How Does Waste Affect The Environment

Written by

environmental management

Waste is a significant environmental issue that affects our planet’s health and well-being. From pollution to climate change, waste profoundly impacts our environment. As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the amount of waste generated, and this question- “How Does Waste Affect The Environment? “- becomes increasingly significant.

In Australia, waste management has become a top priority for government agencies and private companies, focusing on reducing waste generated and finding more sustainable ways to manage it.

How Does Waste Affect The Environment?

Orange Bins does its bit for the environment by providing the best Penrith skip bins and handling waste responsibly. Let’s look at how waste affects the environment:

  • One of the immediate effects of waste on the environment is pollution. When waste is improperly disposed of, it can contaminate the air, water, and soil. This pollution can have severe consequences for the health of wildlife and ecosystems. For example, plastic waste in the ocean can harm marine life, including fish, turtles, and whales. When these animals mistake plastic for food, it can cause internal blockages that can be fatal. In addition, plastics can release toxic chemicals into the water, harming other marine organisms.
  • When waste is burned, it can release harmful chemicals into the air, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These pollutants can contribute to respiratory issues, including asthma, other respiratory illnesses, and heart disease. These health problems can particularly concern vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly.
  • Beyond pollution, waste can also contribute to climate change. When organic waste, such as food and yard waste, is sent to landfill sites, it decomposes and produces methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas, significantly more potent than CO2 in terms of its impact on the climate. This methane gas can escape from landfill sites and contribute to global warming, leading to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate-related issues.
  • The production of goods and the disposal of waste require energy, which can come from fossil fuels. The production of goods, from raw materials to manufacturing, requires significant energy. This energy can come from non-renewable sources, such as oil and coal, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, waste disposal requires energy, whether through incineration or transportation to landfill sites. This energy can also come from fossil fuels, contributing to further greenhouse gas emissions.

How Can We Reduce The Impact Of Waste On The Environment?

Reducing waste and finding more sustainable ways to manage it is critical for protecting the environment, including:

  • One approach to reducing waste is to practice the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
  • Composting organic waste can divert it from landfill sites and create a valuable resource for gardens and agriculture.
  • Investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can reduce the energy generated from fossil fuels.

Choose The Best Penrith Skip Bins

Now that you know how waste affects the environment, having a provider who can help manage waste generated on your property is also crucial. Our company stands out as a top player in this industry. Our proficiency extends beyond providing Penrith skip bins and collecting waste from your premises.

We are devoted to delivering services catering to our client’s needs, providing them with convenience, cost-effectiveness, and efficient waste management solutions.

If you need more information about how we can help with your waste management requirements with our Penrith skip bins, please call Orange Bins at 1300 767 006 or email us through this Online Form, and we will contact you soon to discuss your requirements for skip bins or other waste management.

What is Commercial Waste? And How to Manage It

Written by

commercial waste

Commercial waste refers to any waste generated by businesses, industries, and other commercial activities. This waste can include everything from office paper to hazardous materials, and it poses significant challenges for waste management in Australia. Orange Bins offers reliable, responsible and professional commercial waste management services to businesses from various industries.

Let’s understand what commercial waste is, its impacts on the environment, and how businesses can manage it in a sustainable manner.

What is Commercial Waste?

Commercial waste in Australia refers to any waste generated by businesses, industries, and other commercial activities. It can include a wide range of materials such as paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, metal, food waste, hazardous waste, and electronic waste.

Commercial waste is a major contributor to the overall waste generated in Australia, with an estimated 20% of waste coming from businesses. It is generated by a variety of industries, including retail, manufacturing, construction, and hospitality.

Businesses that generate commercial waste are responsible for managing it in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. This includes separating the waste into different categories and ensuring that hazardous waste is disposed of safely and appropriately.

Impacts of Commercial Waste

Commercial waste has several negative impacts on the environment. When waste is not managed correctly, it can pollute the air, water, and soil, harming both wildlife and ecosystems. For example, when hazardous waste is not disposed of properly, it can release toxic chemicals into the environment, which can contaminate the soil and groundwater. Similarly, when electronic waste is not recycled, it can release harmful chemicals into the air and contribute to climate change.

In addition to environmental impacts, commercial waste can also have economic impacts. When waste is not managed efficiently, it can result in increased costs for businesses, including disposal fees and fines for non-compliance with regulations. It can also impact a business’s reputation, as consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability and may be more likely to support companies that prioritize sustainable waste management.

How to Manage Commercial Waste

Managing commercial waste is critical for both the environment and the business’s bottom line. Here are some strategies businesses can use to manage their waste sustainably:

Conduct a Waste Audit

The first step in managing commercial waste is to conduct a waste audit. This involves assessing the types and quantities of waste generated by the business and identifying opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle. A waste audit can help businesses identify where waste is coming from and find ways to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place.

Implement The Reduce, Reuse, And Recycle Strategy

Once a waste audit has been conducted, businesses can implement the reduce, reuse, and recycle startegy. By reducing the amount of waste generated in the first place, businesses can limit the amount of waste that needs to be managed. Reusing items, such as packaging and containers, can also help reduce waste. Finally, recycling materials can divert waste from landfill sites and conserve energy.

Use a Waste Management Service

Using a waste management service is an excellent way for businesses to manage their waste sustainably. These services can help businesses identify opportunities to reduce waste and develop a comprehensive waste management plan. They can also provide collection and disposal services for various types of waste, including hazardous materials and electronic waste with skip bins in Hornsby.

Invest in Technology

Investing in technology can also help businesses manage their waste sustainably. For example, implementing a paperless office can reduce the amount of paper waste generated by the business. Similarly, using energy-efficient appliances and equipment can help reduce energy consumption, which can reduce the amount of waste generated.

Train Employees

Training employees on sustainable waste management practices can also help businesses manage their waste sustainably. Employees can be trained to identify opportunities to reduce waste, such as turning off lights and electronics when not in use. They can also be trained on how to properly dispose of waste, including hazardous materials and electronic waste and opt for skip bins Hornsby.

Compost Organic Waste

Composting organic waste is another way businesses can manage their waste sustainably. Composting can divert organic waste from landfill sites and create a valuable resource for gardens and agriculture. Businesses can set up a composting system on-site or partner with a waste management service that offers skip bins Hornsby and composting services.

Work With A Professional Waste Management Company

Commercial waste is a significant issue in Australia, and it is important for businesses to manage it sustainably to minimize its environmental and economic impacts. You should work with a company that provides collection and transport through skip bins Hornsby, and disposal of various types of waste, including green, electronic and hazardous waste.

Check if they offer waste audits and waste management plans to help businesses identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve their sustainability practices.

We offer a wide range of commercial waste management solutions. For any information on details about how we can help with your requirements with our skip bins Hornsby, please call Orange Bins at 1300 767 006 or email us through this Online Form and we will contact you soon to discuss your requirements.

How To Manage Waste In School

Written by

how to manage waste in school

Food and yard trimmings account for almost half of our weekly trash. Unfortunately, the potential of the natural matter is lost when it is thrown out with the rest of our waste and ends up in landfills, where they contribute to issues like water pollution and the greenhouse effect. Skip bins Sydney of varying sizes are available from Orange Bins for residents, businesses, and educational institutions.

How To Manage Waste In School

While we are happy to serve you and cart away and dispose of the waste from your institution, here are some pointers on how to manage waste in school. Tossing away edible remnants from the kitchen or the garden would be a waste.

On-site recycling of food and garden waste at your school helps the environment by reducing the number of trips made by trucks to collect the waste and also offers a natural soil enhancer for the school’s gardens. By turning your garden and food waste into compost for use, you can make a significant difference to the environment by:

  • Reducing the total amount of waste your school disposes
  • Reducing the usage of artificial fertilisers for landscaping
  • Improving your local topsoil quality
  • Creating a healthier and more natural place for your students

Which waste is compostable?

You can gather paper food packaging, paper bags, and any edible items. Your composting system won’t be affected by the trace amounts of meat found in leftover sandwiches.

The Benefits Of Composting

The life cycle is completed in part by composting kitchen and garden waste. Composting is a normal part of life in every region. Plants take nutrients from the earth as they develop and return them when they die.

1. Reduce Trash At School To Save Money

Composting can help your school save money by drastically cutting down on trash. Reduce your negative effects on the environment by sending less waste to landfills. A sizable portion of garbage destined for a landfill may consist of compostable materials like leftovers and yard trimmings.

Most of the food we purchase is wasted, with estimates ranging from 25 percent to 50 percent. One of the numerous green initiatives that might help your school save dollars is composting. Composting the organic waste generated at schools is one way to reduce the cost of rubbish collection and disposal while also helping the environment.

2. Help Reduce Carbon Emissions

Composting is a simple way for your school to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Tossing organic garbage into a landfill means it will be buried, out of sight and out of mind. What follows is the anaerobic breakdown, which produces methane gas. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that must be reduced since it is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.

3. Organic Fertiliser At No Cost

There are several other benefits to composting such as the following:

  • The school garden can benefit from composting since it provides a free source of organic fertiliser. Plants, bushes, and trees may all benefit from the nutrients and beneficial microbes found in compost. You’ll see less soil erosion because of its ability to keep water in your soil.
  • Puts natural processes to work for you
  • Enriched soils are home to a plethora of life, including earthworms. As a result of their efforts, vital nutrients are released, which in turn strengthen plants, making them more resistant to illness
  • When preparing garden beds for planting, incorporate compost into the soil. Compost may be used as a finishing touch to the soil around the trunks of trees, shrubs, and the bases of perennials.

Start a composting system at your school to get the benefits of composting. Composting is a simple and beneficial solution if you want to decrease trash at your school and give the earth a boost.

How To Manage Non-Compostable Waste In Schools

The most important aspects of efficient waste management for Sydney’s schools and universities are correct disposal, recycling, and waste reduction.

When it comes to trash, each institution has its own set of rules. That’s why we’ll tailor a waste management strategy specifically for your school. If you call them, they’ll send an expert to your school to audit and find out what kind of garbage services you require.

Scheduled Waste Pickup Service

They will arrange garbage pickups daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on how much trash is produced in your school. Most waste management businesses can provide one-time cleanouts if your school does not need regular trash pickup and garbage service.

Hire Skip Bins Sydney

The waste management company not only assists with collecting and disposing of the trash from the institution but also provides cheap skip bin rentals. Skip bins are stocked and supplied, and customers can select the appropriate size receptacle for their needs depending on their business’s average weekly trash output.

Many places have designated containers for various types of trash, such as plastic bottles and cans, paper, cards, and food scraps, to make recycling easier.

For more information about how to manage waste in school and about our Skip Bins Sydney, please write to us via this Contact Us form or call Orange Bins at 1300 767 006

What Is General Waste?

Written by

General waste comprises items that have no use and are comprised of many trash streams. So what is general waste? Although it includes the majority of things you may believe to be trash, it does not contain liquids or hazardous garbage. Other prohibited items when renting a skip bin include food, waste and dirt.

At Orange Bins, we handle all types of waste, including general waste and other types of waste. We have different skip bins for the collection of these wastes, and these are available in various sizes. You can hire the ones you need based on the waste you need to dispose of and its quantity.

What Is General Waste Skip Bin?

Listed below are acceptable and unacceptable items for a general rubbish bin rental. This list is not complete, but it includes the most frequent things considered general waste for skip bins in Australia.

  • Light household waste
  • Office waste

In the same way, it is necessary to know what constitutes general garbage. You must also be aware of what cannot be discarded in an available waste skip bin. This list includes the following items:

  • Construction waste
  • Demolition waste
  • Soil
  • Cleanfill/hardfill
  • Food items and food waste
  • Dangerous substances, including asbestos

Detailed List of General Waste

You can place all your general waste and other recyclable containers in the red skip bins, such as containers and bottles made of plastic and metal, including:

  • Disposable cutlery
  • Milk bottles and takeout containers
  • Toilet paper and paper towels
  • Disposable coffee cups
  • Stationery includes pens, binders, and CD-ROMs
  • Plastic bags

Because certain disposable coffee cups are lined with plastic, they can’t really be placed in standard paper recycling bins. You must place all disposable coffee cups in red general garbage bins.

Approximately 80% of the general waste collected in these skip bins is recycled, including recyclables such as cans, bottles, and plastic containers that are separated by hand and machine.

We recognise that customers may need help determining which skip bins to hire, and our team is here to help you with all the information you need in What Is General Waste? For more information about our skip bins for general waste and other waste disposals, please call Orange Bins at 1300 767 006. You can also send us your queries via the online form on this page, and we will contact you soon. We are here to cater to all your skip bin hire needs.

How Much Food Waste In Australia?

Written by

While a large portion of the world’s population goes to sleep hungry, industrialised nations such as Australia have acquired a horrible and unneeded problem: food waste. Globally, upwards of 870 million people suffer from chronic malnutrition, yet 1.3B tonnes of perfectly edible food are wasted annually. At Orange Bins, we are committed to providing reliable and efficient skip bin options to our clients. Here, we look at how much food waste in Australia occurs and some other related facts.

How Much Food Waste In Australia – The Causes

There are many reasons for food waste in Australia, such as:

  • The greater levels of food waste in prosperous nations stem from consumer behaviour and a lack of collaboration in the supply chain. FoodWise estimates that between 20 and 40 percent of fruits and vegetables are discarded before reaching shop shelves. This is owing to strict controls over the appearance of food, a consequence of customers’ unreasonable aesthetic expectations. Vegetables are commonly allowed to decay in the field before being immediately tilled back into the soil.
  • Despite the catastrophic overfishing of the world’s oceans, the fishing sector nevertheless plays a substantial role in waste. Fish stocks of some important seafood species have decreased below 10% of their 1950s levels. Despite that, up to sixty percent of all fish captured are thrown out due to the wrong size, species, or government quota schemes. It is estimated that the seafood sector in southeastern Australia produces about 20,000 tonnes of seafood product waste yearly.
  • Food labelling is an additional factor that contributes to waste. Due to confusion regarding sell-by dates and excessive labelling by manufacturers and retailers, usable food is sometimes tossed much before its actual expiration date.

Putting aside world hunger, the environmental effects of mass production of food and food waste are catastrophic.

How Much Food Waste in Australia?

According to a feasibility study by National Food Waste Strategy:

  • Food waste loses the economy approximately $36.6 billion annually or between $2,000 and $2,500 per household.
  • Australian households are mostly accountable for food waste (2.46M tonnes)
  • 70% of these 7.6 million tonnes of food lost annually in Australia are edible.
  • Approximately one of every five grocery bags is discarded by Australian families, amounting to about 312 kg per person.
  • 17.5 million tonnes of CO2-e are produced yearly by the disposal and production of food waste in Australia (except emissions related to exported food), similar to the annual emissions of the country’s highest emitting coal power plant.
  • Approximately 3% of Australia’s yearly greenhouse gas emissions are from food waste.
  • The quantity of water used to produce lost food is equivalent to the volume of water in 5 Sydney Harbours (2600 gigalitres).
  • If we combine the land area utilised to cultivate wasted food in the nation, it exceeds Victoria’s 25 million hectares.
  • 25 percent of the total water used in farming is utilised to produce useless food.
  • Did you realise tossing one hamburger is equivalent to taking a 90-minute shower?
  • Food waste accounts for 15 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions annually in Australia alone.

For more information on how much food waste is in Australia or our skip bin options, please call Orange Bins at 1300 767 006. You can also send us your queries via this Online Form, and we will contact you back soon.

What Is Green Waste?

Written by

green waste

Green waste refers to waste materials that are biodegradable. You can make compost out of these waste materials. So, if you want to know what is green waste, it is actually organic waste that comprises of pieces of wood, crass, yard clippings, shrubs, palm leaves, tree barks, branches, and weeds. Mostly, when you carry a general clean-up of your yard, you get these wastes.

The organic materials that are generated as waste products need to be processed in a different way when you dispose them off. This is different from the disposal process of other household wastes such as plastics or cardboard boxes. Recycling green wastes bring you several benefits. You can eventually use a local processor and convert it to compost or mulch.

Environmental benefits of processing green wastes

Considering environmental benefits, it is imperative to process green waste in the right way. The decomposition process of green wastes in landfills is anaerobic. It releases some greenhouse gases, including methane, that harm the environment. This ultimately contributes to global warming.

However, when you adopt eco-friendly measures to dispose off green wastes, these materials do not reach landfills. This prevents the emission of greenhouse gases. It also saves valuable space in the landfill. The wastes land in a recycling depot, where they turn into compost.

On average, each Australian citizen generates around 400 kgs. of rubbish every year. On embracing green waste processing measures, you can significantly reduce these numbers.

Green waste is completely biodegradable

Green waste primarily comprises of organic materials. This makes it 100% biodegradable. The compost that you can generate through green waste can prove to be an excellent fertilizer. This compost proves beneficial for landscapers, agriculturists, and farmers. Even gardeners use this compost to enrich the soil and grow plants.

Therefore, it makes sense to use skip bins Sydney to dispose off the green waste from your homes. While composting green waste is a logical decision, you wouldn’t like the messy work. It would be ideal to seek reliable services from professionals to manage your green waste efficiently.

Green waste disposal can help you reduce waste management cost

Well, have you considered the costs you need to bear when you try to transport the green wastes from your home to the landfills? In Australia, many individuals need to shell out additional costs for collecting and transporting green wastes to landfills. Working closely with professional green waste management companies, you can reduce disposal costs. Reputed green waste management companies don’t transport your wastes to landfills. Besides saving cost, they would help you produce valuable compost.

Find a professional green waste management solution

While you would be contributing to an environment-friendly cause with green waste disposal solutions, you can also curtail your costs. Reputed service providers like Orange Bins, skip bins Sydney continue to provide valuable green waste disposal services in different cities in Australia. With these professionals on your side, you need not worry about disposing off your organic waste materials. You can have a consultation with the company regarding disposing off green wastes from your home or commercial space. This way, you can fervently contribute to the green mission.

What Is Toxic Waste?

Written by

toxic waste

Hazardous waste, also known as toxic waste, is a potentially hazardous byproduct of a variety of activities, including manufacturing, farming, water treatment systems, construction, automotive garages, laboratories, hospitals, and other industries. Chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, pathogens, and other materials may be present in waste that is liquid, solid, or sludge. Even in the home, hazardous waste is generated by items such as batteries, used computer equipment, and leftover paints or pesticides.

Toxic waste, whether it ends up in the ground, streams, or even the air, can harm people, animals, and plants. Toxins like mercury and lead can be found in the environment for many years and accumulate over time. When humans or wildlife consume fish or other prey, they frequently absorb these toxic substances.

Toxic wastes encompass a wide range of products or materials. These may include gas, liquid, solid, sludge, or even pastes. Any material that has hazardous features or tends to be toxic comes under this category. These substances have dangerous properties, and this underlines the importance to dispose them off professionally. This way, you can protect both the environment and people.

Any waste material that might be detrimental to health or the environment can be toxic. With proper toxic waste management, households and organizations can demonstrate their responsibility toward society. Currently, reputed toxic waste management companies work closely with organizations and individuals, helping them safely dispose off these hazardous materials.

How to manage toxic wastes?

If you are a business producing toxic wastes, you are responsible to manage the ultimate outcome of these products. Whether you want to treat, dispose them, store, or recycle the materials, you need to shell out a cost for the same. Therefore, it makes sense to coordinate with one of the established toxic waste management companies. These firms work individually with clients, collecting industry-specific toxic materials. They adhere to the prescribed regulations, ensuring that they treat or dispose off the materials in the right way.

At the outset, the waste management company would collect the materials and transport the same to a separate facility. The transportation system has to be monitored carefully, so that there’s no spillage of toxic materials on the way. After that, the professionals treat the materials, so that they can reduce the quantity and make the materials ready for recycling. In the process, they also manage to lower the level of toxicity. There are diverse treatment methods, which include bacterial disintegration, chemical reprocessing, burning, and physical solidification.

What does toxic waste management include?

Toxic waste management is a well-coordinated process that includes the collection of toxic materials from the source. This might be your backyard, warehouse, home, or factory. Next, the professional toxic waste management companies recycle the materials, treating them with the necessary agents to ensure that they do not prove to be detrimental to the environment or health. Toxic waste management also includes the transportation of these materials, their monitoring, and disposal at the respective sites.

Disposing toxic wastes directly to the environment might cause potential risks to lives as well as the environment. Therefore, households, as well as business organizations need to take care of toxic waste management. Currently, many factories, businesses, and housing complexes are using skip bins Sydney to dispose off the toxic materials. They also work closely with reputed toxic waste management companies. This way, they can dispose off the harmful materials safely.

Reach out to experts for professional waste management solutions

Considering the adverse impacts that improper management of toxic wastes can cause, it makes sense to work closely with professional waste management companies. Reach out to one of the leading service providers like Orange Bins, skip bins Sydney for reliable services. This way, you can be responsible for the environment, disposing off harmful materials in the right way. Professional toxic waste management services are affordable, which explains why so many organizations are reaching out to the experts

What is Clinical Waste?

Written by

Clinical waste, also termed medical waste, are the products released as a by-product of the healthcare industry. Mostly, these wastes come from hospitals, surgeries, laboratories, dentists, and other medical centres. In case you are wondering what is clinical waste, you should understand that such wastes contain materials that might come in body contact with medical practitioners or patients during drug administration, research, diagnosis, or other treatments.

Medical wastes might be potentially infectious since they remain contaminated with fluids from the patient’s body. This is why leading hospitals and healthcare organizations use quality skip bins in Sydney to dispose of clinical waste safely.

Different types of clinical wastes

Have a look at the different types of clinical wastes.

1. Contaminated or used sharps

Used or contaminated sharps include needles, syringes, ampoules, cartridges, or any other sharp instrument. These objects might either be used or become contaminated with clinical wastes or fluids.

2. Tissues of humans or animals

Tissues of living or dead animals or humans, or any organ constitute such wastes. These tissues might be generated as waste materials from veterinary practices. For instance, dental clinics might produce extracted teeth as human organic wastes, that need to be segregated.

3. Laboratory wastes

Clinical wastes from laboratories include the unsterilized stock culture or any infectious agent that might pose health risks. Generally, pathological, medical, dental, and veterinary laboratories discharge these wastes. Moreover, the apparatus associated with tests such as inoculation wire, inoculation loop, pipette tip, pipette, tube, flask, bottle, and culture dish constitutes these wastes.

4. Surgical dressings and other wastes

Surgical wastes might be infectious and tend to spread diseases. These include dressings, swabs, or other wastes soaked with blood. When these materials from infected patients contaminate public places, they might pose a health risk.

Why is it important to separate clinical wastes?

To maintain the basic standards of hygiene and prevent the spread of diseases, it’s crucial to segregate different types of clinical wastes. This way, healthcare organizations can keep patients and their workers safe. It’s crucial to dispose of away these wastes efficiently and safely. This is why hospitals and other healthcare organizations use customized bins to dispose of medical wastes.

Particularly, you should observe that medical wastes of different categories require special disposal techniques. This ensures that the infectious materials wouldn’t be contaminating other places. For instance, landfills are ideal for disposing of some clinical wastes. Besides, other wastes might need special treatment like a medical incinerator.  This ensures that the pathogens or infectious elements get completely destroyed.

Hire a reliable waste management system

Noncompliance with the prescribed standards for waste management might lead to penalties. This is why established healthcare institutes collaborate with trusted teams providing waste management solutions. You might reach out to Orange Bins, skip bins Sydney for cost-effective waste management.

The experts handle hazardous materials with care, transporting all your clinical wastes to specialist facilities for proper disposal. While some materials might be recycled, others are completely destroyed or eliminated. With trained professionals ready to pick up and dispose off clinical wastes from residential and commercial areas, it would be wise to have experts on your side.

What is E Waste?

Written by

E-waste has emerged as a major environmental concern in recent years, accounting for a great deal of pollution. Needless to say, the problem has only grown over time, with the increasing use of electronic products. Sources of e-waste are plenty, ranging from individuals throwing away used mobile phones to commercial establishments getting rid of outdated equipment. However, regardless of its form, e-waste requires proper disposal and management.

What counts as e-waste?

E-waste is a rather broad term, incorporating any discarded electronic device or product with electrical components inside. The product may be faulty or may have reached the end of its life, or simply discarded due to any other reason. If you are wondering what is e waste, you can broadly divide e-waste into six major categories:

  • Lamps
  • Screens
  • Telecommunication and small IT equipment
  • Small equipment
  • Large equipment
  • Heating and cooling systems

In short, anything from malfunctioning light bulbs to outdated computers could count as e-waste. This should explain why e-waste has been growing by leaps and bounds. Almost everyone uses electronic products of some sort, be it household appliances or smartphones. Eventually, the devices wouldn’t be useful anymore and would have to be discarded.

Why is e-waste an environmental issue?

The environmental impacts of electronic waste are immense. Almost every electronic device contains metals, that when buried underground, start having adverse effects. One must remember that electronic products contain a variety of toxic materials like lead, mercury cadmium, beryllium, etc.

As long as the devices stay on the surface in regular conditions, they do not pose a threat as the toxic materials remain contained. However, once these materials leak out due to improper disposal, they can prove to be hazardous. Here is how e-waste affects different elements of the environment:

1. Soil

Improper and illegal disposal of e-waste in landfills can have severe implications on the soil and groundwater. Through a process known as leaching, microscopic traces of toxic materials mix with the sludge at the bottom of the landfill. Eventually, these materials seep deep into the soil and reach contaminate the groundwater. Upon contaminating the soil, these toxins eventually make their way into the food chain.

2. Water

After the soil, leaching starts to contaminate the water as well. The toxic groundwater eventually reaches other natural water sources like rivers, ponds and lakes. The traces of the toxic minerals start acidifying and toxifying the water, severely hampering the ecosystem. Eventually, it can take the toxicity levels of the water to a stage beyond recovery.

3. Air

Burning low-value electronic waste to destroy them or extract valuable metals like copper can have severe implications on the air quality. A variety of toxins, dust particles and other pollutants mix into the air during combustion. Often released as fine particles, these pollutants can end up travelling long distances through the air.

Besides resulting in poor air quality, they also have direct health implications for humans and wildlife, including neurological damage. Exposure to toxins released from e-waste can prove to be extremely dangerous to individuals suffering from cancer and other chronic diseases.

E-waste can, therefore, cause severe air, water and soil pollution and have detrimental effects on the flora and fauna alike.

How hazardous is e-waste to humans?

Due to the fact that e-waste basically comprises of electronic devices and appliances that we use in our day-to-day lives, it is easy to overlook the hazards. However, in addition to the environmental impacts, the toxic materials from e-waste also prove extremely hazardous for humans too. They can potentially result in severe damages to the:

  • Brain
  • Liver
  • Heart
  • Kidney
  • Skeleton

The toxins can also affect the reproductive and the nervous systems, with the problems passing on through birth defects.

How can you do your part to reduce e-waste?

Businesses and individuals can always do their part to reduce e-waste through better waste management. Plenty of electronic components are recyclable and can make their way back into the market through other products.

All you need to do is deposit your electronic waste at a recycling centre near you. In case there are no nearby recycling centres or you simply avoid the hassle, skip bin hire Sydney is a good alternative. The leading companies offering skip bin waste collection services ensure the proper recycling and disposal of e-waste.

What Is Food Waste?

Written by

In the contemporary world, waste management has emerged as one of the biggest challenges. Among the various types of wastes that go poorly managed, food waste deserves a special mention. As per statistics, about a third of the total food produced globally ends up wasted. Like any other waste, food waste has detrimental effects on the environment.

What exactly is food waste and how does it differ from food loss?

One can primarily categorize wasted food into two types: food loss and food waste. Food loss refers to the food that is lost through spillage or spoiling or other means, at any stage of processing. This includes food that isn’t edible yet, such as crops and half-processed food items.

However, if you are wondering what is food waste, you should understand that food waste incorporates wasted food that is in perfectly edible condition. Leftovers from restaurants and households comprise a major portion of the total food waste. In this regard, you might want to note that Australia records about 7.3 million tons of lost or wasted food on a yearly basis.

How is food waste a threat to the environment?

Despite the fact that food is usually bio-degradable, food waste still has significant impacts on the environment, such as:

1. Greenhouse gases

One of the biggest problems posed by food waste is that it often ends up in landfills and rots away. The degradation of food waste in landfills produces large amounts of methane, one of the major greenhouse gases. Methane happens to be far more powerful than carbon dioxide and contributes to global warming. Quite essentially, food waste, among other wastes, is a key factor behind global warming.

2. Loss of green cover

By now, it is a well-known fact that the expansion of agricultural areas is one of the most notable reasons behind deforestation. As the global demand for food grows along with the population so does the need for agricultural land. However, about a third of the total agricultural land, i.e., about 1.4 million hectares, produces food that ultimately goes to waste. The landfills too, are constantly expanding in size, taking up more and more valuable land.

3. Emissions

You might want to remember that food waste includes food that has undergone processing to become edible. Even the food that you cook and home but end up wasting falls into this category. All the processing and cooking results in large amounts of emissions down the production chain. All the emissions from the production and processing of wasted food add up and have adverse effects on the environment. In fact, if you were to list food waste in a rank of countries responsible for the highest emissions, it would easily secure the third rank globally.

4. Waste of resources

Food waste also results in the wastage of valuable natural resources. Agriculture alone accounts for more than 70% of global water usage. Now, in addition to agriculture, you also need to consider the resources used up while processing the food. For example, wasting a glass of milk indirectly results in wasting a thousand liters of water. Processing and cooking food also uses up various energy resources, such as oil and gas.

How can you help the environment by reducing the impact of food waste?

Thankfully, food waste is a crisis that every individual can help to resolve. The contribution of every individual, even at a personal level, counts towards reducing the impacts of food waste. Here are a few solutions that anyone can incorporate:

1. Better disposal and management of waste

It is understandable that you may generate some food waste even after trying hard to avoid it. However, proper disposal would ensure that the waste doesn’t end up in landfills. If necessary, hire skip bins Sydney from a company that takes care to recycle and properly dispose of the collected waste.

2. Reuse food waste

If food waste is in good condition, you may put it to use in other ways than previously intended. For instance, there are various recipes where you could use up leftovers. You may even make pickles or other preserved food items from excess produce.

3. Buy or cook only what you need

One of the easiest ways to reduce food waste is to avoid buying or cooking more food than you need. Gauge your needs carefully and get yourself only the food that you would be able to consume, be it at home or while eating outdoors.

By taking simple steps at a personal level, we can together defeat the problems posed by food waste. All you need to do is reduce the food waste you generate and ensure that all your food waste undergoes proper disposal.