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.

The use landfills has reduced significantly in the last few decades. One of the reasons as to why this is the case is the advent of more environment friendly options. Among the unwanted effects of land-filling is the production of greenhouse gases such as methane. Landfills are also known to pollute water sources and agricultural land hence are banned or highly regulated in some areas.

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 have been highly advocated for by many conservationists. The recovery process involves identifying items that can be put into other use from a heap of garbage. Another option is to convert them into various forms of energy (heat, electricity or fuel). On the other hand, recycling entails converting the refuse into new products or using them as a raw material in energy production. Recycling has greatly helped in reducing environmental pollution.

Plasma gasification is a rare option but quite effective nonetheless. In this method, electrically charged gases are employed in altering the state of matter from one form to another. Typically the liquid and solid refuse is converted into a form of syngas using very high temperatures. The gas so produced can be used in the generation of various forms of energy.

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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