Does waste segregation really make a difference

We have all been taught to segregate our waste before disposing of, even if not at home, it now compulsory done in schools, universities, in public places, hospitals and offices. But we mustn’t mirror it because everyone else is doing it? Have you thought about why waste-segregation is so important that our government and institutions had to drill it into our reflexes to the point where we look for a green coloured bin to dispose of compostable waste? 

The keyword here is “Waste Management”. You will be surprised to find out that rural areas are manifold times better at waste management than their urban counterparts. Why? Because they understand the importance of organic and compostable e waste. They have residential or commercial biogas plants that turn this waste into inflammable methane in large quantities. The sedimented residue of the plant after composting is rich in urea, nitrogen, and other micro-nutrients that replenish the top-soil. In some areas, it is even processed further and packed to be sold as 100% organic and natural manure for agriculture. 

Now coming to that part of the waste which is non-biodegradable or has materials that disintegrate. There are several categories in these as well, most prominent once being metals, textiles glass, electronics, paper, and (the worst and the most menacing one of them all) plastics. Established that are more sophisticated even have three to five types of labeled dustbins in various colors to help them discard their waste more responsibly. And the most responsible thing that you could do with inorganic waste is to send it for recycling, repair or reuse. Most of the urban municipalities and waste management conglomerations do resort to at least one of these methods. 

Electronic waste is dangerous to handle because it discharges harmful chemicals, acids, and other molecules that harm humans working with them as well as the environment. Metallic waste is smashed, melted, and recycled. So are glasses and plastics. The least bothersome of the lot, which is textiles and paper, are relatively easy to take care of as long as they aren’t burnt. Segregation is one of the foremost important activities that we’d like to market and enforce for effective waste management in a populated area and to form landfills reduce in size gradually and eventually come to no landfills in four-five decades from now.