Archive for November 2011
Waste Management is the disposal of wastes or handling of waste materials. There are several forms of handling of wastes since wastes can be generated in all sorts of way ranging from ordinary household wastes to industrial generated wastes. But as development and population increases waste management also has become increasingly complex problems to many nations.
The main objective of waste management is to efficiently handle the disposal of garbage without harming the public health and the environment. However most often than not, wastes generated are not properly managed thus causing environmental disasters and deaths for many people due to pollution.
Common methods of garbage disposal or waste management
1. Recycling – is the form of making a used or discarded material into another product. It comes into different recycling processes depending on the material that’s being recycled. The most commonly recycled materials include cloth, tin cans, glass, papers, aluminum, and newspapers. Materials such as electronic devices are more difficult to recycle since these still needs dismantling for separation before the recycling process.
2. Landfill- This is the oldest form of waste management. Waste materials are disposed or dumped in a site wherein it includes burying of wastes. Among all forms of waste disposal this is the most harmful to the environment due to the generation of gas such as methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It also brings leachate issues that pollute nearby groundwater and vegetation lands.
3. Incineration- It is the disposal method that involves combustion of garbage usually described as thermal treatment of wastes. In this method garbage is destroyed using high temperatures to be converted into gas, heat, steam and ash.
4. Composting- This method only applies to organic materials such as kitchen wastes and plant remains that easily decompose. Its end product which is earthy and crumbly substance can serve as organic fertilizer.
5. Gasification – It is a form of incineration, but only differs in thermal treatment. This method destroys wastes in a controlled oxygen environment thus limits atmospheric emissions unlike incineration that produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. An example of gasification method is the Biosphere Process System or Biosphere Technology. It effectively destroy wastes in environmental manner at the same time converts these wastes into clean green energy.
Waste Management is basically explained as the collection, transport, processing, recycling and/or disposal of waste materials. These waste materials are produced by human activity. Waste Management is what is done to reduced the effect of waste on the environment, peoples health, and other things along that nature. As well we can use waste management to reuse some of the resources. People will recycle such things as old newpapers, pop cans, glass jars, etc and by doing this it helps the environment in the long run because we don’t have to dispose of all those materials. There are various type of waste management that include the disposal of: solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive substances. All of these different types of waste management require different methods of disposal and are usually handled by someone with the expertise in that field.
Waste Management practices obvious vary based on where in the world you live. If you compare the waste management practicies of Canada to that of say Mexico they will most likely have there differences. There is also differences based on things like residential versus industrial. Usually residential waste is handled by the local government and commercial or industrial waste can sometimes be the responsibility of the creator of that waste.
There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when discussing waste management such as disposal methods, recycling methods, avoidance and reduction methods, and transportation of waste. All of these topics will be discussed in the following paragraphs.
Disposal Methods There are a few ways to dispose of waste materials. The two main methods of disposing of waste materials is landfills and incineration. Each methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Landfills involves burying the waste to get rid of it. This method if done properly can be very inexpensive and hygienic. Many people probably think this method would be very unhygienic but that really depends if it is done properly or not. There are some countries that do not do this method properly and it can cause such issues as wind-blown litter, attraction of vermin, and generation of liquid leachate (the liquid that drains from a landfill). Another issue that might arise from landfills is gas (usually methane and carbon dioxide) when the waste breaks down over time. Usually landfills are established in diused quarries (type of open-pit mine), mining voids or borrow pits (an area where soil, gravel or sand has been dug for use in another location). Although there are a lot of negative effects of landfills if poorly designed most new ones are designed in a way to prevent negative effects.
Incineration is the second method of disposing waste. This method involves the combustion of waste materials. With this method the waste material is heated to very high temperatures and is converted into materials such as: heat, gas, steam and ash. Incineration can be done on a small scale by individual people such as in a fire and also done on a much large scale by an industry. This method of waste management is considered beneficial for such materials as medical waste. This method however is also a very controversial method of waste disposal because of the emission of gaseous pollutants (green house effect).
Recycling Methods Recyling refers to the reuse or recover of materials that would normally be considered waste. There are a few different methods of recycling such as: physical reprocessing, biological reprocessing, and energy recovery. People are always looking for new ways as well to recycle materials because of the constant issues we are having with waste in our environment.
One of the most popular method of recyling is physical reprocessing. This is common in most countries. This is the method of taking waste materials such as empty beverage containers and using the material to create new materials. Normally waste materials that can be physically reprocessed are usually collected by the local government and are then reprocessed into new products. Some common materials that are physically reprocessed include: aluminum beverage cans, steel food cans, glass bottles, newpapers, magazines, and cardboard.
Biological reprocessing is another common method of recycling that many people do. Materials such as plants, food scraps, and paper products can be decomposed into the organic matter. The organic matter that is produced from this type of recycling can then be used for such things as landscaping purpose or agricultural uses. Usually this method of recycling is done by putting the materials in a dedicated container and let to stay there until it decomposes.
The final method of of recycling is Energy recovery. This method harnesses directly and indirectly the combustion fuel and other types of fuel produced from waste. These types of fuel can be produced by thermal treatment of the waste and used for such things as cooking or heating. The thermal treatment is usually done under very high pressure in a sealed vessel.
Avoidance and Reduction Methods The avoidance and reduction of waste is a very important part of waste management. By reducing waste it helps the environment and everyone in it. Some methods of avoidance include the reuse of second-hand products, repairing broken items and using them again, and desinging products that are resusable. As well consumers are encouraged to not use disposable products and use products are designed to help the environment.
Transportation of Waste There are a few way waste is handled. In most countries waste dispose is handled by the local government authorities. In other countries there is no such systems in place and disposal of waste is more difficult. In countries such as Canada and the United States curbside collection is common and occurs weekly. In some countries in Europe they have a collection system known as Envac which conveys refuse via underground conduits using a vacuum system.
Property management can be a tough job to run by yourself. Ideally, we would like for a building and/or tenants to be able to operate and live as smoothly as possible without having any problems to deal with. However, this is never the case, as there is always something that needs taking care of around a property. If you are in need of a property manager, then read on.
When searching for someone to hire to take care of maintenance and assistance for a space you own, you want the overall experience to be as beneficial as possible. As far as considering whom to hand this job to, do not choose your cheapest option. This decision should eliminate a lot of work and stress from your life and create a job for someone else. So, make the best choice based on character and work experience an individual or company has.
To help you with weighing decisions, definitely ask for references from those you are interviewing. Make trips to places that all potential hires are currently managing. Observe how these places seem to be taken care of and contact residents or owners to ask about how well the area is maintained. If there are buildings that a managing business has operated in the past, be sure to contact these as well to find out how well of a job was done and why the company no longer manages them.
If the real estate in question is to function as an apartment complex, ask about the procedures your potential hires practice. You will want to know how thorough they are in regards to rent collection, resident screening, leasing processes, response times to tenant requests, and eviction notices.
Before signing any property management agreements or hiring anyone, be thorough and work out overall budgets for all areas concerned, such as monthly repairs. Checking with other management companies for estimate comparison for these amounts is a good place to start. It is also a good idea to constantly monitor the costs of repairs.
Upon hiring, agree on an account to place all rent deposits. Have the business sign on to this account along with your name. This way, you will have access to all funds, should there be any disputes.
In order to avoid rent being pocketed by your managing company, request that a monthly roster be made all tenants with current contact information. Some companies may say an apartment is vacant when a resident still lives there and keep the rent money.
These are a few tips and precautions that can be taken to find quality property management and maintain a good business relationship. A lot of work is necessary for keeping an area of real estate operating optimally, so take this into consideration before assigning anyone the job. Trust is a key issue when handing over the care-taking duties to another party, but you should still take measures to assure that your premises is running legitimately.