How to Deal With Solid Waste Disposal

Americans throw away up to four pounds of solid waste each day. Solid waste includes items that are recyclable and non-recyclable, which helps define the importance of recycling plastics, glass, paper, and certain metals. Solid waste will end up in our landfills and will release chemicals into the ground.

Items that are recyclable should be recycled to reduce the amount of solid waste. A city that is home to 100,000 people can produce 400,000 pounds of solid waste in a single day, and over 146 million pounds in one year. One person can make a difference in the issue by taking a few minutes to separate waste products.

• Paper, newspapers, cardboard boxes, food boxes made of
  cardboard, and magazines, belong in the recycling bin designated for paper waste.


• Aluminum cans and other recyclable metal containers are
  recyclable and are placed in the recycling container. This includes
  beer cans, soda cans, canned vegetable cans, and aluminum foil
  scraps.


• Glass bottles and other recyclable glass are placed in a
  recycling bin. Acceptable bottles are glass jars, glass containers,
  glass candle containers, and drinking glasses.


• Florescent light bulbs and regular light bulbs should be
  recycled. The light bulbs contain chemicals and require specific
  disposal instructions. The CFL bulbs use less energy to light our
  homes but they require specific disposal methods.


• Solid electronic waste is a common problem with local
  landfills. We throw away our old computers and computer parts not
  thinking about the damage the chemicals in the electronics does to
  the environment. These items will leak the chemicals into the ground
  and ground water is affected for years to come. Contacting a local
  business to locate an electronic recycling business will protect our
  future.


• Decreasing the amount of non-recyclable solid waste will help
  the landfills handle the current rising levels of solid waste.