Disposable
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009) |
 |
This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (November 2011) |
A disposable (also called disposable product) is a product designed for cheapness and short-term convenience rather than medium to long-term durability, with most products only intended for single use. The term is also sometimes used for products that may last several months (ex. disposable air filters) to distinguish from similar products that last indefinitely (ex. washable air filters).
Contents |
[edit] Materials and costs
Disposables are most often made from save time,low health care coast,solution, paper, plastic, cotton, or polystyrene foam.
[edit] Examples of disposables
[edit] Kitchen & dining products
- Disposable dishware / drinkware (ex. plates, bowls, cups)
- Plastic cutlery (ex. spoons, knives, forks, sporks)
- Disposable table cloth
- Cans, bottles, jars, cartons, wrappers and other food packaging are largely recyclable, and some are even compostable
- Inexpensive tupperware products are recyclable
- Cupcake wrappers, coffee filters are compostable
[edit] Medical & Hygiene products
Medical and surgical device manufacturers worldwide produce a multitude of items that are intended for one use only. The primary reason is infection control; when an item is used only once it cannot transmit infectious agents to subsequent patients. Manufacturers of any type of medical device are obliged to abide by numerous standards and regulations. ISO 15223: Medical Devices and EN 980 cite that single use instruments or devices be labelled as such on their packaging with a universally recognized symbol to denote "do not re-use," "single use," or "use only once". This symbol is the numeral 2, within a circle with a 45° line through it.
Examples of single use items include:
- Hypodermic Needles
- Toilet paper
- Condoms and other contraception products
- Disposable enemas and similar products
- Cotton swabs and pads
- Medical and cleaning gloves
- Baby and adult diapers, and training pants
- Shaving razors, waxing kits, combs, and other hair control products
- Toothbrushes, dental floss, and other oral care products
- Hospital aprons
- Disposable panties in postpartum
- Contact lenses
[edit] Electronics
- Non-rechargeable batteries are considered hazardous waste and should only be disposed of as such.
- Disposable ink cartridges
- Inexpensive quartz watches such as those with non-replaceable batteries
[edit] Defense and law enforcement
- Ammunition ; but shell casings are recyclable
- PlastiCuffs
[edit] Other consumer products
- Paper shopping bags can be reused and are recyclable
- Plastic shopping bags can be reused and are also recyclable at many grocery stores
- Vacuum cleaner bags, water, air, coolant, and other filters
- Paper currency (worn out banknotes are removed from circulation by the Federal Reserve)
- Ballpoint pens, erasers, and other writing implements
- Aseptic milk and soy milk containers
[edit] Environmental impact
The use of disposable products had led to a marked increase in trash. Overconsumption, Movements such as Landfill diversion exist which seek to combat disposable item overuse, and the resulting trash.
[edit] See also
 |
Look up disposable in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
