We have gotten much better at looking after the waste we produce and trying to avoid sending as much of it to landfills as possible. Many people do not give it a second thought and put their rubbish in their bin, never to think about it again. However, if you have ever wondered what happens to the waste you produce and the journey it goes on, you can see a summary of what happens to it below. Making sure we all play our part and are conscious of what rubbish we produce can help us care for our planet and ensure we recycle as much as possible.
It Starts At Home
Over the last couple of decades, many western countries are making a concerted effort to reduce the amount of waste they produce, which starts in citizens’ homes. Many people have become accustomed to processing our waste at home without even thinking about it. We often have various bins that we use for our rubbish, which can include:
- Bins for general waste
- Bins for organic waste including food
- Bins for paper and cardboard
- Bins for recyclable materials such as plastics
We need to put our rubbish into the correct receptacle, which will help ensure as much as possible will be processed and recycled, rather than thrown into landfills. The next stage of the journey is where the rubbish is collected and taken to processing facilities to be sorted.
Collecting Your Waste
Part of the taxes you will go towards collecting and processing waste materials from your home. You need to put your bin out on the correct day for the council to send trucks round to collect it, and there are different trucks for different types of materials. Each local council has individual guidelines regarding waste and its management, and it is vital to follow these as it can cost a lot of money when you throw the wrong item in your bin that does not belong there.
You also find that companies that offer skip bin hire will work similarly to local councils, and once the rubbish is collected, they will need to process it. With mini skip bin hire in Perth prices being so affordable, for example, they are a popular way for people to get rid of the additional waste that their council will not take, or there is no room in their bin for it. These companies will process the waste similarly to your council, and you may even find that ultimately it is the same company processing it, depending on where you live.
Processing The Waste
Once the waste has been collected and returned to the processing facility, it is time to get your hands dirty. A lot of the processing is done mechanically, but it still requires additional help from humans. They will use machines to process and separate different materials, such as plastics, paper, wood, and organic waste. Once separated, what little cannot be recycled will be sent to landfills throughout the country, and the rest is sent to companies to refine and further process the materials. The metal from your old table could end up being used for a car or other vehicle, and the newspaper you read may become toilet paper.