Proper disposal and management of bulky waste |12 December 2023
Bulky waste is a technical term taken from waste management to describe waste types that are too large to be accepted by the regular waste collection.
In Seychelles, bulky waste is regularly collected by waste collection contractor from sides of the street, near bin sites within a 3m boundary and often illegally dumped.
Bulky waste items include discarded furniture (couches, recliners, tables), large appliances (refrigerators, ovens, TVs), and plumbing fixtures (bathtubs, toilets, sinks). Often they are large items of household waste that do not properly fit the municipal bins or cannot be disposed in the bins for normal waste collection.
Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA) is imploring the public to carefully inspect the bulky waste which are often items in good condition and suitable for reuse. Items sometimes found in bulky waste collection cannot be sorted for reuse, hence it is good to consider alternative service before we consider dumping such items at bin sites, road sides and/or illegal dumping.
Branches, brush, logs and other green waste are also categorised as bulky waste, although they may be collected separately for shredding and/or composting. The following are some other examples what is considered bulky wastes.
- Glass and furniture with glass panels
- Commercial or trade waste
- Waste from property refurbishment, including fitted items such as kitchen cupboards, whole bathroom suites and fitted wardrobes
- Hazardous waste, such as vehicles or similar
- Batteries and paints
- Building materials, fixtures and fittings
- Paving slabs, bricks, rubble, soil and trees
- Garage doors
- Garden waste in builders’ bags or similar
- Dead animals
Although LWMA through its contractors, offers weekly collection service of bulky waste, it discourages the public to dump bulky waste every now and then as this practice is not solely an eyesore but is not hygienic and increases rodents such as rats, stray dogs as well as mosquitoes which definitely create health hazards.
As we approach the festive season, LWMA is trusting the public to take on responsibilities of all their waste in order to maintain a safe community and Seychelles’ beautification. Proper disposal of bulky waste is important for several reasons. It can help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, prevent litter in communities, and reduce the risk of injury or accidents caused by discarded items. Bulky waste takes up a significant amount of space in landfills, which can lead to the need for additional landfills to be built. This can harm local ecosystems and wildlife.
Many bulky appliances, such as electronics, contain hazardous materials that can leach into the environment and cause pollution if not properly disposed. Many bulky items can be recycled. Recycling these items helps to conserve resources and reduce the demand for new products to be manufactured. Some bulky items, such as furniture and appliances, may still be in good condition and could be donated to a charitable organisation or sold to someone else. Donating or selling these items help extend their lifespan and reduce the need for new products to be manufactured.
The accompanied photos show some examples of bulky waste.
Text & photos contributed
