Environmentally Friendly Waste Disposal Products

The most common ways to dispose of waste are placing it in landfills, burning it or recycling. The methods have drawbacks and advantages. Landfills release methane gas into the air and polluted fluids that leach into the water and areas surrounding the fill. Burning waste releases pollutants into the air. Recycling waste reduces the need to dispose of it by the first two methods. Products are available to prepare waste for disposal in ways that allow for recycling or condense waste for landfill and burning.

Garbage Composters

• Businesses and homes can purchase garbage composters. These machines turn biodegradable garbage such as food and fiber materials into nutrient rich compost. The compost can be used to enrich soil in gardens, thus keeping it out of landfills. Composters can be low tech, such as a container where the waste is turned manually, or a power-operated machine.

Biodegradable waste bags

• When waste must be sent to landfills, it can be placed into bags that break down in the environment more readily than petroleum-based plastic bags that are commonly used. These are often made of recycled paper products.

Toilet composters

• Toilets that compost the waste are available on the market. They contain and break down the material, thereby keeping it out of septic tanks and sewer systems. Additionally, it is sanitized for use as compost. Some of these are small to serve one bathroom, and others are central systems designed to serve a house or business.

Mulching lawnmowers

• Lawnmowers that turn clippings and leaves into mulch when the grass is mowed keep decaying plant matter out of landfills. They also motivate home and business owners not to burn these materials or send them to the landfill. The mulch can be used in landscaping to protect plants.

Garbage disposals and compactors

• Garbage disposals reduce the amount of waste that is bagged and sent to landfills.Trash compactors smash the waste into fewer cubic feet than would be used to bag the garbage. Some compactors can be used to prepare or bale paper products for recycling.