Want To Contribute To A Greener Environment? Start With Waste Sorting

Many times when we got out, we see two different types of dustbins, one is mostly blue or even red at times, while the other one is green. We all have been taught the significance of the two at some point in time, but many of us have either forgotten it or don’t practice it. Firstly, the act of designating waste into two different kinds is called waste sorting. And, we are here to explain and bring you closer to why waste sorting is important and some of the benefits of waste sorting.

If you’re someone who wants to actively be a part of a greener environment and bring change in your surroundings but doesn’t know where to start from, then waste sorting is definitely something that you should start doing and being a part of. Now, let’s understand the concept a little better.

What Is Waste Sorting?

As the name suggests, it basically means to divide waste into different parts. The main reason why this is done is to separate the wet waste from the dry ones. In earlier times, waste was sorted by hand only, but as humans progressed, new ideas and methods were developed which have made it easier to separate them.

It now occurs mostly at households or can be collected through schemes of curbside collection, or it can be separated in the waste management systems.

However, there is a difference between, waste segregation and waste sorting. Waste segregation means separating wet and dry waste. Wet waste includes biological and organic waste whereas dry waste includes metal, glass, wood, and other products.

Waste segregation ensures that the products become pure and of good quality, whereas in waste sorting, the product could be impure and of less quality too.

Why Is Waste Sorting Important?

An average person is responsible for a ton of waste every year and this makes it important to recycle waste, and when waste is differentiated into several types, it becomes easier to recycle it.

Recycled waste can then be used to make new and different things that are used by us on a day-to-day basis.

The entire concept of waste sorting has come into being due to the influx of waste being thrown out every year.

We are significantly moving towards shedding more and more weight which is now only covering up our landfills and infusing harm to animals, both on land and sea.

Waste like plastic and other chemically produced things take longer to decompose, in fact, certain things take more than 1000 years to actually eliminate from our planet.

And, if don’t put an end to it anytime soon, we can certainly move faster towards a time where all of our roads, mountains, seas, and beaches are just spattered with waste. This is why waste sorting is important.

Also Read: Why Is Reuse Better Than Recycle?

Benefits of Waste Sorting

1. Better for Environment

It is obvious when waste will be separated before being disposed of, it’ll be better for the environment. To understand this, let us consider that it is not differentiated before being disposed of, what will happen then?

The recyclable or dry waste which is composted or buried in the pits would become a source for greenhouse gases and will also reduce the quality of the soil.

It’ll be a loss of things which can be recycled and also more space will be required to keep all of it, whereas if it is separated then it’ll be less space-consuming, no emission of harmful gases, better soil fertility, and more recycled products.

2. Easy and Practical

All you’re supposed to do is have two separate dustbins in your house. In one, you can put the dry waste like paper, dust, plastic, etc. and in the other one keep the wasted food, left out parts of vegetables, organic materials, etc.

It seems a huge chore but it is very easy to do so. You can also form a vermin-compost with the help of earthworms to get better soil fertility using the biodegradable waste.

3. Easy to Dispose

When waste is differentiated, it becomes easy for both the waste management system and you to put it in different places and thus, get it disposed of in a better way.

Also Read: Edible Cutlery: Future of Eco-Friendly Utensils

So, this was all you need to know about why waste sorting is important and all the benefits of waste sorting. It is a very essential and necessary step which is still required to be taken at many places, and it’ll be better if people adopt these practices in their daily routines, as soon as, possible. This earth is our mother and it’s just up to us to protect and take care of it.