Waste management services are some of the most underappreciated components of the industrial world. These unsung heroes do so much to improve business practices and leave our world cleaner for future generations. While it may seem like a boring topic, trash disposal has a unique and exciting history that is worth exploring. Here are five interesting facts about waste management you might not already know.
Ancient Origins
Did you know that waste management practices date back to ancient times? Archeologists have uncovered remnants of landfills and other garbage disposal sites used by the ancient Greeks. As early as 3,000 BC, humans buried their garbage in organized manners to remove unsightly materials from their immediate surroundings. Experts have even seen attempts to modernize these archaic practices in ancient Chinese sites that date back to 2,000 BC!
Savings Possibilities
One of the most interesting facts about waste management stems from the savings possibilities. Individual recycling efforts might not seem to make much of an impact, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. For example, recycling one ton of paper can amount to thousands of gallons of saved water, hundreds of gallons of oil, and several cubic yards of landfill space. Committing to sustainable efforts positively influences our resources, which should be enough to encourage skeptics to adopt cleaner disposal habits.
Founding Fathers
You’re probably already familiar with one of history’s most notorious innovators, Benjamin Franklin. While this founding father gets credit for inventing things like the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, he also contributed to the world of waste management. Franklin developed plans for the first street cleaning service during the Industrial Revolution. He also normalized digging holes and burying garbage, much like the ancient Greeks who preceded him in waste disposal endeavors.
American Influence
Human beings have the most noticeable impact on the environment, whether we like it or not. This fact might be hard to acknowledge, but it’s vital to accept if society wants to make a real difference. Even though Americans make up a fraction of the total human population, they contribute to almostone-fifth of global waste. That’s hundreds of millions of pounds of trash coming from one population!
Always Evolving
While we have a long way to go to reduce waste production, there is a silver lining. Waste management practices are constantly evolving, with professionals in the field coming up with exciting ways to eliminate waste. Did you know that composting hazardous waste is not only possible, but common in industrial sectors looking to repurpose their toxic byproducts? From building incinerators to transforming trash into energy, experts are always on the prowl for new disposal techniques to improve current conditions.
As you can see, waste management includes many exciting facts that professionals and citizens alike should know. With a better understanding of current and past practices, we can be on our way to a cleaner, fresher, and brighter tomorrow.
