Waste Management

It is estimated that the average person uses up to 4.5 pounds of waste each day.  Unfortunately less than half of that is recycled while most of the waste ends up in landfills. It has been reported that 75% of solid waste can be recycled, but the likelihood of that is slim. As a society, we need to change the way we are thinking about waste and how to dispose of it. Sweden is a great example of a country that has taken waste and and turned it into energy. Not all waste can be recycled, but the rest of the waste that cannot be used, the Swedes reuse it. 

Getting rid of your waste is not as simple as it seems. If it is not disposed of properly it can have consequences on the environment in a harmful way. Your garbage is composed of many different products that need to be disposed of in different ways. Not everything can be reused. The materials such as paper, plastic, aluminum, and the materials to make fertilizer are the materials that can be recycled. Due to the low slow decomposition rates, land that has been used as a landfill waste area are rendered useless because it takes thousands of years for most of those products to decompose completely. Here are some ways that we can carry out to help the waste management. 

1. Donate Clothes- Instead of throwing away clothes that would go straight to the landfill, we can donate them and reuse them. 
2. Reuse Food Waste- We are careless when it comes to conserving food. We throw it out as fast as we get it. Instead of throwing our food away, make use of it. There are so many people that are in need of food and if you really have no need it is always a good idea to donate it to those in need. 
3. Eat Healthy- Eating healthier foods do not require as much disposable waste. Try to not eat out as much as well.
4. Save Leftovers for the next day- Instead of making more food, do not forget the leftovers that you had the night before. Eating leftovers saves money as well as the energy that you would put into making another meal with more food. 

Sources:

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/15-easy-ways-to-reduce-landfill-waste.php

http://biofriendly.com/blog/eco-awareness/energy/want-a-better-way-to-get-rid-of-waste-turn-it-into-energy/

http://www.ways2gogreenblog.com/2012/10/10/guest-post-how-to-dispose-garbage-in-an-eco-friendly-manner/