How Many Types of Waste are There

Introduction

The four main types of waste are industrial waste, agricultural waste, domestic waste and hazardous waste. Waste is considered an undesirable and unusable substance and is regarded as a substance that is of no use. Waste which is found in our environmental elements is also called trash. Trash is considered a type of waste that incorporates waste from our homes, waste from schools, workplaces, and so on. It includes household garbage, industrial effluents, electronics, batteries, construction materials, and more.

Sources of Waste

Waste can be produced from different types of sources. The chief sources of waste are households and industries. The quantity of junk and garbage which is thrown out of the houses is huge. With each passing year, it can add up to tons of waste materials into landfills. Almost all industries contribute to environmental waste that is added to the soils and landfills on the earth. Daily human activities are also a chief source of waste on the planet.

This includes rubbish from families, workplaces, schools, commercial centres, and cafés and contains materials like food trash, utilized plastic sacks, broken furnishings, soft drink jars and plastic water bottles, broken home apparatuses, clothing, and many more

Industrial Waste

Solids, liquids, and gasses can all be components of industrial waste. However, solid waste is the most common term used when discussing industrial trash. Power generation facilities, businesses that process metals, cement manufacturing facilities, businesses that make iron and steel, and businesses that produce leather goods, food packaging, chemicals, transport equipment, resins, plastics, and paper are among the sources of industrial waste. Industrial waste is produced even by water treatment facilities. Metals, chemicals, polymers, demolition materials, medical waste, ashes, packaging, and other hazardous elements are all found in industrial solid waste. Toxins found in industrial sludge are bad for the environment.

Agricultural Waste

Waste produced as a result of agriculturally related operations or activities is referred to as agricultural waste. Agricultural waste comes in many forms, including fertilizer runoff from fields, fertilizer plant chemicals, and harvest debris. It also contains trash from agricultural farms, vineyards, dairies, feedlots, poultry farms, and slaughterhouses. Fertilizer run-offs are a significant source of trash that significantly pollutes local water supplies, soil, and oceans (via other bodies of water). Chemicals and pesticides can also add to agricultural waste. In addition to excrement and other garbage from farms, slaughterhouses, and poultry houses, it also includes gathering waste, compost runoff from fields, pesticides that end up in the water, the atmosphere, or soils, as well as salt and residue that has been removed from fields.

Domestic Waste

Garbage and other things dumped from homes are considered domestic trash. Food-related materials, plastics, cardboard, rubber, metal, paper, wood, textiles, and chemicals are just a few examples. Organic or inorganic trash might be found in homes. The majority of food waste produced in residential settings is organic. Inorganic garbage includes metals, electronics, and batteries. Furniture and mattresses that have been abandoned are a significant portion of household waste. Mattresses can seriously clutter landfills if improper recycling is not done. Chemicals from household cleansers contribute to water source pollution.

Hazardous Waste

Any waste that poses a risk to human health or the environment that is reactive, toxic, combustible, explosive, or corrosive is considered hazardous waste. These wastes are produced by businesses that produce petroleum, paints, medicines, and other goods. Toxic substances are released when these hazardous wastes are disposed of improperly.

These substances cause water bodies to deteriorate and air pollution. Workers employed in such procedures are afflicted with cancer, skin conditions, and neurological issues. According to a survey published in 2015, India produced 7.46 million metric tonnes of hazardous garbage annually.

Effects of Waste Material on the Environment

Waste materials are commonly produced in all countries around the world. Every year millions of tons of waste are produced which are outcomes of the activities in our homes, industries and businesses and disposal of these wastes is a huge environmental problem. Agriculture, industrial solid waste & Municipal and biomass deposits are huge sources of large-scale pollution of both land and water which leads to environmental pollution and increases the chances of infections and illnesses.

Treatments and Methods to Dispose of Waste

Whether the waste is biodegradable or non-biodegradable, they are still harmful to humans and other organisms and their environment. Therefore, the effective treatment of waste must be done. It is not only the duty of the Government, instead, each and everyone must contribute to reducing waste. The 3 “R’s”- Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce are the steps that can be easily followed by each person, which can save energy and resources as well. Also separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste at home and then disposing of them can help in the easy disposal of waste.

a. Burial Pits/Landfills: Throwing wastes in burial pits, also known as landfills is an alternative and is the popular waste disposal method.

b. Incineration: The process of burning waste at high temperatures and converting them into gaseous products is known as ‘Incineration’.

c. Recycling: The process of reusing used or waste materials and converting them into new materials is known as ‘Recycling.’ Recycling decreases the harmful effect of greenhouse gasses and also helps in the conservation of resources for future use.

d. Composting: When organic wastes are kept in a pit for a long period of time the microbes start decomposing the waste. If the compost is nutrient rich then it becomes a better manure for plants.

Conclusion

Waste is a kind of unwanted or non-useful material. Waste can be in the form of liquid, solid or gas, although waste is generally solid. Waste can be classified as biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Proper rules and regulations for waste management and recycling are necessary to control the damage caused by waste generated from everywhere. Without proper regulation, pollution control will remain a utopia.