You’ve probably done it a thousand times—throwing out the trash and rolling your bins to the curb for pickup. But what happens to your waste after it’s collected?

Step 1: Collection and Transportation

The first step in the waste journey is collection. Trucks pick up garbage, recycling, and compost from homes and businesses, following a scheduled route.

 Once the collection trucks are full, they head to transfer stations or directly to facilities designed to process the type of waste they carry. Here, the waste may be compacted to maximize space before being transported to sorting or disposal facilities. While compacting these items may not seem like a big deal, it can play a big role in reducing the number of required truck trips, cutting down on emissions in the process.

Step 2: Processing and Sorting

The next step is processing and sorting. Recycling is taken to specific recycling facilities where items are sorted by type, like paper and plastic, and processed. Paper and cardboard products are mixed with water to create pulp that can be pressed into new paper products and different plastics are melted down and molded into pellets or new products like bottles, containers, and even textiles.

Organic material (like yard trimmings and food waste) is taken to large processing facilities where it can begin the process of composting or anaerobic digestion. In composting, the material is put in an enclosed system where microbes take over, and the material can later be used as fertilizer. In anaerobic digestion, the organic material is placed in an oxygen-free environment where microorganisms break it down into a renewable energy source and a nutrient-rich fertilizer byproduct.

Step 3: Disposing

Sadly, not all waste can be recycled, reused, or broken down into fertilizer. These items, known as residual waste, can include non-recyclable plastics, contaminated material, and select types of packaging. Some residual waste is sent to modern landfills, which are lined to prevent contaminated liquids from seeping into the ground. Other waste is incinerated in waste-to-energy facilities, where the heat generated can be used to produce electricity.

No matter where your waste is headed, the most important step is to reduce what you can and ensure your waste is sorted properly to keep unnecessary items out of the landfill. Need help with your garbage and recycling or curbside collection? Contact our team today.