Category Archives: dumpster rental

Why California Needs More Waste Management Policies

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better waste management in CaliforniaAs the most populous state in America and one of the planets largest economies, California faces both challenges as well as opportunities with regard to waste management.

Each year, the state generates millions of tons of waste – from household trash to industrial byproducts. Comprehensive waste management strategies are an important part of addressing the environmental, economic, and public health impacts associated with disposable single use plastics. Waste management policies must support California in being a leader on sustainability and environmental stewardship – the health of its residents, economies & ecosystems depend on it.

Environmental Imperatives

Yet from its coast to forest, deserts and agriculture lands — the state’s varied ecological settings are threatened by inefficient waste management practices.

One of the more urgent issues in terms environmental impact are landfills, and with methane emissions from decomposing waste a major contributor to global warming, it is high time that these be tackled.

While California has taken steps to minimize landfill diversion (e.g., AB 341, a major landmark bill putting into place an aggressive statewide target of 75% recycling by the year 2020), it will be difficult for these efforts and goals to bear fruition without innovative disposal options which are both cost-effective as well environmentally preferred.

This is bad for the environment, as landfills release an overwhelming amount of methane into our atmosphere and kill off local species!

Disposal of hazardous waste (including electronic or e-waste and chemicals) is a critical problem for California’s environment; If not properly handled, these substances can seep into the ground and water supply contaminating Mother Earth and endangering wildlife. The state’s large agricultural sector is at great risk, as soil and water pollution may lead to far reaching consequences in terms of food production and public health.

The coastline in California is already bedeviled by marine debris that predominantly come from poorly managed waste. Plastic waste in particular, has been a large hitting environmental issue that cause marine ecosystems degeneration which leads to devastating effect on marine life But those policies are not being put into practice; failing to effectively defend the precious beaches and coastal waters that support so much of our environment, economy -and it seems-universal soul.

Economic Considerations

Efficient waste management is as necessary today in a time of dwindling resources, high fuel prices and an impending collapse if our faulty economics continue to disperse relentless fumes.

The waste management industry in California is responsible for thousands of jobs from collecting and transporting to recycling and processing. The state can generate new sets of economic opportunities and alleviate some landfill maintenance (and threat to the environment) costs through reinvesting into modern waste management infrastructure/ technologies.

There are also economic benefits to these recycling, waste-to-energy programs and dumpster rental services. California may reduce the financial strain on its municipalities also faced with heavy costs to dispose of waste by diverting solid material from landfills. The sale of recycled materials for recycling programs, in particular, can bring with it sales revenue while reducing the extraction raw material cost economically and environmentally.

Besides, poor waste management can result in huge economic losses especially related to the tourism industry. The sheer natural beauty of California, from its national parks to its beaches — brings in millions tourists annually as well. Yet tourism-based businesses and communities rely on visitors, so littered landscapes or polluted waters can be negatively affect revenues. Therefore, well-designed policies to manage waste are needed not just to reduce environmental impact but also to support California’s economy.

Public Health Implications

The health impacts of poor garbage disposal in California are enormous. Mismanaged waste can pollute the air and water, exacerbating human health. For example, landfills release gases like methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause lung problems that are of course worst in vulnerable people such as children and the elderly or anyone with a pre-existing condition.

Improper disposal of hazardous waste may include pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals that can also contaminate drinking water sources. This is especially problematic in California where we already face water scarcity and a clear manifest destiny to address this brewing issue. Toxins can cause problems such as cancer, neurological disorders and reproductive failings.

Not to mention, undermanaged waste is actually shifted onto poor communities and communities of color – what you might know colloquially as environmental racism. They often live near landfills, waste treatment plants, and illegal dump sites – all of which create pollution that can make them sick. Policies that do not pass a robust environmental justice analysis and provide meaningful enforcement mechanisms, even if they work on paper can further exacerbate existing racial disparities in the right to an environmentally safe community for all Californians.

The fact that California requires proactive waste management legislation is obvious. The state must continue to innovate and invest in meaningful approaches, if it is to protect its environment, sustain its economy and get nearer zero waste. This means more than waste and recycling – it also encompasses hazardous wastes and environmental justice California has the opportunity to be a leader in stewardship, positioning our Golden State as an example of sustainability through smart policy and community engagement.

Going Zero Waste Made Easy: Super Simple Tips for a Sustainable Lifestyle

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Do you feel overwhelmed by all this packaging, these trash cans that you feel like you are constantly emptying? Finding simple tips to get started with zero waste is becoming urgent.

Is your house overflowing with all kinds of objects that you no longer need? Decluttering is a first step, but it is not enough if you want to get rid of recurring waste. Your trash can fills up faster than you empty your fridge. You have this constant impression of having consumed little, but of seeing waste accumulating. Little by little, you want to move towards a simpler lifestyle with less waste.

You want to empty your garage and your cupboards. You are moving towards a more ecological life, conscious, useful and intelligent consumption, more natural, less focused on mass consumption.

To help you take your first steps towards a Zero Waste lifestyle, you can implement some simple little tips but above all linked to common sense and taken from the practices of our elders. Certain old practices prove that progress has its limits, especially ecological ones.

How to get started with zero waste easily

If you have decided to reduce the size of your trash can like Béa Johnson, it is important to understand the 5 commandments that govern the theme of waste reduction. Simple to remember, they show you in the blink of an eye what living with zero waste represents:

  • Refuse: instead of cluttering your house with things that you know are useless (and therefore will end up in the trash or at the back of the cupboard) when they are offered to you, simply say no.
  • Reduce: tackle the mission of decluttering your home. But instead of throwing away, donate, sell, recycle, everything is good to avoid throwing away.
  • Reuse: don’t let old items lie dormant. Find them a second life.
  • Recycle: common sense tells you to drop off items that will never be used by you or anyone else in collection centers. Help communities recycle cleanly by going to your local recycling center.
  • Compost: for all your organic waste, a compost bin at the bottom of the garden or a worm composter for those who live in an apartment and have a balcony. Make a super fertilizer for your garden.

Zero waste at home, every day

1 – Drink tap water

A step towards zero waste: Drink tap water. If you buy your water in bottles (and therefore plastic) then these bottles must represent a large amount of waste. Depending on where you live, tap water may not be very good or taste good. But, there are multiple solutions to avoid bottled water. A filter jug, a filter placed directly on your tap or if you have an American fridge, the water dispenser filters it. A glass carafe or flask filled with tap water is your first and simplest step towards zero waste. Another alternative: drink water from a returnable glass bottle.

2 – Revisit children’s snacks

Another waste champion is the disposable compote bottle. An environmental disaster at an exorbitant price. For older children, fruit cut into pieces works very well.

However, if you are a fan of this snack, do you know how easy it is to make your own compote? And it keeps very well in the freezer or in sterilized jars. Immerse your jars in water at 100°C for a few minutes, fill them, close them and invert them onto the lid until completely cooled. For cakes, a homemade cake will always be better than biscuits and other store-bought sweets, minus the packaging and additives.

3 – Start batch cooking

Grouping together the preparation of all your dishes for the week in a few hours will certainly save you time, but above all you will fight against waste. By cooking the right portions in advance, you limit unnecessary purchases and too many leftovers.

4 – Use brick soap

No more shower gels and their plastic containers which will still be as they are in 1000 years. Brick soap placed on a soap dish will offer you the same comfort as shower gel, without the plastic waste. You will find soaps adapted to your skin type everywhere on the market.

5 – DIY: make your own household products

If you want to go even further than brick soap, make your own soap, toothpaste and shampoo. Based on essential oil and natural products, today it has become very simple. For household products, it’s the same thing, from your dishwashing liquid to your scouring powder to your laundry detergent, if you wish you can make these products yourself very easily.

6 – Adopt chickens

If you have a small garden, the investment is worth it. Why not buy small chickens to have eggs, but also get rid of your leftovers or other peelings? Of course, you struggle with waste, but sometimes, yes, you have leftovers that no one wants.

Instead of throwing them in the trash, your chickens will be delighted to finish them and they will lay eggs for you. Nothing better than eggs from your own chickens. You thus indirectly fight against excess packaging with egg cartons which never stop cluttering up your trash. And with eggs, you can cook lots of sweet little things that children love: pancakes, waffles, chocolate mousse, cookies, cakes, etc.

7 – Think sustainable and useful purchases

Opt for a minimalist wardrobe. As is often the case, you favor should quality over quantity. Consider your purchases of clothing, furniture, accessories or appliances as a long-term investment.

So, for your clothes, adopt a minimalist wardrobe and don’t clutter up with poor quality pieces or that you won’t wear. Old clothes can be donated. Damaged or holed clothes can be converted into rags or recovered to do DIY sewing activities with your children. Think about how useful things like the microwave really are. Why do you use it? Reheat your coffee? The pan does it too.

Do you use disposable diapers for your baby?

According to zero waste experts at Richmond Dumpster Rental Center, not only is it one of the most polluting products in the world since they do not disintegrate despite what people want you to believe, but they are also expensive.

8 – Buy in bulk

Limit packaging by purchasing many foods in bulk like pasta, rice, seeds, cereals, etc. When making your first bulk purchase, take a paper bag provided to you and fill it. Come back with this same paper bag during your next shopping trips.

More and more zero waste stores are popping up everywhere including in Virginia. Keep your eyes peeled and find out. There is one or even several bulk stores near you, check in Richmond, VA.

9 – Read differently

Read differently, on an e-reader and at the library. Now read your books on a tablet or e-reader. A digital book costs less than its paperback version, it takes up less space and is environmentally friendly.

Don’t throw away old books that you no longer want, offer them to your local library and take the opportunity to visit and rent paperback books which are more expensive on e-readers. You can also donate your old books to an association or place them in book boxes. You could even make some nice discoveries there.

10 – Bulk tips

There are lots of small actions you can take on a daily basis to limit waste, such as having a cloth bag in your car or your handbag. So when shopping, no need to buy the brand’s bag which will only accumulate with all the other bags (which you will refuse from today).

A “Stop Pub” label on your mailbox will limit envelope and paper waste. Even though paper can be recycled, it cannot be recycled infinitely.

In the same spirit, limit paper by eliminating paper towels and tissues. Washable napkins and handkerchiefs are much more economical and environmentally friendly.

Use glass storage containers or jars rather than aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Refuse as many small disposable items as possible such as free samples, straws, plastic cups, stirrers, paper towels, plastic bags, etc.

Improve waste mangement in Virginia

There are hundreds of tips for getting started with zero waste, and have better waste management practices. After reading the tips in this article, you said to yourself: “Ah, but I can do this, or I can do that”. So much the better!

What You Should Not Put In A Regular Dumpster Rental

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Not everything should be put in a regular dumpster.

There are some items that should be recycled or disposed of in a dumpster. The things that you should not put in a regular dumpster include items like light bulbs, paint, cell phones, and electronics. These items can cause harm to those who’ll be working the dumpster and can cause problems in the landfill.

There are many ways to get rid of electronics. Many electronics stores will take your electronics, and if you’ve got your own recycling program at home, you can always just donate them to charity.

What Materials Aren’t Allowed In Dumpster Rentals

Hazardous Materials

There are many dangerous materials that the dumpster rental companies prohibit from being placed in roll-offs, such as chemicals, cleaning products and corrosive materials, and batteries.

Any paints, pesticides, herbicides liquid waste, fuel tanks, freon and neon light ballasts should also be included in this list. Corrosive, acidic, and paint thinner, stains, and varnishes are all on the banned substances list. If you don’t put it in the ground, it’s not likely to be allowed in a landfill.

Flammable Materials

You don’t want to start a landfill fire by dumping flammable liquids like gasoline. However, there may be additional combustible elements present on a workplace. When in doubt about the flammability of a chemical dumpster, look for the flammable hazard symbol on it. Unknown liquids and chemicals should be treated as potentially hazardous or flammable whenever possible if there is any ambiguity.

Certain Building Materials

Building materials can contain hazardous waste (such as asbestos) that can’t be disposed of in regular trash bins. Other building materials, such as bricks and concrete, are normally permitted in your roll-off container, but weight limits apply.

There may be limits on how much concrete and brick you can throw away in a single pickup. Before placing your order, be sure to check with the rental business to learn about their policy and weight restrictions.

Infectious Or Medical Waste

Disposal of infectious garbage and medical waste is strictly prohibited in dumpster rentals. Needles, red bags, and sharps are examples of things that are obvious to look for, such as rags or cloths that have been contaminated with bodily secretions.

However, you may not be aware that drugs can also be classified as medical waste. Keep an eye out for anything that might be related with medical procedures. For environmental reasons, you don’t want them to end up in the trash.

Regular Household Garbage

There are rules and regulations at some roll-off trash companies regarding typical domestic waste, which includes food waste. You could face a fine if you dispose of food and domestic waste in roll-off dumpster. It is perfectly acceptable to use the usual municipal garbage collection containers if you need to discard moderate amounts of household waste and foods throughout the course of your project. If you expect to generate a significant food wastes, such as during a restaurant renovation, consult with your rental business about disposal options before proceeding.

Herbicides And Pesticides

Garden herbicides and home pesticides that have been applied should also be kept out of the trash can. While that may be tempting to toss away multiple cans and bottles that have accumulated over the years, this is not a good idea. These kinds of chemicals must never be thrown away in dumpster or domestic trash. Pesticides and herbicides contain toxic substances that, if released from landfill into surrounding environment, could harm the environment and water supplies.

Railroad Tie

Some types of wood can be disposed of in dumpsters, however railroad ties were generally not permitted. In most cases, railroad ties are treated with creosote, which serves as the wood preservative while also being a hazardous substance to handle. It is manufactured by distilling coal or wood into tar, and if it is not disposed of appropriately, it can be hazardous to human health and the environment. It has a high flammability and also classified as the probable carcinogen.

Industrial Drums

The industrial drums are frequently contaminated with dangerous chemical waste and byproducts. Some of these substances have recognised identities, but if a drum is labelled incorrectly, it is possible that they will not be identified at all. Industrial barrels are not permitted in dumpsters or landfills for the sake of public safety. It is necessary to hire a specialised garbage removal firm in order to properly dispose of these goods.