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What Counts as Household Garbage?

16 JUN

What Counts as Household Garbage?

Knowing what type of waste is going into your garbage daily is essential not only for your family's safety but for the safety of the environment as a whole. What you dispose of will eventually end up in someone else's hands. So, if that waste is harmful or dangerous to others, perhaps you should reconsider what you're throwing away. M&M Waste can help with a dumpster rental for large amounts of household garbage.

Ever wondered what counts as household garbage? It's simple. All household waste produced and does not pose a health risk is considered regular household waste, and solid waste will decompose over time or can be recycled.

Products represent a growing number of dangers to the consumer and the environment. These include plastic, glass, and other hazardous waste. The main problem is that many people don't know how to dispose of them properly.

Solid Household Waste

Solid household waste is any solid material that is generated in the home. This includes food scraps, garbage, wrappers, newspapers and magazines, cardboard boxes, and paper bags.

Plastic

Plastic bottles and containers can be recycled at many curbside recycling programs, including plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, buckets, and cups. Please check with your municipality for specific instructions for your area.

Paper

Paper items (such as shredded paper) can be recycled at many curbside recycling programs, including newspapers (including inserts), magazines, office paper, junk mail envelopes, and catalogs. Please check with your municipality for specific instructions for your area. Paper products not accepted by curbside recycling programs include cardboard boxes and paper bags (due to their size).

Metal

Metal objects such as cans, pots and pans, toys, and utensils can be recycled at your local recycling center. Unfortunately, you cannot recycle metals like copper wire or aluminum foil at home because they are too small to be processed by the recycling facility.

Glass and Ceramic

Glass is not recyclable in most cases because it breaks into tiny shards when crushed. However, there are some places where you can take it for recycling.

Organic

Organic waste includes food scraps and yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings. This type of waste breaks down naturally over time. It should be disposed of using composting methods instead of regular garbage because it produces methane gas when buried underground or placed in landfills.

Liquid Household Waste

Liquid household waste includes water, liquid soaps and detergents, grease and other cooking oils, and personal products like shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. The liquids in your garbage can are measured by weight rather than volume, so if you've got a full bottle of dishwashing liquid or hand soap, it'll count toward the total weight of your garbage bag.

Cleaners

Household cleaners and detergents are often hazardous to dispose of in the garbage because they can react with other chemicals in the landfill to create harmful gases that affect air quality. They should be disposed of separately by taking them to a hazardous waste disposal site or recycling depot.

Soaps

Soaps and shampoos should be disposed of separately by taking them to a hazardous waste disposal site or recycling depot. They should not be poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet because they will damage plumbing systems over time.

Grease

Liquid food waste from your kitchen, including grease from frying pans, oils from salad dressings, other cooking ingredients, and food scraps.

What Is Considered Hazardous Waste

Some types of household garbage may contain hazardous materials like paints, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, batteries, and more. These materials can be harmful if they are not disposed of properly. For example, lead-based paint can be toxic if it is accidentally ingested or breathed in.

Hazardous wastes include:

  • Batteries (car and other sizes)
  • Electronics
  • Fluorescent bulbs/tubes/lamp ballasts
  • Paint/paint thinners/varnishes (acrylic latex)
  • Pesticides/fertilizers/herbicides
  • Cleaning chemicals/bleach (phenols)
  • Oil-based stains and finishes
  • Antifreeze, transmission fluid, and brake fluid
  • Household cleaners with acids or caustic chemicals such as drain openers and oven cleaner
  • Fluorescent light bulbs (broken bulbs are accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste depot)

Proper Disposal

We've seen that you can do many different things with household waste. But what if you cannot store or adequately dispose of the material? If this is the case, call your local dumpster company, M&M Waste, and we will help you get rid of all household waste.