There are few things that every single person encounters on a daily basis, but garbage is certainly on this short list. Waste management is essentially the backbone of society, yet most people don’t know the first thing about what happens to their trash once it enters a garbage bin.

You don’t need to be an expert on waste management to benefit from trash removal services, but you should at least have a basic understanding of how the industry works. Waste management can encompass up to 20 different industries, and it’s much more than just standard garbage pickup. Additionally, learning more about waste management may prompt you to reconsider your habits when it comes to garbage and recycling.

Since every home and business depends on reliable waste management, you should know how your particular situation is affecting the environment as a whole. Here are three surprising facts that you likely did not know about waste management:

  • Litter is an expensive problem
    If you’ve ever been walking through the park and encountered a crushed soda can, you’ve stumbled upon a microscopic part of a much larger issue. Approximately $11.5 billion is spent every year to clean up litter, and that’s not counting the garbage in oceans that cannot be cleaned up. Keeping garbage bins in multiple locations around your property will help to prevent (or at least reduce) littering.

  • Humans are garbage machines
    Whether it be through the disposal of food, clothes, or anything else, people are constantly throwing things in the garbage. In fact, the average person generates a whopping four pounds of trash every single day. Trash is something that you can never escape, which is why you need to invest in modern waste management solutions.

  • It costs less money to do the right thing
    Speaking of modern solutions, your home or business is essentially stuck in the dark ages if you do not have recycling bins. It typically costs only $30 per ton to recycle trash and $50 per ton to send it to a landfill. Therefore, it’s beneficial for everyone involved if you send recyclables to the correct location.

If you own a home or business, you should reflect on your own waste management habits after learning a little more about the industry. Get in touch with a trusted waste management service in your area and start doing the right things when it comes to trash disposal.