The difference between waste management and recycling can be clearly stated. Waste management refers to the actual collection, transporting, and processing of waste, while recycling is a process that turns waste into reusable materials. To make the difference between recycling and waste management even clearer, it is important to first understand the process of waste management.
In the sense of waste management, waste refers to human waste. This type of waste can be in solid, liquid, gaseous, or radioactive form. Each type of waste is transported, collected, and processed in a different manner. Each country has a unique way of handling waste. Likewise, each industrial, urban, rural, and residential area has differing waste management solutions.
Many countries around the world deposit waste into landfills. Landfills consist of large areas — usually abandoned quarries, mining holes, and large pits — that are used as dumping grounds. When these areas are properly maintained, they prove to be a relatively cost-effective way to get rid of unwanted waste. However, debris that floats into the air from a landfill can be dangerous to the environment.
Incineration methods are frequently used to dispose of industrial waste including gaseous and radioactive materials. This type of waste is converted into heat, ash, gas, or steam. This is a highly controversial way of eliminating waste, since all of this waste winds up in the atmosphere.
Some types of waste are brought to recycling plants. Many different items are recyclable including paper, plastic, textiles, computer parts, and glass. Recyclable goods are collected by waste management companies, and they are sent to sorting centers where each item is placed in a different section.
Different materials can be made into different objects such as recycled paper, clothing, and containers. Recycling helps to reduce the economic impact that waste can have on the environment. While recycling has many benefits, some critics believe that these benefits do not outweigh the drawbacks of recycling. Many drawbacks have been noted by various people, though recycling still proves to be a better way to handle waste than landfills or incineration methods.
Taking the time to find out more about waste management and recycling is worthwhile. As more and more people work together to find better methods for both waste management and recycling, new ideas arise. These ideas will eventually lead to a world that can reduce waste efficiently while also creating more precise waste management and recycling methods.