Waste management is just what it sounds like: the collection, transport, treatment, and management of both commercial and residential waste. While the systems in place for waste management vary and remain very important, there are several ways the United States and other countries around the world can improve them.

Here are a few facts about waste management you may be surprised to read.

The Waste Management Industry Is Worth More Than You Think

According to EIN Presswire, the waste management industry was worth about $2 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach almost $2.4 billion by 2027 globally. With waste management encompassing up to 20 different industries, there is a ton of money being put into the market.

The United States produces more waste than most countries, meaning that this industry and all it encompasses will continue to grow. As long as measures aren’t put into place to protect our environment in terms of managing our waste, this money will not be put to good use.

Improper Waste Management Can Be Extremely Hazardous

Companies and individuals around the world have no problem dumping their garbage into oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water. Many people don’t see this as a problem, thinking out of sight, out of mind. However, this could be further from the truth. Improper waste management can be extremely hazardous for many reasons.

Diseases can be spread, toxins and radioactive materials can be breathed in, and animals on earth and in bodies of water are being killed due to improper waste management. When trash isn’t disposed of in the right places in the right ways and methods of recycling are not exercised, we’re only taking steps backward. It’s important for individuals and companies alike to understand the proper ways to manage their waste so humans and our environment don’t suffer.

Mismanaged Waste Affects Economic Development

World Bank Blogs reports that improper waste management and economic development go hand in hand. While rapid urbanization and rising populations are projected to increase waste generation by 70% by about 2050, there’s also the issue that economic development won’t increase due to accelerated waste generation.

The more people there are in one area who mismanage waste, the more waste generation there will be, which negatively affects tourism and the United States’ economy deeply. On the other hand, if waste was properly managed while rapid urbanization occurred, then the economy would grow stronger and our environment would be healthier.

It is apparent that proper waste management is crucial, and it’s in our hands to make it happen, too. Continue to educate yourself so you can learn the best ways to recycle and dispose of your residential and/or commercial waste. Every small action you take makes a bigger difference than you may realize. For more information, contact Arrowaste, a trusted waste management company in Michigan, today. We’re more than happy to help you figure out the best ways to manage your waste so you can leave a positive footprint on our environment.