By Brenda Cox


It is estimated that close to 250 million tons of trash are produced across the United States every year, the highest by any single country in the world. The trash has a varied number of sources that may be either domestic or industrial. As you can imagine, the disposal of this amount of garbage is no mean task. There are a number of methods of waste disposal Houston TX residents need to be aware of.

The main options that are used include recycling, source reduction, reuse, animal feeding, the use of landfills, fermentation, and land application to mention but a few. The use of landfills is, without a doubt one of the most commonly used. As the name suggests, this method entails burying of solid refuse in land. Before this is done, the refuse is first taken through a process that helps reduce odor and eliminate environmental dangers.

The use of landfills has been reducing steadily in recent times. This is mainly due to the existence of more efficient methods as well as the unwanted negative effects of the refuse on the environment. Among these effects is the production of methane gas and other greenhouse gases whose effects on the ozone layer and global warming is well known. Landfills also pose the challenge of water pollution.

Combustion or incineration is another widely used form of disposal. The manner in which this is done varies from one place to another. There are differences in the techniques that are employed at household level and at municipal level. The main downside of combustion is the release of harmful fumes into the environment. This is why some countries tightly regulate the practice.

Recovery and recycling are arguably the safest methods and also the most ecofriendly. Recovery is where various items that have been marked for disposal are picked from a heap of garbage and put into other use. The items may also be used as a source of energy in the form of fuel, electricity and heat. Recycling is the process of turning refuse into newer products.

Plasma gasification is a rare option but quite effective nonetheless. In this method, electrically charged gases are employed in altering the state of matter from one form to another. Typically the liquid and solid refuse is converted into a form of syngas using very high temperatures. The gas so produced can be used in the generation of various forms of energy.

Composting is yet another method that can be used virtually anywhere. Simply put, this method allows trash to undergo a natural bio degradation process. It goes without saying that the method is only suitable for biodegradable refuse such as plant remains, kitchen waste and animal droppings. The main objective of composting is to form natural manure that can be used for farming purposes while getting rid of unwanted waste at the same time.

The reduction in waste production is undoubtedly the most effective method of ensuring there is less of it in the environment. For this to happen, there is a need to ensure that recycling and reusing items is optimized. There is also a need to reduce the use of disposable items. Such may include, for instance, plastic bags. Even as you strive on cutting down on refuse in the environment, be careful when dealing with hazardous material such as biomedical waste.




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