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Sustainable Waste Management Practices for Homes and Businesses

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Global waste is on the rise at a time when the world is working towards a greener future, which makes sustainable waste management a responsibility for every home and business. Embracing it means that it’s no longer just collecting waste and dumping it as usual but implementing different strategies to reduce environmental harm, conserve resources, and create a healthier future.

Whether at home or in your business, you can contribute to a cleaner, greener world while also promoting responsibility.

Invest in Durable Waste Management Products

To get started, you need to have the right tools for the job. This means getting durable plastic rubbish bins and containers, which will make it possible to implement different sustainable waste management practices. Plastic bins are made of strong materials that can last long, aren’t heavy, don’t rust, and are easy to clean, unlike their metallic counterparts.

When buying the bins, keep in mind that you’ll have different waste streams – recycling, composting, and general trash. Apart from that, you can consider the features you want depending on the type of use – home or business. For businesses, you’ll need both small ones and heavy-duty bins or industrial ones, as they can support frequent use.

Embrace Waste Segregation

After getting the bins, you’ll now need to incorporate waste segregation into your daily habits. This is one of the most impactful sustainable waste management strategies as it helps significantly reduce what goes to the landfill. 

For households, you can set up separate bins for recyclables, compostables, and general trash. In the office, you might need to separate paper, electronic waste, recyclables, and general trash. And in restaurants and food stores, the major focus will be organic waste and possibly plastics.

Segregating waste at its source greatly helps recycle and reuse materials and items that fit the criteria. While some can be sorted later, others, like paper, can’t be recycled after mixing with general trash like food.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

This timeless mantra still remains the cornerstone of sustainable waste management. When you embrace the three principles in your home or business, you’ll significantly contribute to a greener future.

Reducing the amount of waste you produce is the first step. It involves making mindful purchasing decisions, such as choosing products with minimal or eco-friendly packaging and avoiding single-use items. You can prioritize reusable items at home, and businesses can adopt paperless workflows.

Before you throw anything away, you can then consider whether it can be reused or repurposed. For example, you can upcycle glass jars at home or turn old clothing into cleaning rags. In the office, you can reuse shipping materials or refurbish office equipment. This significantly reduces the demand for new resources (and the creation of new trash).

After reducing and reusing, you can then recycle. Ensure you sort out materials that can be recycled, such as paper, cardboard, plastics, and metals. These will be processed into new products instead of ending up in landfills.

Reduce Electronic and Hazardous Waste

Electronic and hazardous wastes pose some unique challenges, and they can be harmful to both the environment and humans if not disposed of properly. When it comes to e-waste, you can first reduce it by repairing current devices, refurbishing them, or giving them to other people who need them – one man’s waste is another man’s treasure. 

If not, look for local e-waste recycling programs or the take-back initiatives offered by some manufacturers. Just don’t dispose them with general waste, as this will make them harder for others to reuse or recycle. 

For hazardous items like batteries, cleaning chemicals, and expired medications, use proper disposal methods. Most communities offer special collection days or drop-off centres for hazardous waste, and businesses can have clear guidelines for disposal.

Compost Organic Waste

Composting is another effective strategy you can use to manage waste sustainably, as it turns waste in nutrient-rich compost. If you have a yard, this should be a priority for your kitchen scraps like fruit, vegetables, and food waste. You can combine these with yard waste, such as grass clippings, to create your own compost, which you can then use to replace chemical fertilizers.

In businesses with huge amounts of compost waste, like restaurants, you can partner with local composting services if you can’t set up on-site composting solutions. This will reduce waste in landfills and create valuable compost for landscaping or community gardens.


Image from Pixabay

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Mick Pacholli

Mick created TAGG - The Alternative Gig Guide in 1979 with Helmut Katterl, the world's first real Street Magazine. He had been involved with his fathers publishing business, Toorak Times and associated publications since 1972.  Mick was also involved in Melbourne's music scene for a number of years opening venues, discovering and managing bands and providing information and support for the industry. Mick has also created a number of local festivals and is involved in not for profit and supporting local charities.        

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