We are generating waste all the time. Between eating meals to filing papers at work, odds are you’re creating some sort of municipal solid waste (MSW).

On average, every person generates over four pounds of this trash each and every day. In order to effectively and properly dispose of the garbage you create, you must know what you are disposing of and where to do so. So what MSW are you generating on a daily basis?

1. Organic waste: Organic materials make up the largest portion of MSW. This includes paper and paperboard products which account for around 27% of MSW, and yard trimmings and food which make up another 28%. As you can imagine, you’re probably creating organic waste during every meal. When properly disposed of, these materials can be picked up by trash removal services and transported to a facility where it will be turned into compost, which can actually be used as fertilizer to grow more crops.

residential waste pickup

2. Recyclables: Recyclables are types of waste that are non-biodegradable and can be converted into reusable material. Things like plastics, metals, and glass are all harmful to the environment when placed into landfills, but proper disposal can eliminate the need to manufacture even more of these materials, which are instead be reused in more products. Pickup or drop-off recycling services are available to most Americans.

3. E-waste: This type of waste has become far more of an issue in recent years with the surge in technology, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Everyone has at least one of these; most people have more. This is related to regular recyclables in that most of these products are composed of plastics, metals, and glass.

You may have to separate some pieces such as batteries or other components that contain hazardous acids, but the majority of the pieces used in this technology can be picked up by trash removal services to be recycled and reused.

It’s a slippery slope when you get in the habit of tossing waste aside rather than properly disposing of it. With around 20 different industries involved in trash removal services, they can take over a large brunt of the work for you. It doesn’t have to be difficult to live an eco-friendly lifestyle.