Waste Disposal

Waste disposal is the process of getting rid of waste materials that people generate or the act of getting rid of unwanted materials and items of no value or in excess.
   

Principles of waste disposal

  1. Recyclable wastes should be separated from non- recyclable wastes 
  2. Greater precaution should be observed when disposing hazardous wastes and it is important to separate them from other garbage 
  3. It is important to use protective materials e.g. gloves when collecting and disposing wastes. 
  4. Food and yard wastes should be separated from other garbage so as to be delivered to a compost site 
  5. It is necessary to treat sewage before it is emptied into the water bodies 
  6. Sewage systems should be checked from time to time to control leakages 
  7. Radioactive wastes should be disposed off by putting them in tanks and dipping them in deep oceans. 

  

Proper Ways of Disposing Waste

Methods of waste disposal

Most cities and towns have waste collecting departments or private firms that gather municipal solid wastes from homes and other buildings.

Incineration

This is the method which involves burning of waste products at high temperatures.

Land disposal

This involves hauling garbage to an area owned by a community or a private firm. Land disposal may range from unsanitary open dumps to sanitary landfills.

Unsanitary open dumps are poor methods of waste disposal because they cause environmental problems such as:
  • May produce bad odors 
  • Ruin the area‟s appearance 
  • Rain water drains through refuse and carry harmful substances to nearby streams and to water used for drinking. 
  • Decomposing wastes produce flammable gas called methane and methane explosions may result. 


Wastes disposed near community water source

Sanitary landfills are intended to protect the environment. The waste is packed firmly by tractors and covered with specially manufactured materials. The covering is done in order to limit blowing papers, odors, fires and run off of polluted water.

Note: A secure sanitary landfill is lined with materials that prevent water from carrying leachates (dissolved substances) from the refuse into underground water supplies.

Waste bin collection
This is intended to collect smaller quantities of wastes. The waste bins are placed along the corridors or in every room or house which in turn is emptied into big waste bins.



Sewage system

Sewage is water that contains waste matter produced by human beings. It is also called wastewater. Sewage comes from toilets and sinks of homes, restaurants, office buildings and factories Sewage system involves the use of collection pipes or pit latrines where the sewage is periodically removed and transported to a sewage works where it is treated to make it harmless.

Recycling.

Recycling is the process of reusing the materials instead of throwing them away. 

The waste products are used to manufacture the same or different products such as:
  • Cardboard or cow dung can be used to generate Biogas. 
  • Thermoplastics can be melted and remoulded. 
  • Organic wastes produced domestically or commercially can be composted. 
  • Kitchen refuse can be used to feed animals such as dogs, pigs, cattle, etc. 
  • Newspapers, magazines cartons and packing materials can be used to manufacture tissue papers. 
  • In Tanzania coffee husks are converted into a form of charcoal which is used for cooking 
  • Coconut and agricultural wastes can be converted into papers. 
  • Jute wastes can be converted into hard boards. 
  • Sewage and factory wastes can be purified to an extent that can be pumped into storage tanks and used for all domestic purposes. 
  • Glass bottles can be used for storing specimens or medicines. 


Waste generation reduction

Waste reduction is deliberate effort to produce fewer wastes. For example, people can reduce waste by buying items that can last longer or have less packing.
  

Effects of Poor Waste Disposal

The following are some of the effects of poor waste disposal;
  • Produce bad odors 
  • Ruin the areas appearance 
  • Decomposing wastes produce flammable gas called methane and this may result to explosion of the gas which may cause a loss of material property and human life. 
  • Rain water drains through refuse and carry harmful substances to nearby streams and water used for drinking which may later lead to eruption of diseases like cholera and may kill organisms found in water 
  • Poor disposal of clinical wastes on land fill site may encourage bacterial breeding leading to possible infections in the area 
  • Unregulated dumps where waste is burned in the open can cause smoke and foul smelling air. 
  • Burning may also result into production of air pollutants which may affect the ozone layer and possible cause of respiratory diseases.