How Do I Manage My Wastes?

How Do I Manage My Wastes?

The best way to manage solid waste is to not produce it in the first place. To that end, buy only what you need. Buy durable products, and maintain and repair them to ensure longer product life. Borrow or rent items you don’t use often. Putting a bit more thought into the way you manage your household waste can help you get more organized. With careful planning, you'll be able to save money and have less of an impact on the environment. Avoid excess packaging by choosing large containers instead of several small ones, buying concentrates, and buying food in bulk when it is available. Also, compare the size of the package to the size of the product. If there appears to be far more package than product, choose another brand. Some products don’t need a package. A hammer could be hung on a rack, rather than in a blister pack. However, other products clearly do require some packaging. Many containers, such as glass milk bottles, can be returned to the industry for redistribution and reuse. Refills are now available in many stores for an increasing number of cleaning products. Also, many hair salons offer refills on shampoo and other hair-care products. Reusable packaging is anything that can be reused for a different purpose. For example, a plastic container can be reused as a storage container. However, never reuse food packages to store hazardous materials.
Create a compost site. Select an area in a sunny or partially shaded spot in your yard for your compost site. Ideally, you'll compost directly over dirt or grass, but if you don't have a large yard area, you can compost on a concrete patio. Make a compost pile. This is the simplest way to compost. All you have to do is make a pile in your yard. It should be located well away from your house, since composting sometimes attracts mice and insects. Make a compost box. You can construct a box made to the exact dimensions that suit your needs. Buy a compost bin. They're available at most home and garden stores, and come in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
Dispose of trash and hazardous waste properly. There are some household items that just can't be recycled or reused. These items have to be thrown out with the trash or disposed of at a hazardous waste facility. Try to reduce your consumption of the following items, and when you do use them. In some places you need to sort plastic, glass, and paper recyclables and and turn them in separately, while other cities allow you to place all recyclables in the same bin and be done with it. Some cities provide recycling pickup, while other places have a recycling center where you can drop everything off.