21 | Waste Management

Today you will learn 5 new English words related to "Waste Management"

Author

SEWT Team
October 15, 2025

There´s an advanced English lesson waiting for you

“Waste management” is about how we handle garbage, recycling, and other materials we throw away. As an ESL learner, it’s helpful to know this vocabulary when talking about the environment, giving directions, or following rules in shared spaces like offices, schools, or cities. Today’s words will help you describe how to sort, reduce, and properly get rid of waste. Let’s jump right in!

5 TERMS

  1. Trash can (Noun): A container where people throw away garbage.

  2. Recycle (Verb): To process used items like paper, plastic, or glass so they can be used again.

  3. Compost (Noun / Verb): A mix of food scraps and other natural materials that break down into soil; also, the act of making that mix.

  4. Sort (Verb): To separate items into different groups or categories.

  5. Landfill (Noun): A place where trash is buried under the ground.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  1. Trash can

    • Please put the wrapper in the trash can.

    • The trash can outside is full.

    • Every desk in the office has a small trash can.

  2. Recycle

    • We recycle cans, bottles, and newspapers at home.

    • Don’t forget to recycle plastic containers.

    • She teaches her kids how to recycle properly.

  3. Compost

    • We throw vegetable peels into the compost bin.

    • I started to compost food waste in my backyard.

    • Composting helps reduce the amount of garbage we create.

  4. Sort

    • Please sort your trash into recyclables and non-recyclables.

    • I learned how to sort food, paper, and plastic at school.

    • The city asks residents to sort their waste each week.

  5. Landfill

    • Most garbage ends up in a landfill.

    • The goal is to send less waste to the landfill by recycling more.

    • Landfills can harm the environment if they get too full.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH

At home, we try to reduce how much we send to the landfill by following simple waste management rules. We keep one trash can for garbage, one bin to recycle paper and plastic, and a third for food scraps that we compost. It takes a few extra minutes to sort everything, but it makes a big difference. I’ve even started composting fruit peels and coffee grounds to use in my garden. Learning these habits has helped my family become more eco-friendly and more aware of the impact we have on the planet.