More Garbage: The Hierarchy of Waste Management Solutions

The Nitty-gritty

Now that we’re acquainted, I think it’s time we get into the nitty-gritty. Now, I can only imagine you all reading my blog and to be honest nitty-gritty is so fun to say but even I’m sitting here associating it with boring information I’m about to unload. So how can I keep you all engaged? At the end of the day, this is just me talking about garbage and who cares about that? Like I said, I’m not really an advocate…or at least I just didn’t have my Moment of Random Epiphany (MORE) for the day. I only had a cup of tea so maybe I should come back tomorrow…sounds good to me. DEADLINE. Nothing motivates a student like a deadline so scratch that idea because we are getting into the details now.

So, we need to talk about the Hierarchy of Waste Management Solutions. It ranks waste management options according to what has the best outcome for the environment. (Williams, 2021). The methods outlined in this hierarchy are key to sustainable material management. (Environmental Protection Agency, 2015).

Now who do I go to first when dealing with waste? He goes by many names, but he is the undisputed heavy weight champion, the one and only, PREVENTION. Waste prevention means reducing waste at the source and is the most environmentally preferred strategy. (Environmental Protection Agency, 2015). It’s a good idea to first, prevent/avoid things from becoming waste so there is simply less waste to deal with. (ISM Waste and Recycling, 2021).

Entering the ring now is number 2, equal to no one but though second, he is quite popular when it comes to managing waste. He is quite honorable, and his name is REUSE. Here I’m talking about the use of worn-out tires in agriculture or even your little kitchen garden and not so much the burning of them on roadways. Reusing a tire is simple but there are more complex items that need to be cleaned, repaired, and even refurbished but in doing so, waste produced is minimized. (ISM Waste and Recycling, 2021)

As I continue, I’m realizing that this is turning into an all-out brawl, but I already reached this far. So, enter opponent number 3, he ends off everyone’s favorite jingle and is the reason I chose this topic. He is by far, not the last to come, but everyone and their aunty has heard his name. Reduce…Reuse…RECYCLE. Recycling is the most popular of these stages (Williams, 2021). It is the most environmentally friendly solution when dealing with waste. It’s when we turn our garbage into something new. (ISM Waste & Recycling, 2021).

Call out his name and he shall appear but only when our favorite jingle no longer applies. He’s the best bet before simply just throwing away waste and really in a league of his own, RECOVERY. Waste that cannot be recycled, can be used to recover energy from them in some cases. Burning of waste, widely known as incineration, can be used to produce electricity. Composting is also a method of recovery as it turns organic waste into nutrient-rich food for plants. (ISM Waste & Recycling, 2021)

Last man on roll call for this event is what we all tend to do. At the end of the day, he’s the most famous so it’s only fair that he arrives fashionably late. His name is DISPOSAL and just like my mother, many of you would agree that putting garbage in the bin and letting the garbage truck pass for it is a nice, comfortable life. Out of sight, out of mind because you don’t have to carry plastic bottles to an iCare bin when the garbage truck is passing right in front of your house. What a convenient service, am I right? It is but disposing of waste in landfills is the least sustainable method in the Hierarchy of Waste Management Solutions. The disposal stage comprises anything that cannot be recovered. Prevention is the least harmful to the environment and disposal is the last resort with the most impact on the environment. (Williams, 2021).

I hosted this exhibition event to keep you all engaged and all the way to the end. For those of you that made it, you have my gratitude. Many of you are bound to share my mother’s opinions but one thing she says a lot is, “You learn something new every day.” so I hope that my blog helped you all to learn something. I encourage you all to have Moments of Random Epiphanies (good ones) and now I can finally say this with my chest. “I am an advocate for Waste Management Solutions in the Caribbean.”