Disposing of trash is a part of life in business and at home. But not every kind of trash can or should go to the landfill during your weekly pick up. Some types of waste carry certain hazards. You need to dispose of these items in a way that doesn’t pose a hazard to you, the handlers, or the ecosystem. Here are just four types of trash that require special handling.
Electronic Waste
After many years of service, old electronic devices shouldn’t simply go in the general garbage. Computers, phones, television sets, radios, and the like contain assorted materials that can harm the environment. Laptops alone can contain mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, and many other hazardous substances. See if your community has a program set up to recycle electronic devices. If they don’t, you can find one of many sites online that can provide direction on the best way to get rid of them.
Demolition Waste
When a home or other building comes down, you can’t just chuck all that drywall, plaster, lathe, wood, glass, and so forth into a landfill. Some things, such as wood, can go through a reclamation process, especially if it’s the kind that people can no longer harvest. Metal is usually recyclable as well. Drywall contains mostly gypsum, which you can use in the garden, though you’ll want to keep the drywall separate from other waste that can kill plants. Plaster is harder to get rid of, as it can contain asbestos, lead, or other hazardous substances. Hire an expert to dispose of plaster properly and safely.
Chemical Waste
This one should be a no-brainer. Any chemical byproduct needs special handling. The level of toxicity may dictate exactly how you should get rid of it. Hazardous waste that’s corrosive or that can ignite or explode may require lab packing to reduce the possibility of it intermingling and causing a bad reaction. Most household cleaning products, pesticides, solvents, paints and varnishes, and the like may not seem like much, but when they encounter other chemicals and conditions, they can be dangerous. Your community should have a system in place to handle such hazardous waste.
Compostables
Here’s the last of our four types of trash that require special handling. When you throw away fruits and vegetables, most paper products, and landscape waste, you’re throwing away the potential for new life. Collect your food scraps (except meat, bones, baked goods, fat and grease, or dairy items) and keep them in a composting container. When allowed to break down, these items create a rich and healthy humus you can use to fertilize new crops and other plants in a garden. If your area doesn’t have a composting program, it should!
The Five Amendments That Sold Out Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island did not lose control of its southern waterfront in a single deal. It happened in five quiet steps. Five amendments. Five missed chances to renegotiate.
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