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Is garbage sorting just a trend or is it really helping to save the environment? Does waste separation work in Russia? What are the rules and types of separate waste collection? Read the whole truth and myths about waste sorting in our material!
Why separate waste collection?
Globally separate collection and recycling of waste is needed to change the future of the planet. In the XNUMXth century, the invention and spread of synthetic materials, new production possibilities, and rising levels of consumption led to a dramatic increase in the amount of non-degradable and/or toxic waste that negatively affects our environment.
In an attempt to find a solution to this actual problem, the idea of separate garbage collection arose. It is the collection and sorting of waste that helps to separate them into recyclable and non-recyclable, as well as immediately separate those types of garbage that can be useful for recycling and reuse.
Separate waste collection system in the West
Developed countries quickly faced the so-called garbage crisis: an uncontrolled increase in the number of landfills with growing production demands for new raw materials. The first attempts to sort waste arose there from the beginning of the 1970th century – however, this practice became widespread in the mid-XNUMXs.
Already in the 1990s, the system of separate waste collection was enshrined at the legislative level in many countries of Western and Northern Europe, America and Canada. Now, as we know very well, selective waste collection is an integral part of the life of European citizens, their area of responsibility, a habit that is instilled and cultivated from early childhood.
Separate waste collection in Russia
Unfortunately, in our country the culture of separate waste disposal is in the early stages of its development. Despite the fact that the first attempts to separate waste were made back in the Soviet Union (remember, for example, the acceptance of waste paper, glass containers and scrap metal), this practice has not found wide application.
Nowadays, the situation is gradually beginning to change, especially in large cities, where both the authorities and volunteer activists have joined the problem. However, alas, up to 93% of all household waste is still taken to landfills and landfills.
Benefits of waste sorting
Separative waste collection and recycling solve several problems of modern society at once. And not only directly (reducing the amount of waste), but also indirectly (the formation of a new way of life) way.
Here are the most important results of separate waste collection in terms of ecology:
Reducing the number of landfills and landfills. The widespread introduction of the principles of separate waste collection helps to bring the amount of recyclable waste up to 90%.
Reducing the amount of industrial waste. Making products from recycled materials requires fewer resources and creates far less waste that pollutes the planet.
Saving taxpayers money. Separate collection and subsequent processing of garbage is much more profitable for the budget than the “classic” cycle: the creation of a landfill, the removal of unsorted garbage, burial and / or incineration.
Global improvement of the environmental situation. The well-established organization of separate collection and processing makes it possible to significantly reduce the level of negative impact on the environment, reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere and, yes, literally protect the planet.
The development of eco-consciousness. The experience of Western countries, where the need to sort waste is taught from an early age, shows that people in general are beginning to take care of nature, use resources more rationally, and even spend less in everyday life.
Waste types
Globally, there are two types of garbage: these are recyclable и non-recyclable waste. Then the division into groups begins, which often frightens beginners to understand the problem of sorting people. Now we will try to explain in the most detailed and accessible way exactly how all waste is classified and how to properly sort it within the framework of the everyday life of an ordinary family.
Food waste
It is with them that any sorting process should begin. Food waste (trimmings, cleanings, food and cooked food leftovers) can make up to 40% of the garbage in the average household. If you throw them into ordinary containers, they end up in landfills, where they slowly decompose, releasing dangerous gases: methane and hydrogen sulfide.
Therefore, it is desirable to separate food waste from all other garbage – especially the one that will be recycled. The most environmentally friendly ways to process them are composting (if you have a suburban area), or shredding using special disposers installed under the kitchen sink.
Recyclable waste
This category includes all waste that can be recycled and used as secondary raw materials. What do most recycling centers accept?
- Waste paper: paper, cardboard, corrugated board, packaging without lamination (no film on the surface), printed products, advertising spam, etc. Remember that it is not necessary to remove adhesive tape, labels, etc., but it is better to remove metal and plastic parts.
- Стекло: bottles, jars and vials. It is advisable to remove the covers, it is not necessary to remove the labels.
- Metal: tin and aluminum cans, metal lids, metal objects, including those with plastic or wood inclusions. If possible, try to reduce the amount of items you donate (for example, flatten cans).
- Plastic: separate waste collection includes bottles, cans, containers from household chemicals, plastic packaging from products. Plastic waste should be disposed of clean and dry, free of food or food residues.
There are also more detailed gradations, which take into account the type of plastic, the integrity of the glass or the type of cardboard – you can read about them and the features of their collection in detail in our article on how to properly sort garbage at home.
Hazardous waste
This is household waste that requires separate collection and disposal, so it poses a serious threat to the environment. This type of waste includes:
- accumulators and batteries;
- mercury thermometers and lamps;
- drug residues;
- car tires and consumables (oil, washer fluid, etc.);
- household chemicals, paint, solvents.
In no case should such garbage be thrown into ordinary containers, even for mixed waste. It is better to find out where the collection points are located in your city, and take hazardous waste only to specialized collection points.
Unsorted waste
And everything else can be roughly classified as unsorted waste. Various napkins, paper towels and cups, checks, photographs, things, soiled and greasy food containers, tubes and blisters … All this should be thrown into an unsorted waste container, or look for volunteer or commercial organizations that specifically collect such waste.
Myths about separate waste collection
The topic of sorting and separate collection of waste is surrounded by many myths. Below we will try to dispel the most popular of them.
All this is nonsense, trash cans for separate waste collection are taken out together with ordinary tanks.
This is not so – containers for recyclables (in Moscow they are usually blue) must be taken out by separate garbage trucks. If you notice that this rule is being violated, be sure to report it to the relevant services. Separate collection of solid waste is one of the priorities for many city authorities.
In Russia, there are still no normal sorting centers – all garbage is taken to the same landfills.
No, all waste from separate waste collection points is transported for final sorting. There, the garbage is manually processed and separated by type, pressed, stored and then sent to specialized enterprises for processing.
Sorting waste is an activity for the strong in spirit, there should be a dozen trash cans in the house and a lot of free space.
This is one of the most popular myths about separate waste collection – and it is very far from reality. Below we will talk about how the home garbage collection system actually works.
Rules for separate garbage collection: a brief reminder
Here is a basic instruction that will help you organize the sorting and separate collection of garbage within the framework of normal family life:
Find out exactly what is accepted at the nearest separate waste collection points, and sort these types of waste.
Put just one extra container at home to collect recyclable waste. You need to put everything in it according to the list in the section “Waste to be processed” (taking into account your regional characteristics).
Get special containers for collecting hazardous waste: batteries, lamps, accumulators … If children live in the house, please keep them as inaccessible as possible.
If possible, install a special food waste disposer under the sink in the kitchen. It will significantly reduce the overall volume of waste.
As the containers are full, take out recyclable waste to recycling containers or take it to separate waste collection sites, throw unsorted waste into “regular” bins, and take hazardous waste to specialized collection points.
Remember that even the simplest sorting of waste at the household level can reduce the number of landfills and landfills, increase the share of recycled materials and save resources in production – that is, protect and preserve our planet.