To stay green and protect our world, we must help sorting out waste properly. Did you know that Thailand is facing the problem of overflowing garbage? Tons of old furniture and unused household stuff is dumped in the rivers and canals, hazardous waste harmful to people and environment was not managed efficiently, no waste sorting and disposal that causes danger to the environment and when someone touches. If we visit developed countries, we normally find that they separate 4 major categories of waste by using different colored bins and identify each bin with an image or icon according to the type of waste. We have started following that practice but most Thais don’t get used to separate waste properly as they are probably confused and don’t know what type of waste they have on hand.

The world standard divides waste into 4 categories by colors and symbols of public bins as follows.

1.        Green waste bin is identified by a triangle symbol with images of fishbone and food waste in the middle. This bin is for organic waste or biodegradable waste which can be decomposed or rotten shortly such as food waste, vegetables, fruits, leaves, and plants, and some compostable containers. All those wastes can produce bio-compost water, fertilizer, and biofertilizer to nurture soil or trees.

2.        Yellow waste bin is identified by a triangle composed of arrows looping back on themselves clockwise. This bin is for recycling waste that can be processed and reused such as glass, paper, plastic, metal, can, box, crate, aluminum, and car tires. If we don’t throw those waste directly, we may sort out them and sell them as reused items, so they can be applied to be other useful stuff or deliver to recycling projects.

3.        Orange waste bin is identified by a circle of arrows pointing down with skull and crossbones inside. This bin is for hazardous and toxic waste or waste that contains dangerous substances such as lightbulbs, torches, batteries, aerosol spray can, and containers with harmful chemicals. We can notice from a symbol or sign placed on the label stating that the container consists of toxic, flammable, abrasive substances, the statement of warnings, cautions, unconsumable and do not burn.

4.        Navy blue waste bin is identified by a symbol of a man putting rubbish in a trash bin. This bin is for difficult materials for biodegradable and waste that is not suitable for recycling but causes no harm. In other words, waste goes to this bin consisting of foam, foil, plastic food container, paint can, and CD which needs to sort out before being disposed of properly.

There are more details of household waste separation than public trash bins as follows.

• Biowaste in the house can be separated between food and gardening waste like leaves and branches. Food waste can be fermented as fertilizer or bio-compost water by filling original microorganisms in a container with a closed lid and they will decompose to organic compounds. Leaf waste can be mixed with muck; pouring it with alternate layers in a suitable proportion, and then sprinkling with water to decompose it, finally, it will become bio compost to benefit trees.
  
  
• Biowaste in the house can be separated between food and gardening waste like leaves and branches. Food waste can be fermented as fertilizer or bio-compost water by filling original microorganisms in a container with a closed lid and they will decompose to organic compounds. Leaf waste can be mixed with muck; pouring it with alternate layers in a suitable proportion, and then sprinkling with water to decompose it, finally, it will become bio compost to benefit trees.
  
  
• Hazardous waste must be separated from another type of waste, and then sort out hazardous waste again. Don’t store them together. Keep them in tight and solid containers. If there is no trash bin or bag with color and symbol labeled as hazardous waste, you should write clear warning notes on top of the trash bin or bag to protect the trash keeper from danger.
  
  
• General waste in each house depends on people’s behavior. People normally dispose of all waste together. If there is a variety of waste, it’s better to sort out waste in order to get rid of them appropriately. Some households have a large amount of particular waste, for example, a house with a baby will have a huge number of dirty diapers. Even though that waste is not dangerous, diapers should be separated from other waste to protect the trash keeper from being in touch with filthy waste. For pasteurized milk cartons, press them flat, store them together in a trash bag and then dispose of them separately.

Investing in many trash bins in your house is not lavish but necessary. Leftovers in the kitchen are often mixed with other waste so other usable wastes is found to be contaminated. Therefore, the kitchen is an important space in the house and more than 3 trash bins should be available in there to sort out waste; organic waste from leftovers, recycle waste for plastic and containers, and general waste that can no longer be reused. Also, there should be two trash bins in the garden to separate leaves and branches from disposal waste as those waste can no longer be reused. In that way, we can sort out leaves in order to produce fertilizer promptly.

No matter how many trash bins you prepare, the most important thing is being disciplined in waste sorting. You need to do that seriously and regularly. Adults should teach and do waste sorting as an example for children so they can follow that practice habitually in the long term. Building awareness of caring and protecting the environment is essential. Starting from learning about the type of waste and then sorting out them properly will be a good beginning towards the future of our world. Our house and country will be a better place to live. Love the earth and let’s start sorting out waste together from now!