Overcoming the burden of managing everyday waste.
Every house has a set practice for disposing of waste that is generated inside the home. My home also had one i.e. dumping all in the garbage bin. Only the one which has monetary value was disposed of in the manner it is supposed to. Like the newspapers were given to the raddiwala. Now countering and challenging the existing system was like crossing the Berlin wall. Hell lot of effort! It is a long but soothing journey to try and get the changes in the scenario. Hope readers will also resonate with my feelings.
To make the process of segregating and disposing of waste responsible and easy at home, I’ve made a list of types of waste and have categorized the daily household waste accordingly. Today’s blog will give you a brief idea of how you can systematically categorize your waste before it gets disposed of.
- Wet waste: The waste which has moisture content and the one which comes from our kitchen: This is collected very consistently in a separate bin kept in the kitchen. I’m planning to start composting this waste but as of now I strictly make it a point that it is separately disposed of.
- Dry Waste: This in-home includes dust which is mopped every day. This also is maintained separately and kept in a separate bin meant for dry waste.
- Hazardous waste: This is generated once every month in the form of Sanitary napkins or medicine wraps or soiled tissues and in some cases diapers. These are disposed of by packing them in a wrapper and applying a red dot and giving it in possible cases in the biomedical waste. Also, I’m trying to shift to more sustainable products for periods and child cotton reuse nappies.
- Hair: This is a common waste generated in every house. I try and collect all the hair in a separate bin and occasionally I donate them.
- Plastic and paper: The recyclable plastic is stored and occasionally given to the kabadiwalas. The paper and cardboard are also given to the concerned raddiwale. The milk bags are collected and sold to the kabadiwala or raddiwale.
- The clothes are reused for different reasons and few are re-woven in the carpets and blankets. The other clothes are stored and disposed of once a year or as required.
- The old utensils are given in the scrap.
- The e-waste is given to the scrap and not disposed of in the regular waste.
Many of our blogs are about making changes in lifestyle for reducing waste and we had discussed lifestyle changes to reduce plastic waste which is absolutely necessary, but those who find it difficult can start with smaller changes as I have started. Sometimes it might be difficult but it’s always good to start small and be consistent about it.
Stay tuned, we’d be sharing more about managing waste during and post-Diwali celebrations next week.
Contributed By- Poonam Shah, Communication Associate at Social Lab
Social Lab Environmental Solutions is a waste management company, which helps brands take back and scientifically dispose of post-consumer plastic waste of their products. Brands take our services to fulfill Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligation under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2018.
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