In my previous report, the attitude of my contacts towards zero waste made me want to know more about solid waste, why zero waste means no food production and  management of this type of waste since this is the most common type encountered by individuals on their day to day life. Yes, without wastes there will be no food as wastes are produced in various processing factories for us to have the final product as food. But then, what are the other types/forms of solid wastes and their management strategies?

To begin with, solid waste comprises of the abandoned or thrown away materials after they have fulfilled their purpose and are therefore no longer in use. Such encompass a wider variety of types including :-  Municipal solid waste commonly referred to as Garbage which are collected from the public usually cities and markets for disposal at the landfill disposal sites, toxic wastes comprising of old medicines,paints and  chemicals, Organic wastes( kitchen wastes, vegetables,leaves,animal wastes), E-wastes which are the electronic wastes resulting from discarded electronic parts e.g television, laptops, radios e.t.c. with other forms including improper disposal of fertilizers, maize cobs among others.

Improper disposal of such wastes especially at the dumpsites is hazardous to the health of both human beings and animals as it can result to diseases like vector bone diseases which undoubtedly prompt their management which can be done in two major ways.

First, through the application of waste minimization method we can be assured of management of such wastes. This calls for the implementation of the 5Rs(refuse, reduce, rot, recycle and reuse). Reducing production and disposal of such wastes, reusing and recycling the recyclable, refusing usage of non-biodegradable solid waste which implies the use of those that can rot.

Secondly, changing such wastes to energy will also help. For example, wastes like cowdung can be used in biogas production and this will protect our environment. 

Implementation of such measures is vital towards achieving a better environment particularly for living organisms!

Source.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/solid-waste-management