Waste is something that is thrown away because it is no longer useful. Items should only be considered Waste if they cannot be recycled. Generally, Waste is disposed of by curbside collection or personal delivery to a landfill where it can be properly handled so it cannot contaminate groundwater or harm the surrounding environment.

The amount of Waste being produced is a growing problem that affects not only the environment but also humans. If not disposed of properly, Waste can contaminate water and be absorbed by fish and other aquatic life. This contamination spreads into the food chain and can reach humans, affecting our health. People are affected by water pollution directly, especially in communities that rely on well water as a supply source. Recycling and proper management of Waste removal are essential to curb the growing waste problem and allow us to live sustainably.

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Other Sources

"Contaminants in the Environment.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. May 29, 2015. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/observations/contam/. Accessed May 12, 2016.

Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. “Water Contamination.” August 5, 2015. https://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=6A7FB7B2-1. Accessed May 12, 2015.

The waste/recycling hierarchy is designed to encourage people to be more conscientious in both the waste they produce and how it is managed. This is often referred to as the “3 R’s of Recycling.” The 3 R’s of the waste/recycling hierarchy are:

• Reduce: Finding ways to lessen or reduce what becomes waste.

• Reuse: Taking what has been used and finding a new purpose for it.

• Recycle: Using items that have been used and processing them into a new product.

This hierarchy has helped in the move toward a more sustainable way to handle resources and the refuse left over from its use. Each option provides an alternative to simply dumping the remains into landfill by either reducing the amount of waste being produced, repurposing the rubbish created by the item, or processing the refuse to create a new product.

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Other Sources

Kelleher, Mary. “Waste Reduction.” http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/waste-reduction/. March 4, 2015. Accessed May 3, 2016.

A Windrow is an elongated mound made from compostable material. Farmers commonly use these hills as a method of producing compost. In this process, farmers collect raw materials to form these mounds, making sure that they are peaked on top for rainfall to land evenly. These mounds have to be watched and regularly turned to ensure that the materials are distributed evenly and that there is no buildup of moisture. The advantage of using windrows is that they can be made in the very fields that they are going to be used in, reducing the amount of the emissions generated during transport.

Composting provides several benefits for farmers and the public. It reduces the amount of refuse going to landfills by taking certain biodegradable wastes and putting them to new use. Compost not only supports plant growth by strengthening soil to hold water and nutrients better but also reduces the need for chemical pesticides as it contains microorganisms that protect plants from diseases and pests.

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Other Sources

EcologyDictionary.org. “Windrow.” EcologyDictionary.org. 2008. http://www.ecologydictionary.org/windrow. Accessed May 9, 2016.

Frankenfield, Andrew. “Compost: How to Make It and How Much to Use.” Penn State. http://extension.psu.edu/business/start-farming/soils-and-soil-management/compost-how-to-make-it-and-how-much-to-use. Accessed May 10, 2016.

Martin, Hugh. “Agricultural Composting Basics.” Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. August 2015. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/05-023.htm#methods. Accessed May 10, 2016.

Washington State University. “Compost Benefits & Uses.” Compost Fundamentals. http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/fundamentals/benefits_benefits.htm. May 10, 2016.

A Waste Audit is an analysis of your facility's refuse streams. It can identify what types of recyclable materials and waste your facility generates and how much of each category is recovered for recycling or discarded.

Definition

Water footprint is a measurement that totals the amount of water that is consumed by a process, individual, community, company, etc.

Want to know more?

Water footprint includes direct and indirect sources of water consumption. Direct includes the water that is used to brush your teeth or wash your face whereas indirect is the water consumed by clothes manufacturing or the production of a burger. To determine an individual’s water footprint, you would add together all their water consumed including everything from the amount of water used in their shower to the water used to produce the cheese on their breakfast sandwich.

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Water Footprint Network. “What is a water footprint?”https://waterfootprint.org/en/water-footprint/what-is-water-footprint/. Accessed August 13, 2019