Avoidance and Reduction Methods

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.

Inorganic Materials Recycling

Any kind of materials that are produced by human and need they help to be recycled classified in here. Any kind of products made by human such as plastics, glasses, metals, and others cannot be broken by nature. Although it can be broken, it needs a long time to be completely destroyed. That is the reason why human do a recycling. Despite of its naturally friendly, it can also economize any waste materials.

Inorganic materials recycling has also other advantages, it can help in reserving the source available for the future generations to come. Because, if the current generation could economize in utilize any resources with using them efficiently and converting them into newer products, they would provide availability for future generation to use the left resources before it runs out. Moreover, recycling can reduce and prevent the emission of the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) or chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) into the atmosphere. The industrial process in the manufacturing of different product often releases this kind of gases that can effect the ozone layer and cause global warming. With recycling, we can prevent global warming with reducing the production of many products that can also release emission.
The best advantage of inorganic materials recycling is its economic friendly and it also helps in raising the green environment. It is a better solution to reduce any kinds of pollution that are caused by human made materials instead of disposing that waste of money.

Organic materials recycling (Composting)

         Organic materials recycling or as also we known as composting, is including any kind of organic materials that are produced by nature and can be recycled, itself. However, even though it said it can be recycled itself, actually it needs help for decomposer and sometimes human if the condition cannot be able.

        Decomposer is an organism that eating the death or decaying organism. Basically, it will appear naturally from the death body of living thing in normal condition such as normal temperature, humidity, and sunlight. Decomposer is very important to recycle the energy from living thing. Without decomposer, the chain of energy which is transfer from one living thing to other living things when they eat each other will be cut off if that living things die themselves. What is more, decomposer can also be used as energy sources. When the decomposers do the decaying process, it also releases a certain gas called as methane. This gas later will be used by human to generate electricity.

       The organic materials recycling happen naturally with decomposer’s help. It takes an important role in nature to keep the continuity of life cycle and also provides an energy sources for human.

Image from : climatelab.org

Recycling and Composting Methods

          Recycling – the process to recovering and reusing any kinds of remaining materials that have been used. With recycling, we can prevent waste of potentially useful materials that can still be used. Although similar in effects, recycling cannot be considered same as composting. In recycling, the remaining things that have been used will reproduce into new things that contain the same materials, even though it may have a different shape and use. On the other hand, in composting, the remaining materials will not reproduce into another thing. It will only be broken down and processed by decomposer such as bacteria and fungi as a source of energy for living thing to keep the continuity of live cycle. There are two types of recycling based on its material, which are the organic materials recycling and inorganic materials recycling.

Image from : atlanta-recycling.com

Incineration

        As also we usually known as burning, is a common method to get rid of the trash. Beside its simple way that even can be practiced in household, incineration can also reduce the volume of waste until 90 percent in a short time.

        Initially, incineration was only used to dispose the trash. But now, the process of incineration is also used to generate some useful products, like heat, steam, and electricity. What is more, the high temperature of incineration can also destroy many pathogens and toxic materials. That is reason why incineration is often used in the disposal of biomedical trash. However, speaking of incineration is not always about a good things, it is also has a disadvantage. It has become a classic issue that the gases and ashes which are produced by incineration contain many kinds of pollutant such as heavy metals, dioxins, and other substances which are dangerous to be sucked by human.

         Comparing with other methods, incineration has more advantages than its disadvantages. But if we didn’t control the emissions well, it can be very dangerous for human’s health.

Image from : create.org.in

Sanitary Landfill

         Sanitary landfill is considered as the best method in trash disposal that are often used by many countries currently. Beside its environmentally friendly, the gas that is produced by this method can also be used as an energy sources. However, comparing with other methods, this method is quite expensive and requires proper planning, design, and operation.

         Similar as open dumping, in sanitary landfill, the solid trashes have also been gathered in one place. The difference lies in the process after that. If in the open dumping the trashes will be separated to be destroyed or recycled, in sanitary landfill the trash will be buried and compressed with heavy-earth-moving equipment, then covered by soil into several layers. The purpose why it is covered by soil into several layers is to prevent the dirty water of trash seeps and contaminate the groundwater. After a few years, the solid trashes which have been buried will be together with soil and become hard. Then, a new area can be open above it.

          As the best method in trash disposal currently, it is expected for every country, especially development countries to use this method rather than open dumping that has many disadvantages.

Ocean Dumping

       Ocean dumping is another simple and inexpensive method to dispose trash beside of open dumping. The difference is; in ocean dumping, the trash that has already been gathered will be thrown away into the sea or ocean instead of be pile up in one area like open dumping, no matter whether it will be processed first or thrown away directly.
       Actually, beside its simple and inexpensive method, ocean dumping can give many advantages if it is regulated and controlled carefully.  For example, the big size trash like construction or ship debris can become a good place for fish and other sea creatures to breed. So, it doesn’t only give many advantages for ecosystem in the sea, but also for fisherman to fishing in the strategic area. However, it needs to be remembered if that kind of trash can also be dangerous. Sometimes, some constructions or ship debris that are thrown away to the sea still contain some gasoline or lubricant that are dangerous for sea creatures. It is not only dangerous for sea creatures, even it can also be dangerous for human which consume the seafood which are contaminated by it.
       Ocean dumping in one side can give some advantages but in one side can also be dangerous. After all, it depends on us whether we can manage this method well or not.