Jackie Thompson
Every year, over 2 billion tons of solid waste are generated by various institutions around the world. Around one-fourth of these comes from the corporate sector, an alarming statistic due to countries’ reliance on their products. Considering the impacts of pollution on nature, businesses and companies have received pressure to adopt more sustainable practices in production. However, while making adjustments to the mode of production does create a positive impact, each institution still generates a considerable amount of waste.
Due to the rise in industrialization, the world now puts out more waste than in previous decades. For the management of these byproducts and substances, some companies carry out garbage disposal and sewerage. Besides making these processes easier for many businesses, they also serve to prevent illegal and unmonitored dump drives. Without waste management companies, toxic and harmful substances will fill metropolitan areas. However, the presence of some designated dumping areas such as landfills also poses risks to the environment. As a result, many waste management companies now adopt green methods to deal with waste.
Cleaner and More Sustainable Landfills
Landfills are places designated to be dumping sites for trash. They are usually located in unpopulated areas, but the number of residential locations built in places near landfills has risen. As a result, people have complained about smells, insects, and other effects. The reality is that landfills are a necessary component of the waste management cycle, which is why removing them is not an option.
One of the ways that landfills are becoming more sanitary is the use of soil to bury garbage. While this is an age-old practice, companies now place stricter measures on ensuring that waste is adequately buried. That way, the public is protected from exposure, and unpleasant odors are less apparent. Harmful gases are also minimized, and toxic liquids do not seep into residential areas.
Repurposing Waste to Energy
You might have heard of waste management companies using water and windmills to generate electricity and using eco-friendly cleaners to lessen their impact on the environment. Now, there are efforts and research to turn garbage into sources of energy. The answer lies in biogas, a kind of fuel that is made up of food waste. The composted matter is mixed with natural gases, resulting in sustainable energy. Biogas is just as effective as more conventional forms of energy and can be used to power vehicles.
Greener Spaces
Areas used for landfills do not remain as waste dumping sites forever. Some waste management companies choose to relocate their waste dumping sites to other places, especially when the capacity has been maximized. Another way that waste management companies have been repurposing landfills is by turning them into greener spaces. Parks that rise out of landfills house trees, flowers, observatories, and even museums. People can learn about the environment and wildlife, motivating individuals to be more ecologically responsible. Besides creating parks, some waste management companies have also been partnering with local authorities to use former landfills as community centers.
Waste management companies are making making changes to reduce their impact on the environment. With the number of activities and products that can come out of waste, companies have more reason to clean out their spaces through environmentally sustainable methods.