What is domestic waste? How to dispose of this waste as a UK resident? Are there hazardous elements in my domestic trash pile? – If such questions are racking your brain throughout the day, you have come to the right place.
Any amount of waste that you generate as a homeowner is domestic waste or household waste. From the daily kitchen bin to old pieces of furniture and unused mattresses, each is a unique form of domestic waste and must be disposed of.
However, not all household waste should be treated the same way.
For instance, food scraps are biodegradable and, when disposed of correctly, have composting potential. However, household waste items such as cleaning agents or leftover paint from a recent construction project are hazardous.
Therefore, some types of domestic waste are true impostors in your bin. As a responsible citizen, it is vital to learn what household waste is, the various types, and how to dispose it off correctly.
It is also essential to understand that some types of domestic waste contain hazardous materials, and you will need to use licensed waste carriers or seek council help for a seamless disposal.
Let’s learn more about the different types of household waste.
What Is Domestic Waste?
Domestic waste, also known as household waste, is any waste generated by households. It typically involves unwanted, unusable, or damaged household items.
For example, leftover food, packaging, cardboard boxes, empty cans, tissues, cling wrap, newspaper, paper, bathroom cleaners, and more.
Garden rubbish, kitchen waste, and bulky items like sofas, chairs, electrical appliances, and damaged computers are also considered domestic waste.
However, there are methods for disposing of each, as each has unique elements that cannot be chucked into the same rubbish bin.
We will explore the wide range of household waste before planning a ‘disposal’.
Types of Household Waste
As mentioned, not all domestic waste types are the same. They can be classified into the following two categories, which are essential for waste carriers to dispose of correctly –
• General Mixed Waste:
Also called GMW, includes non-hazardous, non-recyclable waste that requires proper disposal. This includes certain plastics, contaminated packaging, old furniture, food containers, paper towels, tissues, and mixed materials that cannot be separated for recycling.
• Dry Mixed Waste:
Also called DMR, includes dry recyclables such as paper, cardboard, magazines, cleaned plastic bottles, and metal cans.
Both of these categories are considered household waste, and it is vital to understand what they entail, especially when hiring a skip service. Furthermore, it is crucial to separate these items; otherwise, the council or the carrier would not take them.
The goal is not to mix everything into a single bin, but to keep it simple so that professionals can meet the UK’s disposal standards.
Common Household Waste Items That & How They Damage the Environment
Understanding what’s hiding in everyday waste helps us see why responsible disposal matters and which type of bin to use.
Here are some everyday household items, the harmful components they contain, and the impact they can have when thrown away incorrectly:
1. Batteries
They include lead, mercury, cadmium, and lithium. Beyond environmental contamination, if these batteries are not disposed of separately, they can become a fire hazard. If crushed, they can explode and cause serious damage to the property, endangering anyone handling the waste. So, they cannot be placed in household or recycling bins, or with other electronic waste. Major supermarkets in the UK, such as Tesco and Co-op, provide free in-store recycling bins for consumers and other businesses.
2. E-waste
They contain lead, brominated flame retardants, and arsenic, which contaminate soil and affect crops and vegetation. They also release toxic fumes when burned.
Under WEEE waste regulations, electronic producers and distributors must manage their e-waste and provide collection services for households.
3. CFLs and Fluorescent Bulbs
These cannot be placed in general household waste, as they contain hazardous elements and should be recycled at designated sites. When disposed of incorrectly, they contaminate water bodies and harm organisms through bioaccumulation.
4. Cleaning Supplies
Contain ammonia, chlorine, and phosphates, and can easily form harmful chemicals in reaction with other discarded substances. Cleaning supplies typically have a CLP symbol, such as a flame or a skull and crossbones. They typically fall under the hazardous waste category and require proper disposal by licensed carriers.
5. Paints & Varnishes
They contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and contribute to soil and groundwater contamination, harming wildlife.
6. Expired or Unused Medicines
They contain active pharmaceutical chemicals, and when disposed of incorrectly, contaminate rivers and lakes and contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance.
7. Plastics (Bags, Packaging, Containers)
They possess microplastics, BPA, and phthalates, which can enter the ecosystem and cause harm to land and water organisms alike.
8. Garden Waste
Garden or green waste collection is charged separately with a small fee. It typically includes dead plants, leaves, grass cuttings, weeds, hedge trimmings, and branches less than 4 inches in length. However, you cannot put in soil, ashes, food, bricks, stones and other general household waste in the green bin.
9. Cooking Oil
Has organic fats that degrade slowly, clog drains, leading to sewage overflow and form fatbergs in sewage systems. They also reduce oxygen in water bodies, harming aquatic life.
10. Sofas, Cushions & Bean Bags
They contain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). These are toxic elements, and when carelessly handled, cause serious health problems like cancer, neurological damage, and reproductive issues in all kinds of organisms.
There are more items that can make it to this list – all of which can harm living organisms, diminish the way of life, and harm the planet at large.
The goal is to understand what each type of waste contains and to choose the most appropriate disposal methods.
How is domestic waste collected in the UK?
The UK generates waste in tons; we mean it, tons – in which household waste amounts to more than 25 million metric tons. That’s a lot to begin with, and there are still other categories, like commercial waste, industrial waste and more.
As the population continues to grow, so will this amount of waste. Therefore, domestic waste disposal in the UK is thorough and systematic, and this is how it is done –
• Awareness
The first step in completing waste disposal is knowing when to hire a professional waste carrier service. A proper domestic waste management procedure is essential for secure disposal and avoiding landfills.
Not being aware leads to the wrong waste items being placed in the wrong place. For instance, you wouldn’t want leftover garden pesticides mixed with other waste, where the chemicals can seep into the soil and harm the ecosystem.
Waste management directly supports a healthy environment and protects the health of all living organisms. So, understanding the types of household waste you are dealing with and focusing on disposal is critical.
• Collection
The best way to achieve a streamlined domestic waste collection is to hire a professional waste management company that is licensed to perform the process.
Since each home is unique, waste carrier representatives conduct a perimeter check to determine the scope of collection.
However, suppose you are seeking domestic waste collection post-renovation. In that case, there may be other bulky items such as furniture, sofas, electronic appliances, and old computers, which are WEEE waste, and the process is different. If you are hiring the local council for domestic collection, check their guidelines.
With a licensed carrier, there is no such struggle. The team assesses the perimeter thoroughly before collection day and takes the bulky items themselves. They will also keep you informed of the collection process based on your selected collection day.
Whichever type of collection you choose, the goal is thorough domestic waste removal, done ethically and professionally.
• Treatment
Once the various types of waste are collected from your homes, they are sent to the specific treatment facilities. They are typically large-scale plants where all kinds of domestic waste are sorted. From recyclables to smaller categories, and specialised waste items to domestic sharps, each is sent to separate places.
Now, this sorting is essential when various items are extracted, such as metals, glass, and even plastic, as they can be reused as secondary materials.
When certain waste items can be converted to energy, for instance, food waste, they are transferred to energy extraction plants. This type of recyclable waste can be converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion.
• Waste Screening
Oftentimes, two very different waste items end up in the same collection, which can be detrimental to the process. For instance, the massive heap of food waste can also contain inorganic or plastic materials. If disposed of inappropriately, they can be hazardous to the ecosystem.
Screenings are an ideal way to cull out these harmful yet straightforward anomalies for systematic and segregated waste treatment.
• Physical and Chemical Treatments
Licensed waste management companies collaborate with certified treatment facilities. Here, inorganic waste is carefully treated before disposal.
They are sorted, shredded, ground, and heated to separate them into a recyclable and non-recyclable pile.
The process ensures each element is recycled and does not end up in the landfill. The recycled items extracted, such as plastic, glass, paper, and metal, are reused to develop new products.
• Recycling
Recycling is a significant part of waste processing in treatment facilities. It helps conserve natural resources and reduce waste.
Once all waste is thoroughly treated, recyclable items are sorted and segregated for processing into new products. For instance, metals extracted from waste materials can be reused to produce new metal products.
Following Environmental and Safety Regulations
Throughout the waste processing cycle, every UK-licensed waste management company must comply with environmental and safety regulations to ensure a secure, reliable process.
From the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, each has set out rules for managing waste across the UK.
Furthermore, licensed waste management companies offer robust domestic waste collection for a reason. Their processes are regularly inspected and performance audited to ensure compliance with all regulations.
At Enviro Waste Management, our domestic waste collection begins with a thorough site visit. We start by understanding your waste range to develop a bespoke collection plan and schedule. It helps you maintain a clean premise and actively participate in environmental protection.
Tips for Reducing Household Waste
When it comes to household waste examples, the list is long, and the disposal method for each is unique. Yes, hiring professionals for a disposal process is vital. It helps protect the environment, reduce pollution and secure natural resources. Homeowners can also take their junk themselves to the recycling or dumping centres. However, that demands hassle, proper understanding of regulations, and while cheaper, it is too much of a task.
Another better alternative is to reduce household waste. So, here’s how to do it –
• Avoid Single-Use Items
Plastic straws, coffee cups, and disposable cutlery need to go. The reason is apparent – they are for a single use and end up in the trash. Go for reusable alternatives, like glass cups and bottles, steel straws, and cutlery.
• Plan Meals Mindfully
Leftovers happen when meals are unplanned; start fixing that in the first place. If things are extra, use a refrigerator to store them instead of throwing them away.
• Go Digital
Every piece of paper, like bills and desk notes that you use or do not use, will end up in the trash and contribute to the domestic waste heap. Go digital, wherever possible.
• Reuse & Repurpose
Be it an old jar, torn clothes or wooden chopsticks, learn to repurpose them to avoid sending them to the bin.
• Segregate the Waste
If GMW and DMR waste are not segregated properly, the council will not collect it. Maintain separate bins for dry and wet waste, and clean recyclables, as they cannot be placed in DMR bins. Licensed waste carriers like Enviro Waste Management help clients with domestic waste segregation.
• Learn about Hazardous Waste
It is common to misclassify certain waste items as organic or general. However, a hidden hazard could be waiting to wreak havoc. Identify which items contain what and then plan the disposal method.
Disposing of Domestic Waste the Best Way with Enviro
As a leading waste management company in the UK, we handle domestic and commercial waste thoroughly. Our waste experts ensure your space is free of trash, that disposal methods are compliant, that essentials are repurposed, and that nothing goes to the landfill.
Typically, local authorities are responsible for emptying household bins and managing disposal methods in the area. However, getting it done by a licensed company ensures a robust performance and cleaner premises.
As a householder, it is your duty to dispose of domestic waste correctly. It begins with disposing of things in the correct bins and being aware of what is included within each damaged home essential.
At Enviro, we have a proven track record of managing all kinds of domestic waste, ensuring it is sent to the proper facilities. By the end of the process, we also provide effective waste transfer and consignment notes to help ensure compliance with legal requirements.
From regular bins and sacks to skip hire and one-off collection services, we offer it all.
