As per recent research, the first organised effort for waste management system came up in late 18^th century, about fifty years before Public Health Act came into force. The process of waste collection in London was built around the concept of ‘dust-yards’. The main component being coal ash was considered lucrative because of its value in making bricks and soil improvement products. It was this profitability that encouraged contractors to collect 100% residual waste after all the usable and saleable items were removed by the street rag pickers. Therefore, this became the first organised, municipal-regulated, solid waste management process. The ‘dust-yard’ system worked perfectly until the 1850s the market value of the dust crumpled. It was this moment when waste management became institutionalised as a municipal-run system.

Metropolitan Board of Works

This was the first centralised city-wide authority that managed sanitation regulation for a city that was expanding at a rapid pace. Public Health Act of 1875 also made it mandatory for the households in London to deposit their weekly trash in ‘moveable containers’, the first type of dustbins. As the waste increased, first incinerators were established to tackle growing waste problem. Since then, the garbage removal in London has evolved too much a more organised and mechanised state today as we know it.

Present Day Scenario

In the last ten years, Rubbish Collection in London has come a long way from what it used to be. Moving from county councils to the private service operators, there has been an obvious paradigm shift the way waste is now managed. What used to be a limited choice of operators back in the day has become a competitive field as more and more players enter the waste removal market. If your contract is about to expire, it can help to research a bit and see if you can find a better deal.

The waste management issues in developed and developing worlds are different. Even though the developed countries produce larger amounts of waste, they have systems in place that can adequately process this garbage so that it does not wreak havoc on the environment. However, the problem with the developing countries is that these systems are yet to be established which leads to accumulation of waste. There are no proper rubbish collection systems in London that sort and then treat the garbage accordingly. In these countries, the waste management means either dumping it in landfill areas, rivers or incineration. All these processes have their own debilitating impact on the environment.

Key Issues

The waste that we produce as humans are non-biodegradable. This is the reason this waste needs to be processed in ways so as to minimise its impact on the environment. Even though the people are made aware of the proper methods of waste disposal and waste collection in London, yet the production of garbage is alarmingly high.

Too much waste and limited disposal options

The traditional method of disposing of household and industrial waste is landfill dumping. However, it goes without saying the negative impact these landfill areas have on the environment. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find new areas to dump all this waste.

Excessive production of liquid waste

Sewage waste produced at homes through dish washing, car washing and detergents are categorised as liquid waste. This waste is also produced by industrial processes which are toxic in nature and pollutes the water sources. There is a very little percentage of this waste that is actually recycled.

Importance of waste management with Recycling

Waste management has evolved as a serious discipline since the harmful effects of disposing of waste in landfills and other avenues have become known to mankind. Irresponsible garbage disposal has been polluting our natural sources of air, water as well as food. The importance of waste management lies in sorting, collecting and disposing of junk in such a way which is least harmful to the environment and the mankind.

If rubbish management is not carried out professionally and according to rules then the amount of garbage ending up in landfills and other areas will go on increasing which will abate environmental pollution. Thus for protecting the environment, you need efficient rubbish management solutions. Poor waste management is a serious problem; let us discuss how.

Water contamination

If you just throw away the garbage from your house the scrap may end up in water bodies and contaminate them. Such pollution may affect the ecosystem of the area and may result in death of fish and other aquatic fauna and flora. This can pose a grave danger for the environment.

Air pollution

Improper and poor scrap management has been blamed for depletion of the ozone layer. If you are throwing away electrical and electronic junk containing ozone depleting elements in the open this may contribute to eating away a part of the protective ozone layer and thus cause cancer and other diseases resulting from excessive ultra violate and other cosmic rays.

Soil pollution

If you are dumping toxic and hazardous chemicals like batteries, spent fuels, chemical paints etc in the open such toxins are likely to permeate through the soil and be absorbed by underground water as well as roots of plants and trees. This has grave consequence for the whole food chain ending in human beings. This may cause several diseases.

Blockage of sewers and drainage

Improper disposal of scrap such as throwing away plastic carry bags and other non-biodegradable items is found to be severely responsible for blocking gutters, channels, sewers and drainage’s and cause overflow of sewerage and dirty water in streets and houses.

Threat to farming

The soil is undergoing aerobic action by organisms, and this is helpful for the environment. If plastic and other non-biodegradable items get into the soil they may prevent such aerobic action and thus present a threat to farming.

Economic aspect

If scrap is not disposed of efficiently heaps of rubbish will be seen lying at street corners and designated junk disposal dumps. Not only is this unhealthy for the inhabitants of the area, it also has a cosmetic dimension. It is repulsive to see garbage beans overflowing with junk; the stench may become unbearable at times. Tourists and visitors to the area will not like to visit the area twice lest they should face the poorly disposed of garbage again. Thus poor junk disposal has an economic aspect too.

Missing on the benefits of recycling

Poor rubbish disposal means less recycling, and this has its attendant woes. Waste Recycling saves on natural resources and energy, creates employment and generates revenue for the municipal authorities. If disposal of junk is poor then the area will miss the benefits of recycling.

About the Author

Josh Clarke is associated with clear it Waste from the last six years. Clear it Waste is an organisation that is involved in Rubbish Collection London. They takes care of all Waste collection needs within the London area for people who need their homes and commercial establishments clean and green.