How Waste Management Companies Are Fighting the Growing Waste Crisis

The growing waste crisis is an existential threat. From massive gyres of plastic in our oceans, to microplastics in the food we eat, from methane-belching landfill sites to mountainous toxic dumps, the news is full of bad news about waste management. Fortunately, waste management companies are fighting the growing waste crisis. 

In today’s complex and messy world, it is easy to get bogged down in the bad news. But there is some good news too. 

It is unfortunately all too true that, globally, humanity is doing a bad job of managing its resources. Waste has become a problem of massive proportions. But it is also true that there is a lot we can do about it. 

Sustainable waste management companies are leading the way and doing all they can to stem the tide of trash. 

Prioritizing Reuse

One of the most important strategies waste management companies are employing is to redefine what we see as ‘waste’. When you think about dealing with waste, your mind might leap to recycling. But in the hierarchy of waste management there are other steps that should come first. 

Before we think about recycling we should think about what happens in our homes and businesses. 

We should all refuse to bring in items that will pose a waste problem at the end of their useful lives. We should also reduce consumption, since that is another way to cut down on waste in all its forms. We should consider immediate reuse, repurposing and upcycling, and repair what we can – remembering the old saying ‘make do and mend’. 

But even when we do those things, and take other steps to reduce waste at home, there is a point when we may need some assistance to get rid of things we no longer need or want. That is where waste management companies come in. 

Sustainable waste management companies will prioritize reuse. They will consider that many of the materials and items they handle are not really ‘waste’ at all, but can be reused. These companies are forging new connections between those who have stuff they don’t want and those who need that stuff and can find uses for it. 

Value Creation – Upcycling and Beyond

Good waste management companies will also go beyond simple reuse. By recognising the value in what is considered ‘waste’, they can keep items and materials from landfill. They can find new and interesting ways to monetize ‘waste’, upcycle, and channel these things back into supply chains. 

Beneficial reuse systems mean that the value in ‘waste’ items enriches the lives of communities who need those items, and companies can make use of materials to give them new lives in a new form, or as other things. 

Rethinking Recycling

Sustainable waste management companies understand that recycling is not a panacea. It alone cannot solve the growing waste crisis. 

However, they also understand that recycling does have a role to play in managing many different forms of waste. They help, as experts, to ensure that items are sorted and diverted properly, so less ends up in landfill, and more is successfully recycled. 

They can also help to reduce the energy use and emissions associated with recycling, helping to streamline things with solutions like on-site balers and compactors. They can help companies to save on costs and monetise stuff that would otherwise be thrown away. 

Innovation & Technology

As well as being at the cutting edge when it comes to recycling, sustainable waste management companies also utilize many other innovative technological solutions to help tackle the global waste crisis. 

For example, they might use contemporary technology to help sort waste, to track waste levels and optimize collection of materials. They might use smart technologies to streamline processes, and to monitor and record information about waste management. 

Energy Recovery

Keeping waste from landfill as much as possible involves a wide range of different solutions. Waste management companies also help fight the growing waste crisis by directing waste into energy recovery systems. 

Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Technologies involve converting waste into electricity or fuel through incineration, anaerobic digestion, or biogas capture. There are a range of innovative solutions within this sphere that can also play a role in tackling our waste problems. 

Composting

Food waste and other organic materials can also be handled through efficient and effective composting systems. Home or business level composting may be an option, but for material on a larger scale, there are a range of commercial composting solutions. 

Sustainable waste management companies will prioritize dealing with food waste in this way, and work on creating a valuable material from the waste that is generated. 

The composted materials break down to create a very useful compost that can then be used to protect and improve soil and grow more food. 

Supporting Circular, Closed Loop Systems

Composting food waste to create compost to grow more food is just one example of a closed-loop system, a circular system in which the outputs are channelled back in. This type of circularity is a key aim for sustainable waste management companies. 

By prioritizing reuse, finding value in things people throw away, recognizing the limited but vital role of commercial recycling, embracing innovation, and creating energy and compost from waste, waste management companies are playing a very important role in creating a circular economy and a zero waste future.