptable in hazardous waste programs.
Some rule covers incinerators and waste-to-energy / RDF facilities. In WTE plant jurisdictions like Syracuse, NY, un-recyclable domestic waste may be incinerated for electricity or heat.
Advantages: WTE decreases landfilling and creates a renewable energy source. Modern facilities also seek to reduce harmful emissions.
How to Get It Right: Sort trash so recycling and composting comes first, and only non-recyclables go to WTE programs.
The Very Worst Ways to Dispose of Domestic Waste
Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is the disposal of waste in unauthorized areas like forests, roadsides, or waterways, and is an environmentally damaging practice.
Consequences: Dumping poisons ecosystems, threatens wildlife and produces unsightly and unhealthy surroundings. More harmful materials can seep into water supplies or soil.
Solution: Properly discard waste at permitted facilities and report illegal dumping to authorities.
Burning Trash at Home
Burning of domestic waste in open fires or backyard pits emits toxic chemicals, including dioxins, to the air. Plastics, treated wood and other materials can give off toxic fumes.
Impact: The air pollution from burning waste carries health risks, including respiratory illnesses and cancer. It also adds to climate change.
Solution: Certain disposal methods, alternative disposal methods.
Disposing of Non-Biodegradable Waste
Flushing these items down the toilet — along with wet wipes, sanitary products, cotton swabs or medication — can lead to sewage systems being clogged and aquatic ecosystems harmed.
Costs: Non-biodegradable stuff causes backups and expensive pipe repairs. Chemicals are flushed into waterways that contaminate drinking water and kill marine life.
Solution: Throw non-biodegradable items into the trash and bring expired medications to pharmacy collection programs.
Sending Recyclables to the Landfill
Putting recyclables in the trash harms the environment and takes up more space in the landfill. Glass, metal, and plastic — items that take decades or even centuries to decompose.
Consequences: Recyclables that are sent to landfills are a wasted opportunity for environmental mitigation and resource conservation.
Tip: Get familiar with your local recycling policies and opt to sort your waste correctly at home
Waste to Landfills Are Being Overloaded by Organic Waste
Food scraps and yard waste should not be sent to landfills. Organic waste decays in landfills anaerobically, releasing methane gas, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Consequences: Methane emissions worsen climate change, and nutrients in organic waste are wasted.
Answer: Turn organic waste into a beneficial soil amendment by composting it or take part in municipal composting programs.
Diverting, utilizing, and repurposing disposable goods to save resources in New York State and reduce impact are the best practices in disposing of domestic waste.
Practices such as recycling, composting and making donations keep waste out of landfills and cut down on pollution.
Conversely, illegal dumping, burning of waste, and disposal of recyclable or organic materials in landfills are methods of landfilling which cause environmental degradation and public health risks.
Composting, recycling, hiring dumpster rentals and waste reduction are all practices we can follow to reduce the increase of waste disposal. Simple household menu planning and recycling, or composting food waste, can deliver as much benefit to individual local communities as it does to the world ecosystem.
