Waste management is a system that aims to reduce and prevent waste by organizing its disposal. Waste management strategies include but are not limited to reusing, recycling, composting, and using systems which turn waste to energy.

There are simple ways you can manage waste at home. As a first step, you can separate your waste. Separating waste allows your used plastics, papers or cartons to be reused, while kitchen waste can be used as compost for your garden. No matter how thoroughly you separate your waste at home, it is still essential to opt for plastic or paper-free options where possible. Try to avoid plastic packaging as much as you can and choose electronic bills or agreements over hard copy ones. To reduce your plastic use, you can carry reusable water bottles instead of buying single-use water bottles. You can also purchase mesh bags for your vegetable shopping to avoid buying pre-packaged vegetables and fruits or using single-use plastic bags at the markets.

The 5Rs of waste management include refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. Understanding the 5Rs can be considered your and your business's first step into waste management. This understanding is fundamental because to achieve and embed an effective waste management system, you and your team must follow the actions suggested by the 5Rs to their full potential.

The 5Rs simplify people's responsibilities in waste management systems and show what can be done in small steps. Following the 5Rs, you not only help to cut down the waste but also reduce your impact on the environment and poorer countries by using fewer landfills.

Recycling, in the most simplistic sense, allows individuals to use the items they have for an extended period of time. However, when you think about recycling, consider all the used plastic, cardboard, and paper going through the process and the enormous importance they have in reducing the need for extracting, refining, and processing raw materials. Recycling and reusing these materials also prevents possible air and water pollution while reducing green gas emissions and helping to save energy. 

Waste disposal turns what you call garbage into waste. Compared to garbage, waste can be recycled and reused in various ways. The main benefits of waste disposal include but are not limited to environmental protection, health protection, and financial and economic gain.

Medical waste generally comes from hospitals or health clinics. It is highly likely to be contaminated by body fluids and blood and can potentially carry infection. The standard method for disposing of medical waste is incineration, which means burning down the waste. If you have medical waste following the use of a take-home medical kit, you should strictly follow the instructions on the kit you used or the directions from health professionals for the disposal.

Any waste which is fatal or harmful when absorbed or ingested is considered toxic. As toxic waste is highly hazardous and can cost lives, its disposal is handled at specific authorized sites by specialists.

Zero waste does not mean that you or your business do not create any waste. Rather it refers to any waste you produce being reused and recycled, without sending anything to landfills.

Sustainable food and beverage is a great way to reduce your environmental impact and create awareness for a more sustainable life among your employees. Sustainable food and beverage are where the circularity of the reuse and recycling process completes itself by using organic compost to grow vegetables and fruit. When you think about it this way, there is something magical about it contributing to a better world. Although, implementing a well-prepared waste management plan at your company may take time. However, if your employees are aware of your environmental concerns from the food and beverage you serve at the workplace, any other changes regarding sustainable living that follow can be more readily accepted.

Intengine is dedicated to bringing you and the experts in any area of sustainability together. You can contact various experts here, whether it’s for creating a waste management plan for your business, improving the existing program, or training your employees. You can always check out Intengine's blog for up-to-date news about recycling and innovative solutions for recycling at your homes or offices.

To start an efficient waste management plan, you need to know the type and amount of waste you create. This way, you can quickly establish your goals and objectives. After that, you should come up with recycling and reusing methods suitable for the kind of waste you create and how to embed this method into daily life at home or at the office. If you aim to create a waste management plan at your workplace, it would be helpful to have a team dedicated to tracking the waste management plan on a day to day basis and help you to train your employees.