Our lives have become easier because of the advancement of our society and the immense growth in modern technology. But, due to this, a serious issue in our cities and our surroundings has also put mankind in deep trouble now. Due to pollution of air, water and an enormous growth in solid waste, global warming and climate change have become extreme. As pollution is of various kinds now, knowing how to segregate trash has become an essential part to contribute to keeping the planet safe for survival.
Waste segregation is very much crucial to minimise both the environmental impact of waste disposal and the potential health risk which is associated with poorly managed toxic waste. One of the most important issues that our nation is currently dealing with is waste management. India generates 62 million tonnes of trash annually, the majority of which is generated by domestic sources. By reducing the amount of waste that is exposed to the air and water, segregating waste not only minimises the amount that is landfilled but also further lowers pollution levels. It’s crucial to accurately identify the type of waste created in order to properly segregate it.
Waste segregation is the process of dividing garbage into dry and wet materials. According to their characteristics, i.e. biological, physical and chemical characteristics, waste is identified and categorised into the following ways. Knowing how to separate trash helps us segregate the waste at its source.
Dry Waste: The objects that are not regarded as moist, or the items which are soiled are referred to as dry waste. Recyclable and non-recyclable waste, both fall under dry waste. Bottles, cans, textiles, plastic, wood, glass, metals, and paper are examples of dry trash.
Wet Waste: Biological food waste, soiled food packaging, hygiene products, yard waste, tissues, and paper towels, as well as any other filthy material that could contaminate recycling, are referred to as wet waste.
Sanitary Waste: The liquid or solid that comes only from people and human activity and may also include trash from the medical industry are referred to as sanitary waste.
E-waste: E-waste includes all the forms of electronic trash.
Hazardous Waste: All materials, products, and by-products that contain corrosive, poisonous, ignitable, or reactive substances are referred to as hazardous waste.
Inert Waste: Waste that is neither chemically or biologically reactive nor easily decomposable is referred to as inert waste.
Additionally, waste can also be categorised according to how degrading it can be.
Why waste separation is important
Waste is very dangerous for the environment. Because, if the wastes are not managed properly, they have the potential to cause some serious illnesses and harm the environment by degrading the water sources, or contaminating landfills. Wastes, when they are not separated, become polluted when kept together with other forms of wastes. Food scraps, paper, and liquid waste can combine and decay, releasing toxic gas into the sky and runoff into the soil.
When such materials have not been handled or treated properly, they end up in landfills and local dump yards. But learning how to segregate garbage makes it possible to handle all kinds of waste, thus contributing to less rubbish being disposed in landfills or dump yards. Apart from this, segregation of waste also makes recycling considerably simpler. It is also a financially advantageous idea, as it encourages the efficient use of our resources and aids in their preservation for future generations. Wet segregation can lower the costs for trash.
It can be very expensive if waste streams are mixed. Hazardous waste and regular rubbish are far more expensive to dispose of than dry mixed recycling because of chemical and biological impurities. As a result, mixing recyclables and hazardous dump leads to increased disposal expenses.
Higher rates of recycling
Recyclable items are kept out of the trash by following segregation rules. Knowing how to do so is also a legal necessity since trash separation can make recycling considerably easier. Effective segregation lowers the volume of waste delivered to the landfill, making it more cost-effective and better for the environment and people. The health of the general populace depends on separation. Hazardous wastes should be disposed of appropriately and safely because they can cause long-term health problems. Additionally, they shouldn’t be dumped outside your home or place of work along with the ordinary solid trash.
Potential sources of income
Trash separation allows you to identify valuable objects like metals, cardboard, and plastics, which you can then sell to maximise the refund value. Segregated waste is typically less expensive to dispose of than mixed waste since it does not require as much manual or mechanical sorting.
Depending on the following factors, trash should be separated. Listed below are a few easy techniques:
It is important to grasp the distinction between wet and dry trash before learning how to segregate them in our homes. The kitchen waste which we generate is wet waste. This can include fruit waste, old tea, leftovers, peels from vegetables, etc. This organic trash is compostable and biodegradable. Paper, glass, plastic, cardboard, styrofoam, rubber, metal, and food packaging materials are all examples of dry waste. Even milk packets and cartons are disposed of in a dry waste bin. Dry garbage is recyclable, but if it is contaminated or filthy, it will be refused.
• Designate one container for wet waste and the other for dry waste, and label each separately. Utilizing two distinct colours will also aid in easy differentiation.
• For dry trash collection, keep two bags: one for paper and plastics and the other for the rest of the household’s trash.
• Use a paper bag to dispose of sanitary waste. Sanitary waste includes diapers (for adults and children), synthetic sanitary napkins, and hygiene-related products.
• Before placing plastic waste from the kitchen in the dry waste bin, make sure it is clean and dry. Keep food residue washed out of glass and plastic containers.
• Every day, wet waste should be taken out for composting. Consider recycling dry waste once every week.
Apart from this, forming a community of individuals with similar interests is the greatest method to practise waste management. You should fully explain how to segregate waste to your family and neighbours in your apartment building or neighbourhood. To make the process simpler, spread knowledge among the neighbourhood/apartment building workers. The best way to store bulk waste is to purchase separate storage drums for dry and wet waste. To have the dry waste picked up, speak with your neighbourhood scrap dealer.
Conclusion
You might be making an extra effort that doesn’t seem to have much of an effect. However, the ocean is made of water drops. It will help you do your part to lessen pollution on a worldwide scale. Learn how to reduce your overall waste generation, identify items that can be reused, and put recyclable items in a separate bin. However, there is more to it than that; you also have a moral duty to manage your waste ethically. If waste is not correctly segregated, it will end up being merged in landfills in the same manner that it was mixed in your trash cans. Hence, we need to take it as a duty to learn how to segregate trash.
Also Read: Packing for a Beach Visit
Also Watch: