sustainability

How to Safely Dispose of Almost Anything

02/13/2018 by DeniseB

As the world trends towards a more universal view on green living and conservation of limited resources, the way we think about garbage and recycling is evolving. Some Americans no longer thoughtlessly tossing their trash into a single bin that heads straight to a dumping station or landfill.

They are waking up to the hard facts that our waterways, lands and the air we breathe are suffering from careless disposal of hazardous or toxic unwanted items. Many items, such as batteries or unfinished cleaners contaminate our soil as their containers break down and then leach into the ground water.

At Waste Master Solutions we believe it is everyone’s responsibility to make a commitment to improve our waste reduction efforts. That is why we are happy to share the following article and infographic created by Junk ITT, a Chicago based garbage and junk removal company.

How To Get Rid Of Almost Anything

by Junk ITT

Out of sight, out of mind. That’s the method too many people take when disposing of garbage and other unwanted items. Once this rubbish is set out on the curb and hauled away, many of us simply forget it, convincing ourselves that it’s someone else’s problem. Although that’s true to some degree, it doesn’t absolve us of the responsibility of knowing how to properly dispose of things we don’t want.

In the past, there was only one way to deal with things we didn’t want — we threw them in the garbage and let the garbage men take it from there. It didn’t matter what it was — food scraps, broken glass or even an old dishwasher. Everything was loaded onto the same truck and hauled to the same incinerator or landfill.

Times have changed, however, and today we’re more aware as a society about the concerns of simply dumping everything we don’t want in the same place. Wasted materials mean wasted energy and wasted resources used to manufacture new items. Hazardous materials that are improperly disposed of allow toxins to poison the environment and people. We’re more aware than ever about the importance of disposing of things properly — but that doesn’t mean the problem is solved.

It’s up to all of us to pay attention to what we’re throwing away and how best to do it. This can be difficult because although the word has spread about how to dispose of many common types of household waste, there are some areas where there still may be confusion. For example, just about everyone should know now that the best way to dispose of glass or plastic bottles is to place them in the recycling bin so the materials from which they are made can be used again. However, less people know what to do with old car tires. Tires can be recycled, but the regular recycling bin is not the place for them to go. Likewise, empty household cleanser bottles can go into the recycling bin, but should they if they’re still half full?

Knowing how to get rid of unwanted items properly is vital given how much waste the average American household generates. In many cases, the garbage can or recycling bin is the best option. However, in some cases you may need to visit a hazardous materials disposal facility or contact a junk removal service to ensure that your unwanted items don’t harm the environment or take up space in landfills. If you are unsure of how to dispose of your household waste, the accompanying guide from furniture disposal company Junk ITT can help you determine the best way to do it.

Infographic credit: Junk ITT

HELPFUL RECYCLING & SAFE DISPOSAL LINKS:

DELAWARE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE/PAPER SHREDDING

EPA: HOW DO I RECYCLE?

DELAWARE COUNTY PA SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING

CHESTER COUNTY RECYCLING & SAFE DISPOSAL OPPORTUNITIES

MANUFACTURER COLLECTION SITES PA

BATTERY & CELLPHONE RECYCLING DROP OFF LOCATIONS

At WasteMasters Solutions, a commercial waste management company, we believe environmental stewardship is in everyone’s best interest. Want to find out more? Contact the commercial recycling solutions experts of Delaware and share on our Facebook page some of the ways your business meets or excel at commercial sustainability and minimizing waste. Waste Masters Solutions is a commercial waste solution and recycling company serving Delaware, making it our mission to increase community awareness of the importance of reducing, recycling, reusing as much as possible.

Waste Masters Teams Up With Philadelphia Eagles To Expand Go Green Efforts

08/08/2017 by DeniseB

The Philadelphia Eagles and Waste Masters Solutions will take their green efforts to the next level by installing the Eco-Safe Digester® and analytics platform at Lincoln Financial Field. Designed to optimize efficiency and proper disposal of food waste, this eco-friendly mechanism is evidence of the Philadelphia Eagles commitment to reducing their environmental impact.

Waste Master Solutions will work with BioHiTech Global, a green technology company, to help decompose pre-consumer and post-consumer food waste which will be safely discharged to a standard sewer line. It’s a cost-effective and responsible solution for disposal of food waste.

Since a waste digester was installed at the team’s practice facility, the NovaCare Complex, last September, the organization has diverted 9 tons of food waste from landfills.

“Actions always speak louder than words,” said Steve Masterson, Waste Masters Solutions President & CEO. “Waste Masters is privileged and honored to partner with such world-class organizations that care so much about our environment.”

The Eagles became second team to receive LEED certification for Lincoln Financial Field from the US Green Building Council in 2013. The organization recycles more than 850 tons of material each year. Jeff Miller, Eagles senior vice president of operations, spearheaded the GoGreen program in 2003 with the opening of the Lincoln Field facility that feature green energy production through wind and sun energy that produces 4 Megawatts of energy per year.

Other eco-friendly efforts currently in place are recycling, composting, energy and water conservation, reforestation and sustainability partners. One hundred percent of waste is diverted from landfills.

“As an organization that takes our ecological efforts very seriously, we are constantly evaluating and fine-tuning our sustainability model so that we can continue to reduce our overall impact,” said Miller. “Thanks to Waste Masters Solutions, I am fully confident that the implementation of this new bio-digester will help make our waste program more efficient.”

US Ranks Dead Last on Greendex Score

04/19/2016 by DeniseB

I must admit I was not surprised to hear that the US ranked dead last on the 2014 Greendex, a collaborative effort between National Geographic and Globe Scan to survey 18,000 consumers from 18 countries in order to measure and monitor consumer progress towards environmentally sustainable consumption.

It’s no secret that the US is lagging far behind our European, South American, South African and Asian counterparts. In fact, American consumers’ behavior has ranked dead last and is the least sustainable country since the start of the survey back in 2008.

Even more alarming, we have increased the amount of waste being produced each year. In 2013, Americans produced 254 million tons of trash, up by 3 million from 2012. That figure works out to roughly 4.5 pounds of trash per person/per day. Back in 1960 that number was 2.68 per person/per day.

Don’t despair, there are some US cities that have made a valiant effort at creating sustainable communities. Four such cities are from California; Fresno, Fremont, Anaheim and San Diego. Then there is the Texan city of San Antonia, the Vermont city of Burlington, The Pennsylvania city of Pittsburgh, the Florida city of Jacksonville, the Wisconsin city of Madison and the North Carolina city of Durham.

As Americans, we owe it to our communities and country to make a conscience effort to reduce, reuse and recycle. I humbly suggest we take a look at how we can begin to reduce our carbon footprint. Please take a look at this ’10 Myths About Recycling’ infographic created and shared by Perfect Rubber Mulch to see how to get started.

I believe that we can make America #EnvironmentallyFriendly by creating a social media movement challenging our citizens to set an example. Share with us on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram ways in which you have helped #USSustainability and made our great country a #GreenUS .

Graphic by Perfect Rubber Mulch.

You Too Can Go Green in 2016 With These 10 Eco-Friendly Steps

02/02/2016 by DeniseB

Don’t be intimidated by the phrase “Going Green”. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of time or money to become eco-friendly. Sustainability has become a hot topic for a good reason. There are so many ways an individual can lessen their carbon footprint. The more we realize that a little effort on our part can mean a world of difference, the greater effect it will have.

Why not make this the year you ‘Go Green’.

Follow these easy and cost effective tips to to start your green lifestyle:

Replace regular light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs as they use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer!
Turn computers off at night as it can save 40 watts each day.
Keeping the freezer full, believe it or not, takes less energy than cooling a half-full or empty space.
Skip the sink if you have a dishwasher. Try to avoid rinsing dishes before loading them and always make sure the dishwasher is full before running.
Wash laundry in cold water when possible. According to Energy Star, 90% of energy consumed by a washing machine is used by heating the water. By washing your laundry in cold water you are saving energy while getting clean clothes!
Utilize cruise control when driving to work. It can increase gas mileage by up to 15%, hence saving money and helping the environment .
Go paperless and pay bills online to save on postage and benefit the environment by saving trees.
Clean out your vehicle’s trunk to avoid lugging extra weight around.
Recycle old cell phones and batteries properly so that they don’t end up in landfills and release toxic chemicals into the environment.
Cut out the coffee stirrers – billions are thrown out each year immediately after use. Put sugar and cream in first and then pour in the coffee. You should have a perfect mixture!

Why not make a resolution that will have an impact on your community, our country and our world? Practice and preach Green Initiatives and help Going Green to go viral in the US this year.

Need more help on “Going Green”? Contact the trash experts of Delaware at Waste Masters Solutions.

Share on Facebook the way you plan to Go Green in 2016. Waste Masters Solutions is a commercial waste solution and recycling company serving all of Delaware. It’s our mission to make the community aware of how important reducing, recycling, reusing is for all of us.

302-824-0909