Succesful separation of waste and recycling starts within a family, school and kindergarten.
This is the first step towards responsible waste management, regardless of its type.
Uncollected waste left behind turns into trash.
Main characteristics of waste separation are:
1. Separation of usable waste (glass, paper, cardboard, metal, bio-waste, plastic) with the aim of reusing it
2. Separation of troublesome aspects, i.e dangerous waste (oils, chemicals, batteries, medicine,...) with the aim of detoxification and recycling.
Separating and recycling waste ensures:
- Avoiding waste turning into trash
- Reusing a good part of wastebr>
- Lesser environmental pollution
- Saving natural resources
- Saving money and energy
- Decreasing space needed for recycling
Managing waste through separation means recycling it in special canisters and designated areas within public city spaces. Every waste type should be disposed into a canister of a predetermined color.
All waste types, before disposal at a recycling yard need to be treated.
Waste processing includes:
- Usage of all valuable parts of waste for both material and energy purposes
- Lowering the volume and amount of waste, leading to fewer needs for waste dumps
- Taking dangerous elements out of the waste.
Waste processing is a transitional aspect towards a no waste system. This is why some planning in terms of disposal, recycling and management of non-recyclable waste is needed. There are several mechanical, physio-chemical, biological and thermal waste processing options for each of the waste types.
Waste management is a process of controlled, permanent waste disposal in areas allocated for that purpose - waste dumps. This is the final stage in the entire recycling process. This can’t be avoided, but if we are mindful and conscious about how we approach waste, its amount can be decreased significantly.
Waste needs to be:
- Handled in a safe way
- Isolated from the environment
- Isolated for many years after being disposed.
There are multiple physio-chemical reactions taking place at waste dumps. Since waste is a mix of different and often dangerous components, these reactions can have an unpredictable result. Precipitation additionnally induces biological decomposition so it can be said that a waste dump is a big, uncontrolled reactor.
Systems of separate waste collection include:
1. Recycling yards - specially equipped places for collection of waste that can be reused as well as dangerous household waste. These are meant solely for citizens.
2. Green islands - specially enclosed spaces within a city to collect smaller amounts of different waste.
3. Containers - meant for different types of waste, placed in various public spaces, next to mixed waste containers. For every type of waste there is a separate container, different in size and colour.
In every household there is a large number of waste items that could be detrimental to one’s health and are also dangerous for the environment (batteries, oils, polishes, medication, pesticides...).
Depending on the waste type, it could be given to specialized stores, recycling yards or a specialized waste collector.
All waste needs to be separated and cleaned out before being turned in.