Meaning of Dry Waste, Wet Waste, and Other Categories

Waste refers to any item that has been used and is no longer usable. It can include food remnants, scraps, broken items, or obsolete goods.

In this article, I am providing some general awareness tips for handling household waste more safely. It is not professional advice, but simple awareness.

Waste is typically categorized into two main types: Dry and Wet.

Dry Waste

Dry waste includes all Non-Biodegradable materials like plastics, glass, metals, paper, cardboard, and other non-organic materials.

Recyclable and Non-Recyclable

Dry waste can be further sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable items.

Recyclable items are those that can be reused after a simple cleaning or those that can be reprocessed and used again.

Examples include:

Bottles, cans, cardboard, paper, and thermocol.

Non-recyclable materials are those that cannot be reused.

Examples include:

Broken or contaminated plastics, glass, porcelain, cutlery, other metal items, and e-waste. Contaminated packages and other articles also fall under this category. 

Wet Waste

Wet waste refers to waste that is biodegradable or compostable.

Biodegradable organic matter includes food scraps, fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and other organic materials.

Compostable materials consist of leftover food and vegetable peels, which can be composted to create nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Other Types of Waste

Hazardous Waste

Includes substances that pose a danger to human health or the environment, such as flammable, corrosive, toxic, or reactive materials.

E-Waste

Refers to discarded electronic devices and components, like old computers, phones, and TVs.

Construction and Demolition Waste

Materials generated from construction, renovation, and demolition projects.

Biomedical Waste

Includes waste from medical facilities, such as used syringes, contaminated materials like bandages and sanitary wares, and human tissues. These should be properly wrapped and put in assorted bins to prevent infection.

For hazardous waste disposal, here are some useful tips:

How to Dispose of Broken Cutlery, Glass, and Other Items  

Medicines

In India, expired medicines should not be thrown in the regular trash. The best way to dispose of expired unused medicines is to return them to a local pharmacy or a designated drug take-back location. If a take-back option isn't available, you can mix the medications with unappealing substances like dirt or coffee grounds, put them in a sealed container, and discard them in the trash. Certain medications, like those on the FDA's flush list, may be flushed down the toilet.

How to Dispose of Broken Cutlery and Kitchen Utensils

Hi, friends. I was looking for ways to dispose of damaged and outdated kitchenware and other items. I came across this insightful response from Google AI, which serves as an excellent guide for properly handling such hazardous materials. I wanted to share it with all of you.

Broken glass, knives, peelers, and utensils are classified as hazardous waste and require careful disposal to avoid injury and protect the environment. These items should be securely wrapped, labeled with a warning, and taken to a designated collection site for sharp waste or recycled if they are made of scrap metal.

Detailed Disposal Steps:

1. Secure Packaging:

Wrap the sharp items securely in several layers of cardboard or newspaper. This prevents the sharp edges from causing injury during handling and transportation.

2. Warning Markings:

Clearly mark the package with a warning, such as "Sharp Waste" or "Hazardous Waste," to alert waste handlers. A red cross on the package is a common visual cue.

3. Disposal Methods:

Recycling (for scrap metal): Many local waste disposal sites and recycling centers have designated containers for scrap metal, including broken knives, peelers, and utensils made of metals like stainless steel. Ensure the items are clean and free of non-metal components, such as plastic handles, before recycling.

Sharp Waste Disposal: Some locations have designated containers or collection programs for sharps waste. Check with your local authorities for available options.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection: Household hazardous waste collection centers often accept sharp items for proper disposal.

4. Never:

Do not dispose of sharp items in regular trash bins or garbage disposals, as this poses a risk to sanitation workers and may potentially damage waste processing equipment.

5. BBMP Guidelines:
The Bangalore Municipal Corporation (BBMP) guidelines recommend packaging broken items like glass and sharp objects in newspaper, marking them with a red cross, and handing them over separately to the collector of hazardous household waste.

DUST Method for Procrastination

We all like to procrastinate tasks that are confusing or not to our taste. But how far can you escape them? A time will come when you find everything piling up in your life.

We need to face things and execute tasks as and when they arise.

There is a simple method to analyze such scary moments and overcome discomfort.

I came across one "DUST" method to apply in such circumstances to resolve the issue of procrastination.

Simply scrutinize each procrastinated task by asking these four questions (D, U, S, T):

• Is it too Difficult? If so, try to find some easy ways to execute the task.
• Is it that Unclear? Find ways to get a clear picture by analyzing the missing points or parts.
• Is it so Scary? Find ways to face it by gathering courage and self-confidence.
• Is it much Tedious? Do you think you can't afford that much time or control your frustrations? Try to find some means of making it a fun game.

Through this DUST method, you can analyze each procrastination and get it executed successfully.