398 Solid Waste: Turning a Health Risk Into a Resource
Separate wastes at the source
Keeping food wastes from mixing with paper wastes or glass, and so on, makes
it easier to reuse, recycle, and get rid of materials, and helps prevent the health
problems caused by mixed waste (see page 390). Separating waste is the first
step in better waste management, though it only solves the problem if there is
a good way to deal with waste after it has been separated. Waste separation is
part of a system that includes reuse, composting, regular collection, recycling,
and safe disposal.
Ways to separate wastes
The biggest part of the waste produced in both urban and rural areas is
organic or wet waste (food scraps and garden wastes such as dead plants and
leaves). Organic waste is broken down by sunlight and water, or eaten by living
things (worms, insects, and bacteria), and turned into compost (see page 400).
There is usually a lot of paper, glass, metals, and plastics in waste. A large
part of this waste is discarded packaging. Household waste may also include
toxic materials such as paint, batteries, plastic diapers (nappies), motor oil,
and old pesticides and cleaning product containers.
Wet waste
becomes
compost
Separation into 2 types of waste
Dry wastes are sorted
and reused, recycled,
or sent to a landfill
Separation into 3 or more types of waste
Wet waste
becomes compost
Dry, reusable, and recyclable materials
are sorted and reused, recycled, or
sent to a landfill
Toxic waste needs
special handling and
disposal (see page 410)
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012