Trash x Residue x Rejects: understand the differences between the terms

What is the difference between the terms residue and reject?

Waste is the correct term to designate something that has been discarded, that no longer has any use. However, it becomes useful in another production process, as a raw material in industry, through recycling. The term reject was created to designate something that cannot be reused, recycled or composted. Both terms were defined in the National Solid Waste Policy .

What about the word trash?

I like the definition given by biologist Carla Grasiele Zanin Hegel about the difference between trash and waste: “ The word trash, which is associated with anything useless, harmful and worthless, is replaced by waste. This replacement gives the connotation that having no value or utility for some, for others it will correspond to benefits, that is, with a positive use value ”.

What is generally considered reject?

According to the National Solid Waste Policy , rejects are " solid waste that, after exhausting all possibilities of treatment and recovery by available and economically viable technological processes, present no other possibility than environmentally appropriate final disposal ". In other words, , is toilet paper, sanitary pads, dental floss, diapers, elastic bands, sponges, etc. Some materials that are considered waste could be avoided, this is the first step in the hierarchy of sustainable waste management, that is, non-generation.

What are the main types of waste that exist?

There are several types of classifications, but a simplified way is to separate them according to their origin: RSU (urban solid waste); RCC (construction waste); RSS (health service waste) and others.

In civil construction works, what are the main types of waste generated?

These are precisely those from the RCC group, such as rubble (cement blocks, bricks, cement boards, ceramic or fiber cement tiles, mortars, stones and coatings); plaster (drywall and smooth plaster); wood (pallets, wooden sheets, furniture, scraps, sawdust); metal scrap (drywall profiles, iron sheets, metals in general); and recyclables (packaging). At CASACOR, RCC is generated mainly during the assembly and disassembly of the exhibition.

What other waste does CASACOR generate?

In the RSU group, it is basically the same as that generated in homes and services: recyclables (paper, plastic, metal and glass); compostables (food scraps and garden pruning) and general waste (toilet paper, dental floss, chewing gum). …).

What is the most sustainable way to deal with construction waste?

Virtually all materials can be reused or recovered through recycling and composting, if separated at source. For example: in the construction industry, if the generator stores all the waste in the same dumpster, the destination of these materials will end up being the landfill. However, , when the generator separates the rubble, plaster and wood, all these materials are recyclable. The rubble can be crushed and transformed into non-structural aggregate for the construction of streets and sidewalks; the plaster is cleaned and returned to the construction industry; The wood is transformed into chips and can be used in industry to manufacture other products or for biomass (energy generation).

Can the same process be applied at home?

Yes. If we throw food scraps and packaging in the same bin, it will be impossible to recycle this material. By separating waste into recyclables and rejects and sending each to its specific collection point, we reduce the amount that goes to landfills, protect the planet and We generate income and jobs. And if we separate organic waste for composting, we will further reduce the fraction considered as waste.

What about waste produced at home?

Waste that cannot be reused can be replaced. For example: disposable plastic sponges with biodegradable natural sponges; perfex cloths with cotton cloths; disposable non-woven masks with reusable washable masks. We also need to always try to find alternatives to the use of plastic . Better than recycling is not generating waste, as recycling also consumes energy, water and natural resources.

What are CASACOR's sustainable actions that you highlight?

CASACOR follows the waste management hierarchy, as per the guidelines of the National Solid Waste Policy . The first step is to promote the non-generation of waste, that is, to encourage spaces to use construction methods that allow the reuse of components in another construction. and that the spaces are dismantled and not demolished. If the materials are not used in another construction by the person responsible for the space, they can be donated to institutions. Components that cannot be used, such as materials that broke during disassembly, can be sent for recycling. CASACOR also carries out reverse logistics actions, returning products to the manufacturer after use. Some examples are the return of all floor protectors (Salvapiso) and the paint sludge used in the painting phase ( Coral ).