Tag: pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures

Containers should be labeled as soon as the first drop of waste is added to the container.

E-Waste describes discarded electronic devices. Used electronics which are meant to be recycled are also included in this category. Used computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets, and refrigerators are the examples of e-waste

E-waste contain lead, cadmium, beryllium etc. which are potentially harmful. Recycling and disposing of e-waste poses a high risk to the workers. 

Biomedical waste includes used menstrual cloth, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, bandages and any material that is contaminated with blood or other body fluids.

Medical wastes are classified as infectious wastes and non-infectious waste. Most of the biomedical waste is toxic in nature.

Non-infectious waste: It is not harmful and do not result in spread of any infection. Examples include: catheters, colostomy bags etc.

Infectious waste: Needles with pathogens, blood containing swabs etc. are the source of infections.

The maximum amount of hazardous waste that can be held in a satellite accumulation site (excluding acutely hazardous waste) would be 55 gallons.

Hazardous wastes are wastes with properties that make them dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous wastes  can be liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges.

When labeling a vessel that contains hazardous waste one must list all hazardous components and their concentrations.

Open dumping means dumping of waste in an open site or low lands or barren stretch of lands. It is harmful to the environment and is prone to burning, pronr to being carried away by air and eaten by stray animals. It is an illegal method of dumping waste which can be seen in many places in developing countries like India.

The landfill is an area of land used to dump the solid waste. It has its advantage as the dumping of waste material prevents the burning of it which is the major cause of air pollution. Rats, pests and other animals cannot breed in it due to the absence of air and decomposing of waste by microorganisms which reduce health problems and it is safe from hazards caused due to fires.

Composting is the process of biodegrading the organic matter into simpler substances aerobically (in the presence of oxygen) or anaerobically (in the absence of oxygen) by the action of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi which results into formation of compost or humus that is a dead and decayed matter which is further used as manure and fertilizers.

Following method is considered an unacceptable (illegal) means of disposing of hazardous waste:-

• Pouring down the sink
• Placing in the regular trash
• Pouring down the storm sewer