After A Disaster: Eliminating Trash In Your Community
When garbage services are disrupted after a natural disaster, it can become much more difficult to manage trash that will continue to pile up. You will need a place to put trash that will not cause sanitation problems. Here are a few options:
Recycle as Much as You Can
Now is a good time to compost as much as possible. Organic waste can be turned into compost that can be used in a garden. Containers that you might have thrown away could instead be used to store water.
Rinse Out Cans and Other Food Containers
Canned goods are commonly used during emergency situations. It can be difficult to dispose of used cans. However, you should at least rinse them out so they do not attract pests until trash removal services can finally come.
Organize Your Community to Create a Temporary Trash Removal Service
If possible, organize your community to collect garbage, especially since many locals will be traumatized and collecting garbage can give locals something else to focus on. Hold a meeting where everyone can discuss how garbage could be collected and so everyone understands the communal plan trash removal.
Create a Landfill
If there is already a local landfill that residents have access to, the trash can be transported to this location. If not, it may be necessary to create a temporary, local landfill as far away from the residents as possible. This can be a communal area where residents can dispose of their garbage and it can be buried.
Burn Some of the Garbage
Another solution is to burn garbage. This is best done if the garbage does not release toxic emissions and if the nature of the natural disaster does not produce very dry conditions that could cause the fire to get out of control. Burn the garbage in an enclosed area.
Find Appropriate Transportation Containers for Garbage
Locals can donate wheelbarrows and other containers that can be used to transport garbage to and from the landfill or garbage crematory. The container should be chosen based on how narrow the passageways are to the destination. Then, someone can be designated to collect and transport all of the garbage. Vehicles can also be used, but residents may want to conserve their fuel.
Put Safety Measures in Place
The creation of temporary communal pits may create safety concerns, since residents may fall into the pits accidentally. Therefore, fences should ideally be constructed surrounding the pits and signs can be created using bright colors that help residents notice the pit. Also, when the pit is completely filled with trash, it should be filled with backfill and covered.
For more information, contact companies like Cavossa Disposal Corporation.