por The types of garbage They are established according to various criteria, such as their origin, composition or ability to be recycled. The word «garbage» refers to all material that has no application for whoever generates it and therefore discards it.
Garbage can originate in the domestic sphere; household consumption waste. Garbage is also generated in the commercial field by discarding product packaging, as well as elements derived from customer consumption.
Trash can also be generated from industrial activity, especially waste from factory production lines. On the other hand, there are special areas of origin of waste, such as electronic waste, medical waste and space debris.
If we classify garbage according to its composition, there are two large groups, organic and inorganic. In this case defined by containing or not organic matter as its main structure.
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Types of garbage according to its origin
According to its origin, garbage can be classified into:
Domestic trash
It is about all those solid wastes that are produced at home or in complementary areas, such as parks and streets. It is considered from the remains of food to anything that we discard as useless.
This includes the remains of toilet paper, diapers, feminine sanitary napkins, discarded clothing, batteries and batteries. As well as broken or discarded furniture, damaged appliances and debris from small works in the home.
commercial garbage
Commercial waste is considered to be that generated from the specific commercial activity. This includes boxes and packaging remains, disposable tableware in catering services, printer ink cartridges, stationery and others.
industrial waste
All that material discarded from the production processes and collateral services carried out in the industry is industrial waste. This as long as the referred materials are actually intended for disposal and not for recycling.
Industrial waste is further divided into many subtypes depending on the industrial branch in question. In such a way that there is metal-mechanic, chemical, paper garbage, and others. A particular case is the debris derived from the construction and demolition industry.
Institutional garbage
It refers to the garbage produced in government, educational, military, prison, air, land and sea terminals.
agricultural waste
Garbage generated in agricultural and livestock production units, such as crop residues and animal feces, is included here. As well as containers of agrochemicals, fertilizers and medicines for animals.
Electronic trash
Electronic waste covers all electronic equipment and its constituent parts that are discarded due to damage or renovation. Examples of electronic waste are waste from computer equipment, televisions, air conditioners, and others. This type of garbage is particularly polluting, given the high content of heavy metals that characterizes it.
sanitary waste
This is another particular type of garbage, since it is the waste generated by hospitals, laboratories and other health services. These are syringes, surgical medical equipment, drug containers and even expired drugs and even organic tissue remains. Without a doubt, it is garbage that requires special procedures for its disposal, handling and disposal.
space junk
This special type of garbage is generated as a result of the decommissioning of artificial objects placed in orbit by humans. Those who do not re-enter Earth are left circling around it becoming space junk.
It includes satellites, parts of space vehicles, debris and all kinds of debris related to space missions. Estimates point to more than 50,000 objects larger than 1 cm in orbit.
Types of garbage according to its composition
According to its composition, garbage can be classified into:
Organic trash
This includes all that garbage derived from the consumption or use of materials originated from living beings, that is, of organic origin. Such is the case of food remains, crop remains, seeds, animal feces (including human faeces) and animal carcasses. As well as ash of vegetable or animal origin, paper without additives, non-synthetic or untreated fabric, wood and its derivatives.
Organic waste is that which comes from living beings, whether animals or plants.
Inorganic trash
This includes all that garbage that does not have a biological origin, that is, it does not derive from living beings or parts thereof. Therefore, plastics, metallic remains, electronic waste, synthetic or treated fabric, batteries, tires, glass and porcelain are considered inorganic waste. Also compact discs, x-rays, paper and cardboard.
In the case of paper and cardboard, although its basic composition is cellulose of vegetable origin, it is considered inorganic waste. This is due to the fact that gums, synthetic resins and other inorganic substances are added to it in the production process. In any case, it is mixed waste, although for management purposes it must be considered inorganic.
Inorganic waste includes plastic, paper, metal, glass and electronic waste.
Types of garbage according to their ability to be recycled
According to this classification, garbage can be classified as:
Recyclables
It is all garbage for which current technology gives the possibility of being reused or recycled. Such is the case with almost all organic waste, which can be easily biodegraded and used as organic fertilizer.
Also many glass containers are returnable and therefore reusable. While others made of glass or metal can be recycled to use the material in other production processes.
Many parts and materials can be recovered from electronic devices that can be used as raw material for new products. For example, gold, tantalum, coltan, lead, copper, zinc, beryllium, and other highly valuable metals are recovered from cell phones.
Paper and cardboard are also recyclable when they do not have plastic coatings or certain additives. Likewise, glass and many types of plastics are recyclable.
non-recyclable garbage
Non-recyclable garbage is all that for which there are still no technological variants for recycling or if it exists, it is not economically profitable. This type of garbage includes fabrics, paper or cardboard that have some plastic application or additives that make recycling difficult. For example, self-adhesive paper, carbon paper, photographs and some cardboard tableware.
Neither are glass and porcelain recyclable, due to their lead oxide content, nor are mirrors. Similarly, expanded polystyrene is not recyclable either, since when used with food it becomes contaminated, in addition to its expanded volume making the recycling process difficult.
References
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