cac0fae8c8f092b7d7e32f10d5d4e9c220d2969b My Health Is My Life: Basics Relating To Waste Disposal Houston TX Residents Should Know

Basics Relating To Waste Disposal Houston TX Residents Should Know

By Brenda Cox


The amount of waste that is produced by the United Sates is estimated to be at about 220 million tons annually. This is the highest amount by any country and as such its disposal presents a major challenge both for the private citizen and the government. There are a wide range of methods that have been developed to deal with the problem. If planning to undertake waste disposal Houston TX residents need to be aware of a number of things beforehand.

Some of the commonly used options include source reduction, landfills, fermentation, recycling, reuse, land application among others. Landfills take up most of the trash not just in the United States but in many other countries as well. It has become a custom to take the trash through special treatment processes before eventually disposing of it. The role of these process is to reduce the environmental impact.

There has been a steady reduction in the use of landfills as an option of disposal. Among the contributing factors for this shift is the existence of methods that are more ecofriendly. Landfills have been said to contribute to the release of some harmful gases such as methane. These gases damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

Combustion (incineration) is quite easy hence quite a widespread practice. It is a method that is used both at household level and municipal level. Due to the likelihood of air pollution when refuse is disposed of in this manner, there exists many regulatory by-laws to guide the process. It is important that you familiarize yourself with those that apply in your case.

Recovery and recycling are two related methods that have been highly advocated for by environmental conservationists. Recovery is a process in which items that have been set aside for disposal are reclaimed and put to new use. It is not uncommon for the items to be used for the production of energy such as electricity, fuel and heat. Recycling is a method in which newer products are produced from older ones and put into good use.

Plasma gasification is the use of electrically charged gases in converting refuse from one state of matter to another. Commonly the solid and liquid refuse is changed from its state to a gaseous state known as syngas. Syngas is a source of renewable energy. The main disadvantage of this method is that the necessary technology cannot be used at household level.

Composting is another simple option that can be used by anyone. In this method, the waste is subjected to a natural bio-degradation process. This means that the waste must be biodegradable. Examples of refuse that falls in this category include plant remains, animal excreta and kitchen waste among others. Composting is mainly used to provide a source of organic fertilizer and not necessarily as a disposal option.

Reduction of wastage remains the most effective way of controlling refuse. Ensure that old items are repaired and reused instead of rushing to acquire new ones straight away. There is a need to drastically cut down on disposable items like plastic bags and opt for those that can be used over and over. It is important to engage the services of an expert when handling biomedical waste and other hazardous materials.




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