Avoidance and reduction – it sounds simple, but actually the most important and difficult method on trash management is to avoid and reduce the amount of trash that produced by human. Avoidance and reduction method, that also known as trash minimization, involves any efforts to minimize resource and energy use during manufacture. Actually, it is not only needed in manufacture, but also needed in household life. Any efforts in household which refers to prevent or reduce any waste materials can also be categorized here. The ways to avoid and reduce the trash can be used in two areas, which are in industrial area and household area.
I. Industrial area
The avoidances and reductions in industrial area are not only how to minimize the amount of remaining things that produced by the factory, but also how to use the raw materials efficiently during manufacture. It doesn’t only give many benefits for the environment, but for the company which produce the product too. If they can use the raw materials efficiently, it will prevent the waste of money for remaining materials that are not used.
There are some methods that are usually used in industrial to minimize the remaining things.
1. Optimizing the raw materials in producing something.
2. Reusing the remaining materials that can still be used.
3. Preventing the product failure in producing.
4. Reducing the useless materials in the product design.
5. Improving the durability of products.
Any efforts that are mentioned above have been proven effective. However, it needs to be remembered that minimization sometimes could harm ourselves if we overstep the limit on it. For example in car industry, the company could make more profit if they changed the current materials in car’s body with other materials that have lower price but also lower quality. It might give more profit, but also more damage for driver when the accident happened.
In addition to conserve natural resource, the minimization of raw materials can also provide many benefits for the company which produces the products. However, whether the side effect of it will harm ourselves or not depends on how we can manage it.
II. Household area
The avoidances and reductions in household area are how to minimize any household activities that have a potency to produce trash. Many people believe that household trash is not dangerous. But in the fact, even though it is not as dangerous as industrial trash, there are some household trashes that actually can be categorized as dangerous. Not only for environment, but also human. To avoid the effects of that kind of household trash, there are several tips for the products that you can start to avoid or handle it more carefully.
1. Aerosol
Beside of its CFC that can effect the ozone layer, Aerosol spray is also flammable. Disposing an aerosol spray that isn’t completely empty into a trash compactor or combustion device could cause a serious explosion. So make sure any aerosol product you throw out has already emptied and try to use pump-spray instead of it next time.
2. Auto batteries
An auto battery contains a dangerous corrosive acid. When you want to buy a replacement battery, buy from a vendor that will take your old battery to be recycled.
3. Wood cleaners and polishes
The fume of wood cleaners and polishes can irritate your eyes. Try to substitute it with lemon oil or beeswax.
4. Automobile motor oil
Do not pour used oil down the sewer. One drop of used oil can contaminate thousand gallons of water. If you want to change your oil, collect the used oil and take it to the local gas station to be recycled.
5. Insecticides, pest sprays, rat poison
These products work by poisoning small animals, but can also effect big animals, plants, and people who contact with it without them realizing. Try to minimize using it. If you do end up using it, use it carefully and get rid of the leftover container at your community’s household next household hazardous waste day.
Although many people do not realize it, there are some products in household that actually is dangerous, even after it becomes trash. If we can avoid or reduce using those products, not only the environment we can save, but also our own selves.
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