Garbage: An Introduction
The Earth is home to many living things, including humans. We have evolved through generations and are somewhat involved in our ecological processes. As an intelligent species, we are expected to care for mother Earth and its nature. One of the main things that is a part of our life but is overlooked is ‘waste’.
Garbage, also known as waste, is domestic refuse made by humans. Garbage may consist of unwanted waste or trash produced by humans in various ways. But we are still behind in the basic knowledge of proper disposal of trash. We are unaware that the more garbage is produced, the land is filled with litter, causing harm to all the species.
Throwing Garbage
Every day, millions of garbage are produced. The outgrowth of trash has been a major problem throughout the country, and they are still ignored and overlooked as they are deemed unimportant. One should know the importance of proper disposal of everyday waste and keeping our surroundings hygienic. Garbage comes in various forms, and it is disposed of according to its properties. For instance, liquid wastes or general household waste should be thrown near plants or trees, as it helps them grow. Solid waste is dumped in sanitary landfills.
Throwing Waste: Impact of Improper Disposal
Improper dumping and carelessly littering of waste lead to various health issues. Some garbage materials consist of electronic wastes that, if not taken care of properly, can cause several radiation-related diseases. Impacts on living things due to not throwing off waste properly are as follows.
Impact on Humans: Humans may suffer from various contaminated diseases like cholera, typhoid, malaria, dengue, etc. Caused by mosquitoes. Insects mostly stay in the garbage littered on the streets or inside the house for a long time. Wastes that are thrown at rivers and lakes can contaminate these water bodies. Also, throwing cigarette waste can cause a fire.
Impact on Animals: Waste thrown around the streets or in water bodies is eaten by animals and fishes. This waste mostly includes plastics. Animals and mammals mistakenly eat plastics, leading to severe health issues or sometimes leading to death. Plastics cannot be digested in the stomach, which is the major cause of health deprivation. Millions of turtles are affected by straws thrown on the seas or beaches.
Impact on the Environment: As the population grows, tons of garbage is thrown at various places. This waste has various effects on the environment. Disposing of chemical waste in water bodies can lead to pollution. Waste thrown on the streets for a long time converts oxygen to harmful nitrogen, which leads to harmful diseases in humans. Forest, soils and aquatic environments are also affected.
Where should We Throw Garbage?
To prevent the littering of land, various dustbins have been kept at many places to dispose of waste properly. These bins are of different types based on the categories of waste. Wastes should be dumped on these bins, and they are treated according to their properties.
Throwing Waste in Dustbin
Throwing waste in the dustbin is a common habit everyone should adopt. This only keeps the environment clean but also saves us from harmful diseases. Three types of dustbins are installed for throwing waste.
Green-coloured bins are used for throwing liquid waste or biodegradable waste. They are mostly kitchen wastes.
Blue-coloured bins are used for non-biodegradable wastes or plastic wastes.
Yellow-coloured bins are used for paper and glass bottle wastes.
Non-Biodegradable Dustbin
Bins used to dispose of non-biodegradable wastes like plastics or those that are difficult to treat are termed non-biodegradable dustbins. They are marked blue in colour, and we can find them in all public waste.
Improper disposal of plastics can cause various environmental issues as it is not decomposed easily. It takes millions of years for a single plastic bag to be recycled. Oceans and seas are still filled with plastic waste, causing harm and killing various aquatic mammals. Hence, making use of this dustbin will not only save the environment but also save animals.
Interesting Facts
Japan is considered to be on the top in terms of cleanliness.
The red-coloured dustbin is used to dispose of biohazardous wastes.
The burning of waste can lead to air pollution.
Key Features
Wastes are disposed of in different dustbins.
Not proper dumping of garbage can affect the environment.
Dumping waste on the streets can cause contaminated diseases.
Conclusion
Thinking of the aftermath of littering the land can prevent the careless disposal of waste. We should think of all the possibilities of getting sick and making the places unhygienic just because we did not dump our waste properly. Hence, think and throw the garbage to save our environment.
FAQs on Think and Throw
1. What are the methods of waste disposal?
There are several waste disposal methods that are followed according to the properties of garbage. They are,
Landfill: In this method, the wastes are dumped on land that is dug and filled with trash. Then, they are covered with a thin layer of soil. Non-recyclable wastes are disposed of with this method.
Incineration: Garbage is burned to turn it into gases or ashes. This method sometimes leads to pollution of air, water and soil but is effective.
Composting: Kitchen wastes are disposed of by this method. Food wastes are buried under the ground, which, after some time, turns the waste into compost. This compost is further used as a fertiliser.
Other types are vermicompost and waste compaction.
2. How can waste disposal be harmful to human life?
Humans handle all the wastes that are produced every day. Burning of trash leads to the release of harmful substances like metals and gases that are dangerous to human health. Bio-hazardous waste is to be disposed of cautiously as it has toxic radiation that can mess up the respiratory organs of the body. Garbage areas are mostly infested with mosquitoes that cause malaria, dengue, etc. Other harmful effects of improper waste handling are blood infections, skin irritations, etc.
3. What are the different types of waste?
Wet Waste: They are wastes from the kitchen. They include peels, fragments of vegetables and fruits, tea grounds, eggshells and cooked food.
Dry Waste: Wastes like paper, plastic, glass, wood, cloth, and leather are some dry wastes. These are the wastes that can be stored and not get decayed.
Hazardous Waste: Wastes that contain chemical toxins are hazardous waste. They include insecticides, solvents, paints etc.
E-Waste: These are electrical wastes. Computers, fluorescent bulbs, wires, remote control, watches, cell phones and electrical toys are some examples.
