Turning garbage into money, or how to open your own waste processing plant. Features of waste recycling in Russia What documents are needed to register a business

* The calculations use average data for Russia

An integral part of human life is the generation of waste of various types - food, electronic, household. And the more complex our lives become, the more we consume, the more waste we produce. According to statistics, per person there is 200-300 kg of waste (MSW) per year, and in Russia as a whole, waste generation is estimated at 30-35 million tons annually.

Unlike Western countries, where waste is effectively recycled, in Russia this entire volume ends up in landfills, where it remains for decades, polluting the environment. The lack of a culture of sorting and recycling of at least the most hazardous waste, such as, for example, mercury lamps, batteries, medicines, only aggravates the current situation. Only a small part - no more than 5% - ends up in waste incineration plants, which, in fact, pollute the environment almost more than the landfills themselves.

Of course, our country does not stand still. At the end of 2014, the President of the Russian Federation signed a package of amendments to the law on industrial and consumer waste, which approved a recycling fee, and also tightened the requirements for the use of waste, in particular, a ban was introduced on the disposal of waste that has not lost its consumer properties.

Ideally, waste should be almost completely recycled with the aim of recycling the resulting materials. This is exactly what happens in Europe – up to 80% of solid waste is recycled there. With proper recycling, almost all of this volume can be reused. This means that you can earn good money by selling recycled waste.

You can make compost from organic waste and use it as fertilizer. Used automobile oil and other liquids can be converted into biological products and physiologically active compounds. Paper and cardboard can be produced from recycled paper and cardboard, and polymers can be produced from polymer materials. And so on.

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In general, all work with waste can be divided into several stages: collection, transportation, sorting, processing (disposal, storage). Often, enterprises in this industry have a narrow specialization at some stage. This is logical, since the creation of an integrated organization for collecting, sorting and recycling waste not only requires huge capital investments, but is also organizationally complex.

Figure 1. Structure of solid waste in Russia

In addition, this area of ​​business is perhaps one of the most corrupt in our country, and the market has been divided for a long time and for a long time. Removing waste and burying it in landfills is the most common way to get rid of it today. Garbage removal companies have been working here for years in the same urban area or with the same industrial enterprises. According to some estimates, the profitability of such a business reaches 20%. However, also for this reason, it is almost impossible for a new player to enter this market.

Waste sorting in itself is hardly of interest from a business point of view, at least because the main consumer of this service is recycling companies, of which there are still very, very few in Russia. Thus, we come to the logical conclusion that a sorting and processing complex may be the most profitable. And if after these words the imagination pictures a territory built up with multi-storey industrial buildings, with conveyor belts, access railway tracks and so on, then in reality everything is much more prosaic. We will talk further about how you can organize an enterprise for collecting and processing waste.

First of all, we need to decide whether we will limit ourselves to just sorting and recycling, or whether we will try to cover all links in the chain, ensuring that waste is collected directly from its source. As mentioned above, this market is divided and cannot be redistributed. However, you can find your own source that will provide the enterprise with a small but stable amount of material. Such a source could be a cottage community, of which there are many currently being built; it could be an industrial enterprise - just opened or already operating. In the second case, strong arguments will be required to convince the management of the enterprise to abandon the already established relationship with the service organization. Still, working with an industrial enterprise is more profitable, because will be able to provide our company with a stable volume of waste of a certain fraction, on which we can build specialization. And specialization, as we understand it, allows us to reduce costs. Actually, searching for a source, collecting and transporting waste from it is not expensive: you will need one or two containers for collection and a truck to transport it. Transportation costs can be reduced by using a press at the collection site if the material being collected allows it.

Ready ideas for your business

If we are not interested in organizing the supply of material directly from the source, we will focus directly on sorting and recycling. Here we return to the issue of specialization. It can be approached from two opposite sides: from the material being processed or from the source of waste.

The most common material for recycling today is PET containers, that is, ordinary plastic bottles for drinks, sunflower oil, etc. But almost anything can be recycled – from cars to wood, from consumer electronics to paper. Naturally, the more complex the original product, the more complex the technology for its disposal will be. We talked about specialization at the source above - it could be a factory, a shopping center or a cottage community. The first gives one or two main factions, the second two - a much larger assortment.

Ready ideas for your business

The simplest and most accessible waste disposal technologies include pressing and grinding. Actually, they can be used either individually or sequentially in a full technological cycle: crusher, sorting line, press, storage hopper, magnet.

Equipment is selected depending on the type of waste and the required productivity. For example, a press for aluminum and other non-ferrous metals, which allows you to press, for example, beverage cans, will cost about 100 thousand rubles. A wool and rag press, with which you can press spinning waste, has a higher cost - about 250 thousand. A press for briquetting PET containers and waste paper costs from 180 thousand rubles. Such a press produces a finished briquette that meets the requirements for acceptance by pulp and paper mills. More serious industrial presses from Western manufacturers cost one or two orders of magnitude higher. For example, a used German semi-automatic horizontal press will cost 46,000 euros, and a two-shaft Austrian shredder will cost 26,000 euros.

Various types of crushers and shredders are designed for crushing waste, which are also selected depending on the type of material being processed, productivity and the required degree of grinding. The cost of domestically produced crushers for polymers, foam rubber, padding polyester, fabrics, glass today is 90-100 thousand rubles.

Some suppliers offer ready-made universal lines with program control for processing a wide range of solid waste, including everything down to conveyors, protective fences, etc. The cost of such a line with installation will be approximately 5 million rubles.

There is also a lot of specialized equipment for processing electronic circuit boards (machines for removing components from circuit boards, vibrating tables, hammer crushers), package tearers, various extruders and granulators, dryers for the organic fraction and much more. Manufacturers and distributors of such equipment also offer comprehensive solutions depending on the planned focus of the enterprise; their cost is announced upon request. It should be expected that for a more or less serious line it will be at least 3-4 million rubles.

Ready ideas for your business

There are also more unconventional ways to make money from waste. For example, processing of landfill gas. At the moment, there is at least one such plant in Russia, founded by a Swedish company. The principle of operation of the plant is relatively simple: gas is collected through wells from the “body” of the landfill and collected in a furnace for its combustion, in the process of which electricity is generated. The plant itself consists of several mobile buildings, “roaming” through the landfill from a used gas source to a new one. According to rough estimates, the energy produced by the plant is enough to power a city of 50 thousand people. Of course, such an enterprise will require larger investments than a sorting and recycling line - such projects are beneficial only in the long term, especially taking into account the imperfections of Russian legislation in the field of environmental supervision.

Depending on the type of waste being processed, various requirements set out in SanPiN are imposed on the territories and premises. As a rule, they are all quite tough, because... the processing organization must not pollute the atmosphere and soil, not discharge wastewater, have high fire safety indicators, etc. Perhaps this can be called one of the main obstacles to opening such a business.

If the premises or territory have been sorted out, licensing of activities will then be required. According to the law, activities for the collection, use, neutralization, transportation and disposal of waste of I-IV hazard classes are subject to licensing (Class I is extremely hazardous waste that causes irreversible damage to the environment; these include, for example: vinyl chloride, lead oxide, polonium , plutonium, mercury, hydrogen fluoride, etc.). The accumulation of waste of any hazard class, as well as activities for the collection, use, neutralization, transportation and disposal of waste of hazard class V are not subject to licensing. The licensing procedure is carried out by Rostechnadzor, and its duration can reach 3-5 months.

As for the profitability of the “garbage” business, according to experts, a sorting and processing line can pay for itself in two to five years. Important factors ensuring profitability are: a slowly but steadily growing demand for recyclable materials and a fairly low level of risks due to fixed tariffs for waste disposal from municipalities. And, of course, there is an extremely low level of competition in this area.

Among the difficulties an entrepreneur will face here is a clash with the bureaucratic apparatus, which is often corrupt. If there are still potential competitors in your region, be prepared for the fact that they will try with all their might to prevent your entry into the market.

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Any living organism leaves waste in the process of its life. In this case, the first place here goes to the person. Huge landfills are proof of this. Mountains of garbage not only spoil the appearance and have an unpleasant odor, but are also a source of pollution of the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere, including infectious and toxic agents.

At the same time, waste in landfills is often a resource base. Therefore, their recycling is not only necessary for preserving the environment, but also a cost-effective measure. And there are many technologies.

Garbage sorting

The separation of waste into certain components is rather a preliminary step in processing. Ideally, it begins at the stage of waste production and accumulation, that is, in citizens’ homes and apartments.

Several containers are used for this. A separate type of waste is thrown into each of them: paper, glass, organic food waste, metal, plastic, etc. In Russia, this practice is taking root slowly, but residents of European countries do not consider waste separation particularly difficult. This is especially true for pedantic Germany. Here even glass is sorted by color. But the Germans were faced with a problem such as a lack of space for a huge number of garbage containers. And not every Russian apartment has space to accommodate containers for various wastes.

For this reason, waste sorting at waste treatment plants is more relevant, which includes several actions:

1. Shaking debris, tearing plastic bags and paper and releasing adhered sand and dust particles.
2. The separation of all waste into fractions is carried out in several stages. For this purpose, special gratings with different throughput diameters are used.
3. Separation from the total mass of metal waste capable of magnetization. This procedure is carried out using special magnetic separators.
4. Manual sorting of waste transported on a special conveyor. The use of robots allows people to be relieved of this monotonous work.

As a result of sorting, secondary raw materials are obtained, and the unselected material is also subjected to further processing: burning, burial, etc.

How to dispose of waste correctly and safely

On the modern market you can find shredders of various sizes, capacities and specializations. Read more about how they work and what to look for when choosing a shredder

How many products does humanity produce every day? How much can he consume in the same time? Where will the rest go? What to do with it? We bring to your attention the answers to these questions.

Universal equipment for waste sorting and highly specialized machines for crushing rock. Profitable, reliable, affordable

In the modern world, time and quality are valued in any work, including waste recycling. The bag opener is one of the reliable devices that saves time and gives excellent results.

According to statistics, a huge amount of bottles are recycled per year. In pre-processing, bottles are usually baled and sent for recycling.

With the help of crushers, large waste can be converted into crushed raw materials for secondary production. One of the most common means of crushing waste is rotary crushers. With the help of such a machine you can crush wood, crushed stone, plastic, cardboard, film.

To process recyclable materials, presses of horizontal or vertical type are used. Horizontal devices require significant space for placement. Vertical ones are compact and mobile, but less productive

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What legal subtleties await an entrepreneur when licensing waste processing and disposal?

Disposal of hazardous waste is a necessary stage in the development of industrial areas and megacities. It must be done in accordance with safety requirements and compliance with all rules.

Correct and strict adherence to safety rules when disposing of ammonia will allow you to recycle it efficiently and safely for the environment. Ammonia processing is a necessary step in working with gases in production.

Has the evolution of solid waste recycling technologies affected it? What methods of waste recycling have appeared in recent decades and are they used in Russia?

The problem of waste accumulation is one of the most pressing problems of humanity. There are many methods for recycling and neutralizing hazardous waste: incineration, burial, recycling, neutralization.

The problem of rice husk disposal is relevant all over the world. What technologies exist for processing rice husks and how can the secondary product be used?

This is one of the oldest and most common methods of waste disposal. Nowadays, large volumes of waste are disposed of using special furnaces in waste incineration plants.

This processing method has several advantages:

• significant reduction in waste volume;
• obtaining thermal energy;
• destruction of pathogenic microflora.

However, this recycling process also has one significant drawback: the formation and release of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. This has led to the fact that incinerators are subject to high requirements for cleaning gaseous waste, which often deprives enterprises of the required level of income. And the heat from combustion is rarely used in Russia.

This is one of the most common methods for treating animal waste, solid household and . Its essence lies in the natural decomposition of organic substances during the life of bacteria. There are several technologies.

They consist in the fact that periodically turned over heaps of organic waste are formed on special sites. The tedding of the piles is carried out using special tedding machines. In the most effective version, processing is carried out in special bioreactors with aeration.

However, this method is rarely used in Russia.

In addition, in our country composting is often carried out without preliminary sorting; the resulting compost is dangerous and cannot be used for its intended purpose as fertilizer for gardens, agricultural enterprises, etc.

But even with preliminary preparation it is not possible to get rid of heavy metals in solid waste. This compost can be used to cover landfills.

Another disadvantage of composting is the need to allocate areas.

High-quality purified compost from organic animal waste (manure and droppings) and plant residues is an excellent source of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, which are in a form that is digestible for plants. Composting also destroys helminths and pathogenic microorganisms.

The essence of the method is that garbage is distributed in special pits and covered with a layer of soil of 60-80 cm. Such treatment is carried out at landfills, the preparation of which prevents the penetration of contaminants into the soil and groundwater. In the most advanced version, landfills are equipped with special ventilation, a gas exhaust system and containers for collecting biogas, which can be used as fuel for heating.

The disadvantage of the method is that the risk of pollution of the atmosphere, soil and groundwater remains even if the most advanced filter systems are used. The accumulation of biogas for further use is rarely done today and mainly in Europe.

Thermal waste treatment

In addition to traditional incineration, this method of waste disposal includes pyrolysis, which is the decomposition of waste under high temperatures without oxygen. It is more advanced and technologically advanced than simple combustion.

Plasma waste treatment

Essentially this is gasification of waste. Processing occurs at temperatures from 900 to 5000 degrees. As a result, gas is obtained from organic matter, and slag is obtained from inorganic matter.

The first can be used to generate electricity and heat. The slag is absolutely harmless and compact.

At the same time, to dispose of waste using plasma treatment, there is no need to sort and dry the waste.

There are even small pyrolysis boilers for heating houses.

The environment has always been a source of resources for humanity, but for a long time its life activity did not have a noticeable impact on nature. Only since the end of the last century, under the influence of economic activity, noticeable changes in the Earth’s biosphere began to occur. They have now reached alarming proportions.

The scale of the problem

The rapid growth of population and the level of consumption of natural resources, the modern pace of material production lead to thoughtless treatment of nature. With this attitude, a huge part of the resources taken from nature is returned to it in the form of waste, harmful and unsuitable for further use.

Scientists estimate that 5 tons of garbage are generated every day in the world, while its amount increases annually by 3% by volume. The accumulation of household waste on the surface harms the surrounding environment, polluting water, soil and atmosphere and threatening the existence of all life on the planet. Therefore, one of the important issues around the world is the disposal of household waste.

Classification of household waste

Household waste can be classified according to several criteria.

Thus, according to its composition, household waste is conventionally divided into biological residues and non-biological waste (garbage).

• rats;
• cockroaches

Cockroaches can be carriers of various types of diseases

Non-biological waste includes:

• paper;
• plastic;
• metal;
• textile;
• glass;
• rubber.

The process of decomposition of this waste can last about 2-3 years and in most cases is accompanied by the release of toxic substances, causing harm to the environment and humans.

According to their state of aggregation, waste is divided into:

• hard;
• liquid;
• gaseous;
• pastes;
• gels;
• suspensions;
• emulsions.

By origin, waste is divided into:

• Industrial – a type of household waste resulting from production.
• Construction - are formed during construction and installation work, repair of roads, buildings, as well as during their demolition.
• Radioactive waste.
• Municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated in the residential sector, trade enterprises, educational, healthcare and social facilities.

These are goods that have lost their consumer properties over time and turned into garbage, and also include road and yard waste as solid waste.

The most significant part of household waste is MSW. For each type of waste there are special waste disposal methods.

Recycling

The process of disposal of solid waste occurs in several stages:

• collection;
• transportation;
• accommodation;
• neutralization;
• burial;
• storage;
• recycling;
• disposal.

First of all, the process of getting rid of garbage involves its careful sorting. The task of preliminary waste sorting and disposal is greatly facilitated by separate waste collection, which is promoted in most European countries.

Methods for disposal of solid household waste

There are various options for its destruction. Thus, the main way to dispose of solid waste is burial at special sites (landfills).

At landfills, irrecoverable waste is destroyed - household waste is processed, as a result of which it almost completely ceases to exist as waste. The disposal method is not suitable for all types of solid waste, but only for non-combustible waste or for substances that emit toxic substances when burned.

The advantage of this method is that it does not require significant financial costs and the presence of large plots of land. But there are also disadvantages in using this method - the accumulation of gas during underground decay of waste.

Briquetting is a new, not yet widely used in practice, method of disposal of solid waste. It includes preliminary sorting and packaging of homogeneous waste into separate briquettes, and then their storage in specially designated areas (landfills).

Briquetting waste makes it possible to significantly save space

Garbage packaged in this way is pressed, which greatly facilitates its transportation due to a significant reduction in volume.

Briquetted waste is intended for further processing and possible use for industrial purposes. Along with such a method as recycling municipal solid waste, when briquetting they can be transported for burial or disposal by heat treatment.

In essence, this method is similar to the burial method, but in practice it has a number of advantages over it. The disadvantages of the method are that the heterogeneity of the emitted waste and preliminary heavy contamination in garbage containers and changes in some components of the waste create greater difficulty in briquetting.

And the high abrasiveness of components such as stone, sand and glass interfere with the pressing process.

Since these methods of waste processing have a number of disadvantages, despite their cheapness, the best option would be to completely get rid of waste when processing it into recyclable materials and fuel, as well as its possible reuse.

A new way to recycle waste

Garbage disposal

When recycling waste (Latin root utilis - useful), waste can later be used for various purposes.

Waste to be disposed of includes:

• all types of metals;
• glass;
• polymers;
• products from yarn and fabric;
• paper;
• rubber;
• organic household and agricultural waste.

The most effective method of disposal today is recycling.

In other words, recycling is a special case of the concept of “disposal of solid household waste”.

When recycling, waste is returned to the process of technogenesis. There are two options for waste recycling:

• Reuse of waste for its intended purpose after appropriate safe handling and labeling. For example, reusing glass and plastic containers.
• Return of waste after processing to the production cycle. For example, tin containers go into steel production, waste paper goes into paper and cardboard production.

Some types of waste that can no longer be used for their intended purpose are processed, after which it is more expedient to return them to the production cycle as secondary raw materials. Thus, part of the waste can be used to generate thermal and electrical energy.

In addition to those already listed, solid waste disposal can be carried out by several other methods. Each of them is applicable to a specific type of waste, and has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Thermal waste treatment

Thermal processing refers to several methods:

• burning;
• low temperature pyrolysis;
• plasma treatment (high temperature pyrolysis).

The method of simple waste incineration is the most common and one of the cheapest methods of waste disposal. It is during combustion that large volumes of waste are disposed of, and the resulting ash takes up less space, does not undergo decay processes and does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere. It is non-toxic and does not require specially equipped burial sites.

The main thing about this method is that when burning waste, a large amount of thermal energy is released, which they have recently learned to use for autonomous operation of enterprises involved in burning waste. And its surplus is redirected to city stations, which makes it possible to provide electricity and heat to entire areas.

The disadvantage of this method is that during combustion, in addition to safe components, smoke is formed, saturated with toxic substances, which creates a dense curtain over the surface of the earth and leads to significant disruption of the ozone layer of the atmosphere, contributing to its thinning and the formation of ozone holes.

High and low temperature pyrolysis

is a technological process of waste gasification that occurs at a melting temperature higher than in a conventional processing plant (over 900°C).

As a result, the output is a vitrified product, which is absolutely harmless and does not require further disposal costs. The design of this process makes it possible to obtain gas from the organic components of the waste, which is then used to produce electricity and steam.

The main advantage of this method is that it allows you to successfully solve the problem of environmentally friendly waste disposal without extra costs for preliminary preparation, sorting, and drying.

The advantages of low-temperature pyrolysis (temperatures from 450 to 900°C) are:

• use for recycling of almost all types of household waste, carefully selected in advance;
• obtaining pyrolysis oils used in the production of plastics;
• release of pyrolysis gas suitable for further use.

In addition, there is a waste disposal method called composting. Since most of the waste consists of various organic residues, they are subject to rapid rotting in the natural environment.

The composting method is based on this property of organic substances. The process of composting not only gets rid of a huge part of the waste that pollutes the environment, but also produces substances useful for agriculture - fertilizers.

The presented waste disposal methods allow waste to be processed with the least negative impact on the environment.

Video: Modern approach to waste disposal

The modern world does not stand still. Every year production volumes increase, population growth and urban expansion continue. At the same time, the problem of waste disposal has become urgent. On earth, special landfills for waste are present in limited quantities. At the same time, the volumes arriving at them exceed their capacity, so the garbage mountains are increasing every day. Untreated heaps of waste negatively affect the ecological state of the planet. That is why the need arose to create high-quality waste processing plants. At these facilities, it is necessary to use only modern methods of waste processing and disposal. It is worth noting that the garbage generated by humanity belongs to various danger groups. In order for waste recycling to be effective, it is necessary to select its own disposal method for each individual type. But first they need to be sorted.

Household waste

This number includes product residues associated with human activity. This can be plastic, paper, food and other similar waste that was thrown out of institutions and homes of the population. The garbage that we are used to getting rid of is found at every step. Many wastes are assigned the fifth and fourth degree of danger.

Recycling of household plastic waste should not be done without mechanical action, i.e. grinding. Further, they are necessarily treated with chemical solutions. Often, after such a procedure, new polymer substances are produced, which are reused to create new products. Household waste such as paper or food waste can be composted and then rotted. Subsequently, the resulting composition is suitable for use in agriculture.

Biological decay

Biological species in nature are humans and animals. These two groups also generate large amounts of waste. A lot of such waste comes from veterinary clinics, sanitary and hygienic organizations, catering establishments and similar enterprises. Processing of biological waste is reduced to its combustion. Liquid substances are transported using special transport. Incineration is also used for organic waste.

Industrial waste

This type of waste is generated as a result of the functioning of production and technological activities. This includes all construction waste. It appears during installation, cladding, finishing and other works. For example, this category of waste includes paint and varnish residues, heat-insulating substances, wood and other industrial “trash.” Processing of industrial waste often involves incineration. Wooden residues are suitable for obtaining a certain amount of energy.

Radioactive waste

Such waste includes solutions and gases that are not suitable for use. First of all, these are biological materials and objects containing radioactive components in large quantities (above the permissible norm). The degree of danger depends on the level of radiation in such waste. Such waste is disposed of by burial, some is simply burned. A similar method of processing applies to the next group of activity residues.

Medical waste

This list contains all substances that are produced by medical institutions. Approximately 80% of waste is simple household waste. He's not dangerous. But the remaining 20% ​​can cause damage to health in one way or another. In Russia, the disposal and processing of radioactive and medical waste has many prohibitions and conventions. Also, the country carefully spells out the necessary conditions for handling this group of waste, and methods for burying or burning them. Special repositories were created for liquid and solid radioactive components. If it is necessary to get rid of medical waste, it is placed in special bags and set on fire. But this method, unfortunately, is also unsafe, especially if the drugs belong to the first or second danger group.

Division into classes

All waste is divided depending on its state of aggregation. So, they are solid, liquid or gaseous. In addition, all garbage is classified according to the degree of danger. There are four classes in total. Garbage classified as the first degree of danger poses the greatest threat to the planet and living organisms, including humans. This waste can ruin the ecological system, which will lead to disaster. These include the following substances: mercury, polonium, lead salts, plutonium, etc.

The second class includes residues that can cause an environmental failure that cannot be restored over a long period (about 30 years). These are chlorine, various phosphates, arsenic, selenium and other substances. The third hazard group includes those wastes from which the system can recover within ten years. But only if the garbage no longer affects the contaminated object. Among them are chromium, zinc, ethyl alcohol, and so on.

Low-hazard waste - sulfates, chlorides and simazine - is assigned the fourth class. But this does not mean that they have virtually no effect on humans and the ecosystem. If the source is eliminated, the body or nature will only be able to recover after three years. There is fifth class garbage. This means that the waste is completely safe for the environment.

The importance of recycling

There are several reasons why proper waste recycling is necessary:

1. Once in the environment, most substances and materials turn into pollutants (it is worth considering that our planet is already suffocating every day from emissions from cars and factories).
2. Many of the resources from which certain materials are created are being exhausted. Their supplies are too limited, so recycling is the solution.
3. In some cases, objects that have fulfilled their purpose turn out to be a source of substances. Moreover, they are cheaper than natural materials.

More about recycling

Recycling is the change of waste materials until they completely disappear or the structure is modified so that they cannot be reused. But this word can have another meaning. For example, it is often used figuratively.

Today, a large amount of waste is reused for various purposes. All garbage that is disposed of today is divided into two main groups:

1. Solid household waste (glass, paper, plastic, food waste).
2. Industrial waste (biological, medical, radioactive, construction waste, as well as waste from the transport complex).

Disposal can be carried out in one of several ways, which are also divided into groups. For example, the main methods include heat treatment, composting, which is a natural decomposition method, and waste disposal in special landfills. Some of these waste processing methods make it possible to obtain secondary raw materials.

Recycled materials

Typically, all waste that remains after production and human activity is called “recyclables”. But this idea is not entirely correct. The fact is that not all waste is advisable to reuse or send for other needs. There is also a group of waste that is reused only as a source of energy (after special processing), and therefore is also not classified as secondary raw materials. Those substances that release energy after processing are called “secondary energy raw materials.”

This group includes only those materials that, after a certain exposure, can become suitable for the national economy. A good example is a canned food can. It can no longer be used to store food, but after melting it down, it is used to make new food containers or other metal objects. It becomes obvious: secondary raw materials are items that, after being used for their intended purpose, are resources that are useful for further use. To obtain a new product or raw material, waste recycling is necessary. Today, several methods are used for this, which are described below.

Natural recycling

Back in the 20th century, in most cases, household waste was processed through composting. Garbage, in particular organic waste, was dumped into specially dug pits and covered with earth. Over time, the waste decomposed, rotted and was used as fertilizer in agriculture. But relatively recently this method has been slightly modified. Scientists have developed sealed installations for heating composted waste. In this case, organic residues begin to decompose faster, which produces methane, which is biogas. It was this that began to be used to create biofuel.

Specialized companies have emerged that build mobile stations for waste recycling. They are used in small villages or on farms. It was calculated that such large stations intended for cities are unprofitable to maintain. It takes quite a lot of time to obtain a decomposing product, but the resulting fertilizers still remain unused and also need to be disposed of somehow. Besides this, there is other waste that has nowhere to go, so it will accumulate. For example, this is plastic, construction residues, polyethylene, etc. But creating a specialized plant where solid household waste would be processed is not economically profitable for the authorities.

Thermal recycling

Thermal processing means the combustion of solid household waste. The process is used to reduce the amount of organic substances and neutralize them. Further, the resulting residues are buried or disposed of. After combustion, the waste is significantly reduced in volume, all bacteria are destroyed, and the resulting energy can generate electricity or heat water for the heating system. Such plants are usually located near large city landfills so that solid waste can be processed by conveyor belt. There are also landfills nearby intended for the disposal of recycled waste.

It can be noted that waste combustion is divided into direct and pyrolysis. With the first method, you can only obtain thermal energy. At the same time, pyrolysis combustion creates the opportunity to extract liquid and gas fuels. But regardless of the method of thermal disposal, harmful substances are released into the atmosphere during combustion. This harms our environment. Some people install filters. Their purpose is to retain volatile solids. But as practice shows, even they are not able to stop pollution.

If we talk about the technology for processing medical waste, several special furnaces have already been installed in Russia. They are equipped with gas cleaning devices. In addition, microwave, steam and heat treatment and autoclaving appeared in the country. These are all alternative methods for incinerating medical and other suitable waste. Residues containing mercury are treated using special thermochemical or hydrometallurgical methods.

Plasma recycling

This method is currently the most modern method of disposal. Its action takes place in two stages:

1. The waste is crushed and compressed under a press. If necessary, the garbage is dried to achieve a granular structure.
2. The resulting substances are sent to the reactor. There the plasma flow transfers so much energy to them that they acquire a gaseous state.

Fire can be avoided using a special oxidizer. The resulting gas is similar in composition to ordinary natural gas, but it contains less energy. The finished product is sealed in a container and sent for later use. This gas is suitable for turbines, boilers, diesel generators.

Similar processing of industrial waste and household waste has been used for some time in Canada and the USA. In these countries, the remains of human activity are effectively disposed of, and the final product is used for good as fuel. In the West they are already preparing to introduce this technology on an even larger scale. But since such equipment is quite expensive, CIS countries cannot purchase it.

Is it possible to solve the problem of waste disposal?

Of course, in order for the processing of solid waste and hazardous waste to take place at the highest level, a lot of financial investments are required. Political circles should also be interested in this. But at the moment we have to make do with outdated recycling equipment. According to the authorities, existing factories are coping with the problem, so there is no need to reconstruct and re-equip them. The impetus for this can only be an environmental disaster.

Although the problem is vast, it is still possible to solve or reduce its size. The situation requires an integrated approach on the part of society and the authorities. It’s good if everyone thinks about what he personally can do. The simplest thing a person can do is to start sorting the garbage that he generates. After all, the one who throws away waste knows where he has plastic, paper, glass or food products. If you get into the habit of sorting waste residues, then such waste will become easier and faster to recycle.

A person needs to be regularly reminded of the importance of proper waste disposal, sorting and caring for the natural resources that he owns. If the authorities do not take measures and conduct motivating campaigns, simple enthusiasm will not be enough. Therefore, the problem of waste disposal will remain in our country at a “primitive” level.

Food waste inevitably appears in the household and usually ends up in a landfill. After all, few people think about the fact that they can be recycled and how they can dispose of waste at home. In particular, you can turn spoiled food or its remains into fertilizer or into healthy animal feed.

Knowing how to properly recycle leftover food can save you money and have less of a negative impact on the environment.

The problem of food waste disposal

The population of the Earth is constantly increasing, and therefore the amount of food is increasing, and with it the amount of garbage thrown away.

Garbage of organic origin quickly decomposes, turning into a good environment for the emergence and reproduction of harmful microbes, as well as larger living organisms: insects and rodents.

This type of waste is not dangerous in itself. But if too much accumulates, it begins to rot. This may lead to the development of an infection.

Methods for recycling food waste

Recycling waste at home can be done in many ways. The more of them involved, the more effective this effort will be in saving money and protecting the environment.

One of the ways to positively influence the environment is not even by recycling garbage in a private home, but by reducing its amount. Usually food is bought and brought home in a plastic container and a plastic bag, which in itself is already garbage. Such actions are not justified, not only from an environmental point of view, but also from an economic one. After all, a plastic bag is, at best, disposable (although often it may not be enough even for one time). Therefore, for each new portion of products purchased in the store, if not every day, then every other day, you have to purchase a new package. It is much more practical to purchase a fabric bag once and constantly bring groceries in it.

And if you don’t even have a bag at hand when you need to go to the store urgently, you can buy a paper bag.

And as for the plastic containers in which food is usually sold, you can also reduce their number by always trying to purchase food with the least amount of packaging.

One of the most profitable and most effective options for getting rid of unnecessary food scraps is recycling food waste into fertilizers. And the fastest way is composting with the help of worms.

To do this, you first need to find a box that will be used as a home for the worms. Here they will process substances. You can buy such a box at a farm store. But it’s more profitable to make it yourself from wood, rubber, zinc. Plastic buckets can also serve as boxes.

It is important to ensure that a large amount of air enters the worms' home. To do this, the box must be equipped with large diameter holes.

The soil must be laid so that the thickness of its layer does not exceed 60 cm. For each square meter of area, 0.5 kg of worms is required.

The box must have a lid and be located in a cool place where there is not a lot of light.

As for the worms themselves, most often they choose one of two species: Eisenia fetida or Eisenia hortensis. They eat a lot, quickly increase their numbers and even destroy paper products.

The smaller the garbage, the faster the worms will turn it into compost and the more efficient it will be to process food waste at home.

The composting toilet is equipped with a special tank into which food waste is placed. This technique is best used on a personal plot. These toilets are cleaned once a year. Some models run on electricity.

Let's list the most common operating principles.

1. Separation of waste into solid and liquid.

2. Peat toilets, in which waste is filled with granules, which prevents the spread of odor.

3. Toilets with a powerful filter, in which unnecessary substances are burned either directly on the fire or through a filament.

4. Freezing, protecting against unpleasant odors.

For those who want to process leftover food, special composters are developed and produced. They can be used at home by installing them directly in the kitchen. They will constantly eliminate waste, turning it into fertilizers useful for cultivated plants. The operating principle of many of these devices is based on the use of the same worms. Such devices are called vermicomposters (here there is a connection with the English word “worm”).

And there are also models that run on electricity. There is no need to put worms in them. They are more convenient to use, but also more expensive.

And some composter models work thanks to fermented bokashi microorganisms, which are grown on wheat bran.

Recycling waste in a private home is no less important than in the city. However, residents of rural areas have some advantages, since they can use special technology to turn garbage into food for animals, such as pigs or cows.

Processing waste into food for livestock is no longer a new technology. It began to be successfully practiced back in the 20th century, when they began to actively produce compound feed from bone meal. The process begins by turning the waste into granules. Then they are kept for a long time in containers from which all the air has previously been pumped out. This food has only one significant drawback - it is poorly digestible.

Thanks to modern technologies, it is possible to process spoiled food into high-quality feed. The waste is exposed to intense pressure and high temperature, which leads to the destruction of harmful microbes. The result is food containing sufficient amounts of protein and fat.

Various organic waste

Food waste comes in several main types. Let's list them.

1. Appearing during the production of products;

2. Coming from public catering establishments;

3. Food products whose expiration date has expired;

4. Defective products that have spoiled as a result of damage to the container in which they were stored or transported.

The waste that appears in our homes every day belongs to categories 3 and 4.

There are also 5 classes of waste, each of which has its own level of danger. The most dangerous is 1st class. And class 5 products are completely harmless. Food waste is in the 4th and 5th classes. The recovery period for class 4 waste is 3 years.

What waste can be recycled at home?

Many organic matter can be recycled through composting. Almost any plant waste can be used to turn into fertilizers. Composting is not suitable only for animal products and oils. Also, under no circumstances should you make compost from diseased plants, cigarettes, or paper. Only organic matter can be used for composting.

Recycling waste at home is one of the most important points for those who love and care about nature. There are always many items in our homes that can be reused or recycled. And if you ignore the fact that food manufacturers are calling for single-use packaging, then you can look at new items with a completely different perspective. Almost any old used item can be turned back into some useful item: either use it in some other way, or recycle it yourself.

For example, an item that ends up in the trash can as soon as it was purchased - a plastic bottle can be found in many worthy uses. However, when recycling a plastic bottle, you need to remember that when exposed to high temperatures, it begins to release toxic substances.

The same goes for plastic bags. You can make many beautiful products from them. It is also not recommended to burn them.

From wooden bottle caps you can make a stand for hot dishes, small floor mats and many other useful and beautiful products.

Recycling your own waste

The majority of bags thrown into trash bins each day are organic matter. And knowing how to recycle garbage at home, you can turn it into compost and do two useful things at the same time. Firstly, nature will be less polluted. And, secondly, a certain amount of fertilizer will appear, which can then be taken to a country plot or simply poured into a pot with a houseplant standing on the windowsill.