Waste Sorting & Why We Do It
Waste sorting is a hot topic these days, and for good reason. Here at Master Care, we take this very seriously. There are 5 common areas of waste disposal and if they are taken into consideration, they can help make a positive impact on our environment. Here’s what you need to know about these 5 common areas and how Canada expects to make a change:
Solid Waste
Solid Waste is commonly known as trash or garbage. This type of waste consists of everyday items that are discarded by the public. This can refer specifically to food waste, plastic, paper, or hazardous waste. It’s important to know which category your waste falls under to ensure you are separating it and disposing of it properly.
Recyclables
Did you know Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually? Only 9% is recycled while the rest ends up in our landfills, waste-to-energy facilities or the environment. Recyclable items consist of paper, cardboard, glass bottles, juice and milk cartons, plastic bottles and steel items such as tin. Instead of throwing these items away they should be placed into your recycling bin so they avoid going into a landfill. Recycling helps reduce the pollution caused by waste. Making small changes like recycling instead of throwing all items away will have a more positive long term effect on not only our planet but also our people. Recycling reduces the need for any raw material; it also uses less energy, therefore preserving natural resources for the future.
Organic Waste
Organic waste is material that is biodegradable and comes from either a plant or animal. This type of product is broken down by organisms over time and is also referred to as wet waste. Composting items at your office such as fruit and vegetable scraps, meat products, dairy, coffee grinds, and tea helps to reduce the burden on what is increasingly becoming limited space for trash disposal. Organic waste is decomposable and easy to separate from other waste. This is simple enough for you to do and the impact on the environment from this small change is significant.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is defined as residues from industrial productions including solvents, acids and bases as well as residuals from oil and chemical processing. The definition was set out by CEPA in Canada. These items take a huge negative toll on our environment. Hazardous wastes take many forms such as solid, liquid, gas, sludge or paste and are categorized into different classes. You can check out there different classes of hazardous waste here. Proper storage and handling of hazardous waste containers in your work space is an important practice that not only promotes a safe work environment, but also ensures you’re following legislative requirements. To prevent harming human health and our environment, it’s essential these hazardous waste items are handled, stored, transported, treated and disposed of properly.
Liquid Waste
Last but not least there is liquid waste, which is commonly found both in households and in businesses such as restaurants, hotel chains and private offices. Liquid waste can be defined as fats, oils or grease, used oil, liquids, solids, gases, or sludges and hazardous household liquids. These liquids are often hazardous or potentially harmful. There are multiple options you can use to help with your liquid disposal, just ensure you are being safe about it.
How Canada is taking action:
Waste management is becoming more of a priority in Canada. As early as 2021, Canada is banning harmful single use plastics under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This ban includes plastic products and packaging such as shopping bags, straws, cutlery, plates and stir sticks.
The waste process is redundant and therefore we need to be taking more consideration when discarding the products around us. To manage waste, first determine if a material is waste and if so, what type it is; then find out what rules apply. Want to book a consultation, or need advice on how to start waste sorting in your office space? Contact us today.
The team at Master Care has been used by large and small companies for more than 30 years. We want to help make a positive impact on our environment, so let us help you! Our team of cleaners are constantly undergoing classroom and on-the-job training to ensure your highest standards are always exceeded.
The post Waste Sorting & Why We Do It appeared first on Master Care Janitorial.