household garbage

What is Considered Household Garbage: An Overview

The average person in North America generates around 4.87 pounds of waste each day. In a household of four people, that’s almost 20 pounds of household garbage. That much garbage would fill up the standard 10-yard dumpsters of residential dumpster rental services in around six months — and that’s only from one, four-person household.

What exactly is household garbage? How Is it any different from other kinds of garbage or waste?

What Is Considered Household Garbage

assorted household garbage

Household garbage commonly refers to any type of waste that comes from households or residential homes. This includes single and multifamily houses, crew quarters, bunkhouses, apartments, and condominiums.

However, some laws also consider the waste generated by hocalltos, mocalltos, ranger stations, campgrounds or picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas as household garbage.

Household garbage is also known by other names, including domestic waste and residential waste. Household garbage from a certain community or municipality may sometimes be referred to as municipal solid waste, as well.

The things considered as household garbage span a long list of items that can be further divided into different categories.

Sorting Household Garbage

Household waste can be categorized based on its composition, method of disposal, safety hazard, and more.

If we want to improve our household waste management and disposal, one of the best ways to do so is to separate solid and liquid household waste first. After that, we can further sort the items based on their best method of disposal.

Solid Household Waste

Solid household waste consists of many items or products we use each day and throw away, like product packaging, food scraps, bottles, paper, batteries, grass clippings, and more. Examples of this type of household garbage can be segregated based on their composition into the following categories:

  • Plastic waste. This includes plastic bags, bottles, jars, other containers, bubble wrap, and other packaging products. Although most plastics are not biodegradable, many can be recycled. As such, it is best not to mix them with regular waste and instead take them to a recycling center.
  • Paper waste. Paper waste mostly comes from newspapers, cardboard, product boxes, packaging materials, and office supplies. Since these are easily recycled and reused, it is best to take these to a recycling center.
  • Metal waste. Metal and tins are also best collected for recycling. Moreover, much metal waste comes from electronics, which can also fall under hazardous household waste.
  • Glass and ceramic waste: These waste items include bottles, jars, broken plates or china, and other similar things.
  • Organic waste: These include vegetable and fruit scraps, meat scraps, grass cuttings, soil, and manure. Organic waste may be turned into compost or fertilizer. Improper disposal of organic waste may contribute to methane production so it’s best to inform the dumpster rental service regarding this type of garbage.

For individuals or families that are too busy to segregate their household garbage, a good rental dumpster company may offer assistance. Plastic, paper, metal, glass, and ceramic waste are all allowed items in dumpsters. Some dumpster rental companies can take care of sorting through clients’ garbage to ensure proper disposal and recycling.

Liquid Household Waste

Definitions of household garbage often only refer to solid wastes, as the bulk of waste generated, thrown away, and transported to garbage dumps or landfills are solid. Still, it is important to also recognize that household garbage may include liquid waste.

Common examples of liquid household waste include the following:

  • Kitchen cleaners
  • Floor cleaning products
  • Furniture polish
  • Window cleaner
  • Toilet or bathroom cleaner
  • Liquid laundry soap and detergent
  • Fats, oils, and grease from cooking
  • Personal care products, such as perfumes, nail polish, or facial serums

Regular vs. Hazardous Household Waste

Regular household garbage refers to any waste product that can be safely thrown into our rental dumpsters and landfills. Meanwhile, hazardous household wastes are trash that may pose a risk to our health or our environment.

Hazardous household waste is products that can potentially catch fire, explode, cause other reactions, or are generally toxic. Many liquid household wastes fall under this category. This includes:

  • Motor oil, brake fluid, and antifreeze
  • Pesticides and herbicides
  • Aerosol cans
  • Paint, paint thinner, and varnish
  • Most household cleaning supplies

Ensuring Proper Household Waste Management

Knowing what is considered household garbage, ensuring correct household garbage disposal, and practicing waste management is a step towards improving the state of our environment and the cleanliness of our community.

Contacting your local residential dumpster services can help you ensure proper waste management and disposal at home. Our staff is always ready to help you with all your dumpster needs — whether it’s renting an affordable dumpster or learning what types of garbage you can dispose of in our dumpsters.