Dumpster Rental 101: 5 Common Types Of Household Waste

The United States is the third most populated and fourth largest country in the world, so it stands to reason that it is responsible for 30% of the total global waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American produces around 5.91 pounds of junk every day. In a typical household of two to three people, 11.82 to 17.73 pounds of trash daily or 354.60 to 531.90 pounds monthly. Given these statistics, there is no question that excessive waste production is a significant environmental problem prevalent in the country.

Understanding Waste

We need first to understand the kinds of waste we generate in our homes before going over what we can do to reduce them. Doing so allows us to identify the best and most practical methods to dispose of them, and it also helps improve our segregation system to prevent cross-contamination of products.

Dumpster rentals accept a wide range of residential debris, but company regulations and local restrictions can differ from case to case. Waste, garbage, and trash differ in meaning despite being used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, garbage refers to spoiled or unusable debris that often comes from kitchens or bathrooms, and trash is solid waste discarded out of preference. Most of the time, trash is reusable or recyclable where garbage is not. However, they both fall under the umbrella term of waste, posing the same environmental and health problem.

This article will go through the most common categories of household wastes, provide some examples, and offer ways to get rid of them properly.

Solid Waste

We can break down solid waste into categories, but they all carry the same characteristics. When cleaning out your home, these are what you would commonly find – whether they are old toys, empty food cans, or used beverage cartons. Most solid wastes are recyclable, which means they can be washed, dried, and picked up by dumpster rental companies and sent to recycling facilities to prolong their life instead of sending them to the landfill. The three main types of solid waste are plastic, metal, and glass.

Plastic

Many household items are considered plastic solid wastes, including soda bottles, credit cards, PVC pipes, packaging tape, egg cartons, and DVDs. Their most common characteristics include poor conductivity, resistance to chemical reactions, low-cost manufacturing, and availability of colors. Plastics are the most notorious for environmental harm since they take up to 500 or more years to break down, and you can only recycle them a few times.

Metal

The metal group of solid wastes can include food trays, utensils, chains, grates, and others. They are more durable than plastic in recycling, but they also take centuries to decompose. Sending metal and tin waste to landfills and dumpsites poses health and safety hazards since plenty of these items can have sharp edges that can cut or rusted surfaces that can infect.

Glass

Glass is infinitely recyclable, which means that a piece of manufactured glass can stay in circulation forever and never lose its essential characteristics. However, its production process consumes the most energy since it requires extremely high heat levels to form the glass. Everyday household items made of glass and ceramic include windows, tableware, milk bottles, and other ornaments.

How to discard: The safest and most eco-friendly way to discard solid waste is by recycling. If you do not have the means to segregate your trash or cannot find a recycling facility near you, the good news is that dumpster rental services accept most solid household wastes and can segregate them for you!

Liquid Waste

As the name suggests, liquid waste refers to dirty water, discarded liquid detergents, organic liquids, and rainwater. Furthermore, these can be divided into point and nonpoint source waste. Natural liquids are nonpoint, such as tap wash water, while point source wastes pertain to manufactured liquids, including dish soaps and liquid shampoos.

How to discard: Liquid waste often drains into gutters and sewage systems and does not require separate waste collection methods. However, you may still contact professionals to safely remove accumulated liquids anywhere in your household.

Hazardous Waste

Dumpster rental services are strict about hazardous waste. Since trash hauled by waste containers goes to either a recycling facility or the landfill, hazardous waste can contaminate its surrounding areas or spread diseases to those handling it closely. Typically, hazardous wastes found in homes include pharmaceuticals, batteries, cleaning agents, solvents, or gasoline.

How to discard: There is no universal guideline for hazardous waste disposal. Instead, it would be best to conduct your research to determine how to dispose of them appropriately. You may also contact the manufacturers of hazardous waste products in your home to decide whether or not they conduct pick-ups or provide pop-up sites for refuse disposal.

Electrical Waste

Also known as e-waste, this category comprises gadgets and electronics of all kinds, and these can refer to mobile phones, television sets, computer parts, and other appliances. E-waste cannot be mixed with different types of trash since they may contain corrosive metals, like lead and mercury, that can contaminate other solid wastes or produce harmful gasses and chemicals..

How to discard: Most dumpster rental professionals accept small electronics and appliances. However, it is best to inquire still and confirm with your provider to ensure that they have the means and capabilities to process e-waste or discard them properly.

Organic Waste

Lastly, organic waste is defined as trash or garbage that will quickly break down or decompose in the right conditions. These may include lawn clippings, paper, discarded food, cooked or rotten vegetables, etc. Organic waste is common in nature and will not pose environmental risks unless improperly tossed out. As a general rule, you should never throw organic or green wastes with other trash since it hampers the decomposition process and prevents microorganisms from converting the waste.

How to discard: Organic waste is best composted, as it can be an effective fertilizer for plants and crops. But if you do not have the space, time, or resources to maintain a compost pit or bin, your local dumpster rental service or waste collection company can help take your green waste to a place where they can treat it accordingly.

In A Nutshell

Understanding what and how much waste we produce in our homes is a vital first step to managing and reducing our garbage and trash in the long run. It keeps our homes clean and free from possibly contagious diseases, and it also helps preserve our planet.

Cobblestone Container Service offers a comprehensive dumpster rental service for commercial and residential use. If it is your first time renting a dumpster, they can guide you through everything you need to know to ensure that your experience remains safe and enjoyable. Contact them today for committed service and competitive rates!

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