Local Councils Efforts in waste management

Waste management is a serious matter that affects all communities; we are all contributors to the piles of garbage and litter that increase day by day. The systems that are already in process to deal with the problems includes waste disposal, waste to energy plants, waste reduction, composting, recycling, land-fill and refuse management. Waste management isn’t going to go decrease and everyone on the planet is affected by it. The answers to the ongoing issues have to come from all sectors if it is to have an impact, including the local and national governments, manufacturers, general public and businesses.

One type of waste management is source reduction. Systems are put into place that can either decrease the amount of waste or eliminate it all together. Such systems in use today include recycling second hand goods and repairing items instead of throwing them away and buying a new version, which is quite normal in the disposable society we live in. Another system in place is to stop using the plastic bags given out free in most stores and utilize recycled cotton or paper bags in their place.

Recycling is another form of waste management. This involves the elimination of valuable re-useable resources from waste products. Recyclable products include metal, plastic, cardboard, paper and electrical items such as batteries and mobile phones.

Many local authorities have now started to use systems and procedures to deal with the amount of refuse created by their inhabitants.

Recycling bins are provided by most local councils and located in public places. It is fairly simple to understand what materials can be placed in which bin as they are either colour coded or have a large symbol on the bin. Containers are often supplied for glass, paper, tin, cans and plastic bottles. When recycling plastic bottles make certain you empty them of any liquids and take the lids off.

There are many various products that are now able to be recycled, amongst them ink cartridges, mobile phones, electrical items and batteries. Some local authorities will have a scheme in place where batteries can be collected, even better would be if you bought rechargeable batteries. Local council services differ, so it’s worth checking out what recycling efforts your local council is making and what you can do to help. Ask for information at their local offices or try out their website.

Don’t use plastic bags to bring your recycling items to the bins. Put them into a cardboard box and then recycle that in turn. Collect the free plastic bags you get from the store each time you go to the store as these can be recycled into lots of different products, such as composite lumber. Plastic bags are far from eco friendly as they are mass produced in their millions and many of them then end up as dropped litter. Plastic bags can be eaten by animals that can choke on them or cause suffocation. It takes hundreds of years for them to break down in landfill and then they produce toxic residues that pollute the oceans and land.

Plastic bags have now been prohibited in some supermarkets or customers are deterred from using them by the implementation of a small charge. Hopefully this will persuade shoppers to use their own bags or buy reusable ones. In some areas this has reduced plastic bag usage by 90%. Reusable shopping bags are great for carrying your groceries in and many have already been recycled from some other material. You can find a good selection made from cotton, hemp or string in trendy and stylish designs.

Most products collected for recycling is put to some use. Most daily newspapers that you read are made from 100% recycled paper and nearly half of glass containers such as jars and bottles are washed and reused.

Waste management is an issue that has to be dealt with by every local authority. Finding out some basics on recycling and waste management can help you make educated choices regarding how you live your life to make it a better and cleaner world for everyone.

Waste management is a serious matter that affects all communities; we are all contributors to the piles of garbage and litter that increase day by day.

Michiel van Kets provides articles for Michael Hagley, who works for Veolia Australia’s environmental services leader in all facets of waste management. For any household Veolia can provide skip bins.

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