This is a very important aspect of our lives that unfortunately not everyone is aware of. Ireland is a country that has only recently started to address the problem of waste segregation. Therefore, bins with appropriate colors for specific waste we produce daily have been introduced. While the local council is responsible for providing the bins and collecting our waste, at home, we must take care of the appropriate division ourselves.
How We Segregate
All waste must be assigned to the appropriate color:
- red – glass
- yellow – plastic
- blue – paper
- green – mixed waste
- brown – bio-waste
Additionally, each battery and light bulb should be placed in a separate, appropriate container, as they contain very dangerous substances for human life and health, as well as for animals and plants.
Since there are as many as five bins, waste must be sorted at home before being thrown into the bin. However, this is not an easy task if we do not have the appropriate containers. So should we clutter our homes with boxes labeled for the right waste? Not at all. It is enough to equip ourselves with appropriate cabinets with containers, which are installed like kitchen cabinets.
If we do not have the possibility of such an installation, it is worth thinking about some closed cabinet with any containers or even buckets for specific waste. It is important that they are hidden.
Segregation Proposals
A nice solution is door-mounted bins, which can be attached to the inside of a cabinet door. You can also get a set of stacked containers.
If you have a garden or allotment, it is worth considering a compost bin. You can make it yourself or buy a ready one. Organic waste can freely go there, creating an irreplaceable set of minerals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other valuable components for our garden crops in a few months. The waste that can be placed in a compost bin includes: mowed grass, eggshells, coffee and tea grounds (even in bags), weeds, branches, peels from fruits and vegetables (excluding citrus).
You can also equip yourself with frames on which to put rubbish bags. If you have somewhere to store them, then why not?
Do Not Throw in the Bin
Under no circumstances should light bulbs and batteries or electronic equipment, accumulators, medicines, and medicine packaging be thrown in the bin. There are appropriate, separate containers for light bulbs and batteries. You can also leave this waste in appropriate containers at hypermarkets and electrical stores. In the case of electronic equipment, it is worth checking if there is an electronic waste collection campaign being conducted in the area (e.g., in schools). Some schools collect such waste as part of the 'Children Collect E-waste' campaign and take it to a special point. For participating in the campaign, they receive vouchers for purchases for the facility. In addition, each local council has special points designated where such waste should be taken.
Although the medicines we take are beneficial for our bodies, they cannot be found in 'general' waste. Unused medications or those that have expired should not be flushed down the toilet either. They disrupt the ecosystem, can be harmful to animals and plants, and the water ecosystem of lakes and rivers. Moreover, in sewage treatment plants, microorganisms sensitive to antibiotics are used. Therefore, if we want to dispose of unused medicines or their packaging, we should take them to special containers located in pharmacies or to the Municipal Waste Selective Collection Point (PSZOK).
Waste generated from renovation or construction qualifies as bulky waste. They also cannot be thrown into an ordinary bin. The best solution before starting a renovation would be to try to organize a container for this type of waste. If this is not possible, you should organize one yourself and use the services of a private company.
Segregation is Very Important
If every inhabitant of the world cared about proper waste segregation, there would be far less waste than there is now. People do not realize how important this aspect of our lives is. Nature created us, and we are repaying it with waste and pollution, simply because we do not want to take care of our own waste. On a global scale, this has catastrophic consequences. Therefore, let's take care of our planet, starting from our own small backyard, house, or apartment. If each of us approaches the problem with appropriate responsibility, our Earth will finally have a chance to 'breathe' fully.