Waste management services are businesses or agencies that deal with unwanted materials. There are numerous types of waste, which tend to require various methods of handling and disposal. Some companies only specialize in a single aspect of this business. Others may offer a range of waste management services, such as residential waste disposal, landfill management, and recycling services.
When people are in their homes, they usually throw unwanted items into their trash cans. When those receptacles are full, they may move the garbage to larger trash bins. These, however, would also become full if they are not emptied periodically. Many locales offer residential waste removal services that haul away general household waste. Businesses may use these services as well, but waste generated by businesses if often handled separately.
In some places, residential waste management services are not so convenient. People must store their garbage until they have the will and means to transport it. Then, they can take the garbage to a dumping site, which can be managed by a private company or a municipality.
Whether the waste is picked up or transported by residents, there is often waste that cannot be disposed by either means. Large items, such as an old couch or ceiling rafters, generally cannot be placed into a garbage truck or left at a dumping site. This sort of waste requires bulk disposal services.
A great deal of waste tends to be disposed of through pipes connected to toilets, sinks, and drains. If that waste is transported to a septic tank, there are waste management services that will periodically come and pump out the septic tank. When the pipes are connected to a sewer system, the waste goes to water waste facilities.
These waste management services provide a series of functions. First, they act as intake centers, receiving incoming flows of materials. Second, they filter out the waste and purify the water. Then, they act as shipping centers by sending the clean water back to people who need it.
Hazardous materials also need special disposal methods. Items such as oil, paint, or chemicals are not usually accepted by standard garbage services. Hazardous waste management services are available to control refuse that can pose risks to the environment or human health. Sometimes hazardous waste, such as needles and old hospital sheets, are sent to incineration services that destroy them with fire.
Much of the waste gathered by various services ends up combined in a landfill. There are waste management services that engineer and manage these facilities. A landfill is often little more than a massive cavity in the ground filled with garbage and then covered once it reaches capacity.
Sometimes waste that can be reused is separated from the rest. Such items include plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and Styrofoam cups. These items are sorted and sent to facilities that will use them to make new products. These waste management services are often very popular in countries that have limited space for storing garbage.