Effective waste management has been a significant issue around the world since improperly disposed waste can poses a grave threat on our health and environment. It can have various detrimental effects when garbage and other waste are not appropriately managed. These effects can attract rodents, insects and other pests which spread gastrointestinal parasites, yellow fever, worms plagues, and diseases which can effect humans. Exposure to hazardous wastes can cause diseases and other health disorders to develop, these also includes contaminated water, groundwater, soil and air which can effect out health and wellness.
Waste is defined as any object that is unwanted or unusable. Everywhere, different kinds of waste are constantly being produced which is why it is necessary to understand what these types are and how to appropriately manage them. Municipal Solid Wastes(Urban Solid Waste), though we are very conscious of them, this waste actually comprise only a small fraction of the annually produced rubbish. Biodegradable wastes include food and kitchen trash. Recyclable materials also fall under municipal waste such as paper, glass, bottles, cans, metals and certain plastics.
Construction or Demolition Wastes are unwanted materials produced in construction or industries such as damaged brick, concrete, wood and other debris from insulation, electrical wiring, etc. Such trash may contain lead, asbestos and other hazardous materials. Commercial wastes are those gathered from trade or business locations serving sport, recreation, education or entertainment purposes. The onset of the Industrial Revolution gave birth to Industrial Wastes produced by industrial activity in factories, mills and mines.
Medical Wastes or Clinical Wastes are waste products from healthcare premises like hospitals, clinics, laboratories and nursing homes. There is much concern in disposing this type of garbage since it could contribute to the proliferation of infectious diseases. Examples of medical waste are blood, sharp and pointed materials (needles, scalpels, lancets) and other identifiable body parts. Hazardous wastes pose potential harm to the public health and environment for they are generally flammable, reactive, corrosive and toxic. Radioactive materials produce radioactive wastes and usually are products of nuclear activities such as nuclear fission. Electronic wastes refer to discarded, surplus, obsolete and broken electrical or electronic devices.
Biodegradable wastes are those which are collected from plants or animals which could easily broken down by other organisms. There are four known ways by which litters are managed. In most countries, waste is managed by disposing and burying their wastes in landfills often established in abandoned or unused quarries, mining voids or pits. Rubbish are not only dumped on land. Ocean dumping was practiced by some US coastal cities and nations to manage their waste. Processed sewage were dumped at seas in huge amount. These bio-solids are not generally waste in consideration but there are times when they are composted together with organic municipal wastes.
The combustion of wastes through thermal treatment is called Incineration which converts wastes into heat, gas, steam and ash. Recycling means making use of already discarded materials to serve other purposes. Waste minimization or Waste reduction is a method which involves reconditioning or rebuffing materials for second-hand use, thus materials which were once considered trash are brought back into serviceable states.
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