Honestly, I didn’t know about the proper waste sorting process at home or that every household should know the 7 categories of waste!
I used to have three bins with lids and would just throw all my household garbage into them.
I never paid much attention to the saying, ‘Waste sorting requires minimal effort but makes a big difference.’ However, after my daughter was born, I started taking it seriously to help make the world a better place.
Now, I truly understand the difference I am making by sorting waste correctly!
What is Waste Sorting at the Source?
Waste sorting means separating waste according to different waste categories. ‘At the source’ refers to where waste is generated, such as in homes, offices, and industrial settings.
After that, we throw the waste into the appropriate container for collection.
Then Recycling centers recycle and reuse the collected waste in the best possible way to drive the development of a sustainable society.
Household Waste Sorting Process
The household waste sorting process involves separating household waste into different categories at home. We sort it manually according to different waste elements or recyclability.
Why is Waste Sorting Important?
Our current lifestyle does not support a sustainable future.
This is why waste sorting is crucial. It helps reduce our ecological footprint and contributes to building a sustainable society.
Discarded waste in nature takes a very long time to decompose and leaks dangerous substances that pollute the environment.
For example, glass needs 1 million years to decompose naturally.
Likewise, cigarette butts that we casually discard take 1 to 5 years to decompose.
However, Sorting waste helps reduce contamination. Additionally, it saves natural resources.
By recycling waste, we reduce the need to use new natural resources. That saves our environment,
Every time we correctly sort used packaging, batteries, or newspapers, they are recycled and given a new life.
You will be surprised to know!
11 recycled soda cans will save energy equivalent to a 5-minute hot shower.
A bag of food waste can provide enough biogas for 2.5 km of driving a car.
1 recycled food can will save energy equivalent to 7 hours of watching TV.
How To Sort Waste Based on the 7 Categories of Waste?
Certainly, all waste must be placed in the correct rubbish bin.
Different categories of waste must never be mixed and thrown in the same rubbish bin. Otherwise, it ruins the whole purpose of waste sorting!
We must throw food waste in the large brown container and combustible waste in the large green container.
Most importantly, if you have a recycling station near your home, make sure to empty the various recycling bins at the correct recycling station.
Is It Really Necessary to Separate Waste from Regular Garbage?
Unsafe disposal of waste is ruining the world’s environment daily.
Don’t you want to live in a pollution-free, safe world?
Or think about the world in 50 years. You may or may not be in this world, but your next generation surely will be!
This simple act of ‘sorting different categories of waste daily’ can provide a pollution-free, safe world for them.
Sorting waste saves a lot of natural resources. Recycling facilities convert most separated waste into new products. As a result, this simple act helps protect both people and the environment. In contrast, failing to sort waste properly harms the environment every day because people dispose of hazardous substances unsafely.
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7 Categories of Waste in Household Waste Sorting
Now we know the importance of waste sorting. Therefore, it is important to understand how to dispose of rubbish correctly and what happens to it when it is recycled!
Home waste is categorized into different groups, such as combustible and food waste.
Generally, there are 7 waste categories:
- Combustible
- Food Waste
- Plastic Packaging
- Metal Packaging
- Paper Packaging
- Paper and Cardboard Waste
- Colored and Uncolored Glass
Below, we go through a bit more about these waste categories.
1. Combustible
Recycled waste is converted into district heating that provides heat and hot water in homes.
Examples
- Diapers
- Vacuum cleaner bags
- Cotton tops
- Dishcloths
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Cotton swabs
- Garden waste etc
2. Food Waste
Food waste is any edible food that is discarded or left uneaten.
This type of waste is sorted and found in a brown paper bag and should be thrown in the brown bin.
Recycled and converted to biogas and bio-fertilizer, which is used as fuel for cars and city buses. And bio-fertilizer for the farmers’ field.
Examples
- Leftovers from meals
- Plate waste (uneaten portions of meals)
- Expired or spoiled food
- Fruit, vegetable peels, Food scraps (e.g., eggshells, coffee grounds)
- Meat and fish trimmings
- Bread crusts etc
3. Plastic Packaging
Recycled and converted into new plastic, it can be recycled up to 10 times.
Examples
- Ketchup bottles
- Toothpaste tubes
- Plastic bags
- Shampoo bottles etc
4. Metal Packaging
Metal is melted down into new steel and aluminum, which are used in the automotive and construction industries, among other things.
The number of times metal can be recycled is unlimited.
Examples
- Aluminum Cans (soda cans, beer cans)
- Tin cans (canned vegetables & beans)
- Metal food containers (canned fruits, meats, and soups)
- Metal lids and caps (from glass jars and bottles)
- Aluminum foil
- Metal tubes etc
5. Paper Packaging
Recycled and converted into new paper packaging, it can be recycled 6-7 times.
Examples
- Milk packages
- Cornflakes packages
- Pizza boxes
- Paper bags
- Detergent packages etc
6. Paper and Cardboard Waste
Recycled and converted into new paper. It can be recycled about 7 times.
Examples
- Newspapers
- Catalogs
- Drawing paper
- Flyers
- Receipts etc
7. Glass (colored and uncolored)
Recycled and converted into new glass packaging.
The number of times a glass can be recycled is unlimited.
Examples
- Jam jars
- Lemonade bottles
- Medicine bottles
- Wine bottles
- Perfume bottles
Read More: How to Remove Labels from Jars
What falls outside the 7 categories of waste?
Sometimes we also find some other types of waste at home, which may not be generated regularly. When this happens, it is important to sort them out properly and dispose of them properly. They are—
-
Batteries: The components inside the battery are recycled or renewed.
-
Light sources (e.g. bulbs, tubelights): The components of the light source are reused.
-
Electronic waste (e-waste): New products or energy are created from them.
Summary
Safe management of these unique materials is very important for maintaining a healthy and clean household. If you want to clean out your old electronics or empty the storage room, combine these habits with regular deep cleaning tips. This will help keep your home organized and eco-friendly at the same time.
When it comes to managing a household, following professional cleaning tips or cleanliness advice can provide excellent insight into how to efficiently maintain different areas. For example, thoroughly cleaning the refrigerator or fridge helps ensure proper food storage, which prevents food from spoiling prematurely and reduces your overall amount of waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the 7 categories of waste?
A. The 7 categories of waste for household sorting are:
- Combustible waste
- Food waste
- Plastic packaging
- Metal packaging
- Paper packaging
- Paper and cardboard waste
- Colored and uncolored glass
Q. Why should we separate different types of waste?
A. Separating different types of waste stops contamination. When materials stay clean, recycling facilities can easily reuse them. Mixed garbage usually ends up in landfills, which pollutes the environment.
Q. What happens to food waste after it is collected?
A. Food waste is placed in brown bags and recycled into biogas (clean fuel for buses and cars) and bio-fertilizer (used by farmers to grow crops naturally).
Q. Which materials can be recycled forever?
A. Glass and metal packaging can be melted down and recycled an infinite number of times without ever losing their quality or strength.
Q. Does household waste sorting really save energy?
A. Yes, dramatically! For example, recycling just 11 soda cans saves enough energy to power a 5-minute hot shower, and 1 recycled food can saves enough energy to watch 7 hours of TV.
Visit our home cleaning guide to keep your home clutter-free.
