Bonzemo Bon Sindani

Garbage: an Environmental Nuisance Bonzemo Bon Sindani

The term garbage is defined to mean refuse, waste materials, rubbish, trash, residues, useless, debris, hazardous, ashes, unwanted or undesired materials or solid wastes. The word is also used to mean disposable or non-disposable solid or semi solid, combustible or non-combustible materials that result from human and animal activities. Thus, solid wastes can be degradable or non - degradable. Each household generates garbage or waste day in and day out. Items and materials that we no longer need or do not have any further use for and with fall in the category of solid wastes or garbage. Very often we tend to throw them away haphazardly because they are no longer useful. These items are called solid wastes. These materials include paper, wood, clothes, metals, glass, chemicals, biomass sludge, slag heaps, paints and sand. Garbage is no longer just an environmental polluter but a financial asset. At the household-level proper segregation of waste has to be done and it should be ensured that all organic matter is kept aside for composting. These materials can be recycled and re - used and thus, they are economically viable. They can make a difference for millions in the third world.