As the ever-growing threat of climate change and environmental damage increases, the ways in which we dispose of our waste has never been more under the microscope. From recycling and repurposing, local councils and communities across the country have readdressed their commitment to environmental waste disposal, but there’s no denying, we still have a long way to go.
As we edge towards a more sustainable way of living, the importance of green recycling has never been more prominent. Using green waste to produce compost, treat sewage and generate renewable energy are important tools in the fight against climate change, and here, we explain the importance of understanding green recycling:
What Is Green Waste?
Often referred to as garden waste, green waste is the broad term for any organic material that can biodegrade and be composted. Green waste typically includes grass cuttings, leaves, branches, weeds and flowers, but can also make space for vegetable and fruit peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds and even eggshells.
Where Does It Go?
Green waste is now commonly collected at the same time as recycling and landfill waste but is instead taken to a specilaised composting site where it can be recycled effectively. The waste is usually shredded before being laid out to decompose. An elaborate process requiring high heat and oxidisation, decomposition can take between 8 and 16 weeks to be finalised.
What’s It Used For?
Green waste can be recycled and used for a number of purposes, from agriculture to landscaping and biofuels. Generally speaking, green waste is commonly used as a means to improve the quality or strength of topsoils but is beginning to find new uses in sewage disposal and renewable energy. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key uses of green waste:
Manufactured Topsoil
Able to provide nutrients for growing plants, green waste contains woody components that slow the decomposition process, making it a vital part of manufactured topsoils. When industrial wastes such as coal or fly dust are used alongside green waste for topsoil, its water-holding capacity is improved.
Sewage Disposal
If green waste is mixed with sewage waste before it is composted, it will provide an environmentally sustainable method for sewage disposal. Green waste mixed with sewage can help to safely eliminate the risks associated with pathogens and pollutants found in sewage waste. By combining green waste with sewage waste, we are reducing the levels of sewage that need to be incinerated each year.
Renewable Energy
Recycling green waste results in the composition of two products that can be used as biofuel. The mixture of gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of energy produces ‘Biogas’. Biogas is a renewable power source tapped from the energy produced through the biodegradation of green waste. Equally, green waste that doesn’t contain food waste can be decomposed to produce ‘cellulosic ethanol’, which has a high market value as a fairly uncommon and sought-after biofuel.
At Cherry Hill Waste, Cherry Hill Waste provides eco-friendly waste removal and skip hire in Newcastle-under-Lyme for both domestic and commercial clients. With dedicated recycling facilities, an excellent hands-on team, our commitment to being the most cost-effective company in our industry and an ability to provide skips in a broad range of sizes at a time that suits you, we’re widely regarded to be the best company to call for environmental waste disposal. Contact us today
