Significance of Green, Red, and Blue Dustbins: Waste separation is a simple and easy process of segregating waste materials for recycling and ensuring proper disposal of waste. The idea of the separation of wastes is to make recycling easier. Therefore, to ensure the proper disposal of waste, the use of different colors of dustbins can be one such solution to solve the problem. The different types of dustbins involved in disposing of the waste material are Green, Red, and Blue Dustbins.
Types of Dustbins
Waste management has become an important concept today. Factors such as rising population, industrialization, and urbanization impact the environment and have become a major cause of concern in the treatment of waste disposal. Different kinds of waste need to be separated as it helps in reducing the risk and damage to human life and the environment. The 4 R’s are Recycle, Reuse, Reduce and refuse is a well-known concept to deal with the waste management process. It is not only the duty of the government but every human being must make efforts to dispose of waste.
Red Dustbins
The features of red dustbins are:
- These specific trash cans are used to dispose of non-biodegradable rubbish.
- Because these wastes cannot be recycled, red trash cans are also known as rejecting trash cans.
- For a collection of bio-medical wastes such as needles, surgical knives, cotton bandages, tissues, sanitary napkins, etc., they are typically used in hospitals.
- These wastes, if not handled and disposed of appropriately, might result in serious infections including Hepatitis B, HIV, and Hepatitis C, treatment of these wastes is important.
- Through the use of contaminated needles, they can be passed from one person to another.
- You can use these trash cans to dispose of both hazardous and non-hazardous material. Since the waste materials cannot be reprocessed, burning them is the only option to destroy these wastes.
Green Dustbins
The green dustbins and their features are:
- Wet and biodegradable garbage is treated using these types of trash cans.
- Due to the fact that they hold animal, plant, and culinary waste, green dustbins are sometimes referred to as organic bins.
- Fruits, vegetables, leftover food, garden garbage, rotten eggs, tea bags, etc. are typically included in these wastes. In order to cultivate vegetables, organic waste is utilized as manure in the gardens.
- The idea of organic farming is well-known nowadays.
- Farmers utilize these wastes to feed their livestock, create manure, and compost. This improves the soil’s fertility.
- The optimum use of this trash prevents waste since it may be used to create compost.
- Animals may occasionally ingest these if plastic debris is mixed into them, which can result in their death.
- Therefore, it is essential to properly dispose of these wastes in order to protect animal life as well.
- Different sorts of trash require different types of dustbins, thus it is crucial for a person to know the difference.
- If there is too much of this waste, it becomes an issue and smells bad. Inhaling the bad odour might also cause lung issues in people.
Blue Dustbins
The features of blue dustbins are:
- These trash cans are used to handle dry, non-biodegradable rubbish.
- Dry garbage is disposed of away in the blue dustbin. Dry is used here to denote literally dry.
- Dry papers should go in the blue trash can; moist papers should go in the green trash can.
- This trashcan can only accept dry rubbish that does not include any moist waste.
- All plastic wrappers and other trash made of plastic should also be disposed of in the blue trash can since they are not biodegradable and cannot be broken down by microbes.
- Only the blue dustbin is intended for the disposal of all items, including glass, metals, damaged bulbs, lights, cans, milk packaging cans (tetra packs), etc.
All these materials are thrown separately because they are recyclable in nature and can be recycled while making new products which reduces the burden on the resources and also saves water and energy used in the manufacturing processes. Note that although the wastes such as TV, mobiles, computers, computer accessories, etc. are dry in nature they are not to be thrown in the blue dustbin but handed over to the e-waste collection centers.
Comparison of Three Dustbins
Basis of Difference |
Red Dustbin |
Green Dustbin |
Blue Dustbin |
| Wastes Thrown | Biomedical wastes should be thrown in the red dustbin. | Organic and wet wastes are thrown in the green dustbin. | Dry and recyclable wastes are thrown in the blue dustbin. |
| Treatment of Waste | The wastes from the red dustbin are destroyed so that they may not cause infection to others. | The waste from the green dustbin is used for composting and creating manures that can be used in the farms to increase crop production and also they do not cause any harm to the soil and environment as compared to chemical fertilizers. | The wastes from this dustbin are reused and recycled. |
| Nature of waste | These wastes are non-recyclable. | These wastes are biodegradable. | These wastes are recyclable and non-biodegradable. |
FAQs on Green, Red, and Blue Dustbins
1. Are there any other color-coded dustbins than red, green, and blue dustbins?
Yes, there are other dustbins like yellow, black, and white dustbins; which are used for mixed recycling materials, e-waste management, and soft plastic recycling materials respectively.
2. What is the meaning of “refuse” in waste management?
“Refuse” in waste management is also known as solid waste, non-hazardous solid management that requires the process of collection and also transportation of the processing as well as disposal to the site.
3. What is meant by household waste?
Household waste refers to the waste which is generated in residential areas.
4. What are the big dustbins called?
The big dustbins are called dalao.