Napkins have been around for years and have undergone many transformations. From traditional common cloth napkins for the entire table to recent standard-sized paper towels. People use one paper towel post-meal three times a day. With such a commonly used commodity we often forget to account for its environmental impact.

It is needless to say that napkins irrespective of the material, cause a lot of waste. The environmental impact of paper towels is highly debated, mainly due to their single-time use. the other alternatives like cloth napkins can be used multiple times before they end up in a landfill. However, this is not as simple as it seems. Let’s discuss in detail to understand whether paper napkins are a friend or a foe to the environment.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing process of paper towels raises concern for a lot of environmentalists. These single-time usable napkins are made from paper which ultimately leads to deforestation. Hence, a more durable alternative like cloth napkins is often recommended as a solution to the problem.

The cloth napkins may seem to be environment friendly until you assess the manufacturing process in detail. Cloth napkins are mostly made of cotton. Cotton as we all know is a crop that requires a lot of irrigation. Also, growing cotton requires biocides and chemicals in large quantities.

A cotton napkin weighs around 28 grams. The production process of cotton napkins again consumes 150 liters of water. It also produces 1 kg of greenhouse gas emission.

A better material for cloth napkins is linen which is made from the flax plant and does not require any extra irrigation apart from rainwater. However, it produces 112 grams of greenhouse gas emissions and uses 22 liters of water.

A paper napkin on the other hand produces only 10 grams of green gas emission and uses only 0.3 liters of water. Having said that, we need to consider the reusability of cloth napkins. However, the reusable napkins need to be washed and dried and we need to take their environmental impact into account as well.

Washing napkins

To wash a cloth napkin, we would require a quarter-liter of water and electricity to power the washing machine. This will further lead to greenhouse gas emissions amounting to 5 grams. Also, the detergent and chemicals used in washing the napkin end in the ocean and cause a detrimental impact on aquatic life.

Drying the napkin will lead to another emission of 10 grams of greenhouse gases. A more sustainable way is washing the napkins by hand and drying them in sunlight. Paper napkins do not require washing and are used only once.

Since paper is made from plants it is biodegradable and can be decomposed in compost heaps. However, napkins covered in grease and detergent should not be put in compost as grease residue can reduce the oxygen in the compost and the detergents can be disruptive to the microorganisms present in the compost.

Greener way of using paper napkins

Paper napkins are a necessity for most households. However, considering their impact on the environment it is advisable to take some steps to use them in the greenest way possible. The first step is reducing their uses. To keep the usage of paper towels limited, you can cut them into smaller sizes, if the standard size does not fit your requirement.

Some other methods to reduce the environmental impact of paper towels are:

• Choose paper napkin suppliers that use recycled paper to make paper napkins. Recycled paper uses around 70 percent energy of that used in the production of paper from plants.

• Buy napkins that are not whitened with chlorine bleach.

• Compost the napkins after use except when they are covered in grease or detergent

These are some of the ways to use paper napkins in a way that reduces their harmful impacts on the environment and prevents them from becoming a foe to the environment.

In the decade spanning 2007-2017, suicide rates for adolescents aged 13-19 years tripled. They have not fallen since. Two things happened in 2007 that would forever change the social fabric and experiences of teens: Facebook launched as a free service to the public, and apple released the first iPhone. Not long after this, an equally alarming trend proliferated on the other end of the demographic scale. Throughout America’s rustbelt, there has been a sharp increase in what are called deaths of despair – deaths by suicide, drug overdose, or acute alcohol poisoning. These occur mostly in working age adults that become displaced out of the workforce, usually because of trade or automation. All this death is wreaking havoc on our communities, with devastating consequences for those who remain. Sadly, this has created a demand for professional suicide cleanup services.

Unintended consequences

One aspect of the issue that has not received as much media attention are the biohazards that suicides impose. One common post-suicide biohazard is blood borne pathogens, like HIV and hepatitis. When somebody who is HIV positive or has hepatitis commits suicide, any blood that splatters will contain active virus. This is a problem because if someone else were to come in contact with that spattered blood, they would be at risk of infection too. For any competent suicide cleanup services crew, a great deal of the billable hours will be devoted just to dealing with blood spatter. The reason for this is twofold: blood spatter is associated with the methods that suicidal people choose, and infected blood is highly pathogenic.

Another biohazard are gastrointestinal bacteria that leak out of abdominal wounds. One example is Carbapenem-Resistant Entrobacteriaceae (CRE). This is a highly resilient super bug that is found in people’s stomachs. If CRE comes in contact with the bloodstream it can be fatal. When providing suicide cleanup services, technicians will take precautions to ensure that, if the victim has a stomach wound, that there are robust anti-bacterial measures taken to ensure that stomach fluids that escaped are dealt with. Another gastrointestinal bacterium that is given similar priority is clostridium difficile or C. Diff. There are also bacteria found on skin that can cause problems when introduced into the bloodstream. All of these are threats of potential infection that must be dealt with.

The value of biomarkers

All animals, plants and bacteria use adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as their working form of energy. For this reason, it would not make sense for a doctor to test a patient for ATP. Interestingly, suicide cleanup services use it as a biomarker for cleanliness. Where there is a dead body, there will be high concentrations of ATP from the person’s cells. After performing cleaning procedures, technicians will test the area for concentrations of ATP. If there are many spots with elevated concentrations, it means that more cleaning is required.

The area will be cleaned as many times as needed until ATP levels test low enough to be deemed clean. It is important to choose a suicide cleanup service contractor that follows best practices set out by the American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) because they are the ones that determine what the minimum safe ATP concentration level will be.

The toll

We will never be able to stop everyone from harming themselves. If nothing else, it is good to be prepared when someone does. Unfortunately, suicide cleanup services are an expense that often get passed on to the relatives a person leaves behind. This is often why people choose to remediate a scene themselves. Aside from there being serious consequences if cleaning is not done well, there is also the potential for trauma and post traumatic stress when going into a place where someone you knew passed away tragically.

Despite the cost, professional suicide cleanup services are worth the investment. You want the space where the event occurred to be clean, safe and habitable again. If anything is left behind or missed it can cause odors and bacteria growth that can be harmful to the health of anyone in the space. Furnishing, textiles and flooring may need to be removed and cleaned or completely replaced to achieve this. Don’t underestimate the complexity or difficulty of this type of work. If you find yourself in this type of situation, contact professionals for quotes. You don’t have to do it alone.

Trauma clean up is a difficult job for many reasons. A trauma site is where an accident or violent act occurred, leading to injury or damaged property. Working under these conditions is inherently challenging due to the sensitive nature of these events. A trauma scene also requires a complex set of operations to ensure the cleaning crew remains safe and that the work is done professionally and efficiently.

What does a trauma cleaner do? This varies tremendously between projects, but the general process involves preparation, cleaning hazards, followed by conventional cleaning. Here is an overview of what each entail.

Trauma Clean Up Preparation

As the saying goes, preparation is key. Before trauma clean up technicians enter a site, they must first be equipped with all relevant PPE. This may include a face mask, gloves, goggles, or disposable outerwear. Any necessary equipment will also need to be assembled and calibrated before entering the scene.

How do trauma cleaners choose which protective equipment to use? This is partly determined by regulation. Organizations such as ABRA and OSHA dictate minimum safety standards when managing different types of risk. Beyond that, technicians use a combination of site-specific factors and intuition to determine what level of protection is needed.

Once the appropriate gear is equipped, technicians will assess the scene. For trauma clean up, it is often necessary to plan the order of operations. This is to verify that all hazards are addressed responsibly, and that work is completed efficiently.

Cleaning Hazards

The first priority for trauma clean up is addressing hazards. Many trauma sites involve bodily fluids such as blood and vomit. In addition to being unpleasant, this material can be a vector for rare and dangerous diseases. There is also a specialized procedure for disposing of any biohazardous waste.

In addition to biohazardous materials, a trauma site may involve other hazardous materials. This might include broken glass, chemical spills, or damaged machinery. Trauma clean up must be done in a manner that minimizes safety risk, meaning the strategy and approach will vary between locations.

Hazard cleaning is often completed before conventional cleaning starts to minimize the risk to technicians and simplify traditional cleaning work.

Cleaning and Repairs

Work isn’t done when the hazardous materials are addressed. Debris, dirt, and other mess may be found at the scene, which should be fully cleared. Heightened safety precautions may be relaxed for this portion of the project since significant hazards should be addressed by this point.

Repairs may also be required. Bullet holes, broken glass, or damaged drywall are common in trauma sites, especially those involving violent crime. Depending on the nature of the damage, a trauma clean up crew may be able to perform repairs. Subcontractors may also be used depending on the complexity of the work required.

Professionalism and Efficiency

In addition to the technical aspects of the job, trauma cleaners must navigate a complicated and emotional situation. Trauma scenes involve someone being seriously injured or dying. Respect, efficiency, and professionalism are essential to ensure family members, colleagues, or roommates are not upset by the work of the trauma clean up crew.

Discretion is also necessary. Neighbors can become nosy if they hear rumors of a traumatic event. Trauma clean up teams attempt to carry out their work in a manner that limits attention, allowing family members to maintain privacy if they choose to.

Trauma cases often involve law enforcement as well. Police must entirely process sites before any cleaning can be done. Trauma clean up teams may need to work with law enforcement to ensure cleaning can begin as quickly as possible after any investigations are complete.

Finding Trauma Clean Up Experts

Trauma clean up is technical and sensitive work and should be left to professionals. No one wants to be responsible for a trauma scene when they are related to a victim. It is emotional, stressful, and overwhelming. Working with a trauma cleaning crew means you can take part of the burden off your shoulders.

It is essential to work with professional trauma cleaners. Amateur cleaners may be unreliable, not be mentally trained to handle a scene or not completing the work to a high standard. It is critical to work with trauma clean up crews with the experience needed to handle high-priority cleaning projects.

When construction companies look at a parcel of land, they see potential. The beginning of a new building or site that will turn into something great. But before the construction work begins, sites need to be cleared and prepped. That’s where site clearing professionals can help.

Clearing teams specialize in the removal of anything and everything that could impede or slow down construction. This includes rocks, vegetation and so much more. But what specifically do they do? And why do you need dedicated experts to perform the actual site clearing? Read on to learn more.

Why is Site Clearing Necessary?

When construction begins on an uncleared site, the work starts slow. Rocks buried deep in the ground can damage equipment. Vegetation and debris can cause safety hazards and get in the way.

Think of site clearing like primer before painting. It’s the base coat that needs to be applied so that the paint can look its best and be applied easily. Site clearing is that base coat, making a space safer and ready for the infrastructure that comes with a new construction project. This includes readying the space for utility lines, infrastructure, building foundations and so much more.

Finally, site clearing companies have established relationships with disposal facilities, meaning they may have better rates for using these places than regular construction companies, reducing overall fees for getting rid of unwanted debris, etc. from a construction site.

What is Involved with Site Clearing?

Site clearing is more than simply removing stray debris from a space. It is a professional construction service that preps land for future development. It ensures that future construction crews can work more safely and more efficiently than if the land was undeveloped and uncleared.

But what precisely is involved in site clearing? What are the specific things that go into a clearing job? Let’s break down the individual tasks that are often done during site clearing.

Vegetation clearing is one of the main tasks involved in site clearing. As we expand our municipal borders, many companies are starting to develop land with significant vegetation. This can include a large amount of underbrush, but it can include small, wooded areas and so much more. Site clearing professionals use specialized equipment to remove all the vegetation in a space. Trees will be felled, either in sections or wholly, smaller trees and vegetation will be pulled out by hand or with excavators. By the end, the site will be mostly turned soil on which your crew can get started.

Rock removal is often done after vegetation is cleared. This involves removing larger boulders from the ground. Since these rocks can damage equipment and slow down initial construction, having them removed and broken up can make the start of the job much easier. Rocks are often dug out with buckets or excavators and then broken up and disposed of properly.

Finally, there’s the removal of refuse and debris. This occurs in many sites that were previously demolished or unsupervised. Since garbage and waste can accumulate for decades, removing it all can be a challenge for a regular construction crew. A site clearing team can safely remove the waste, including anything dangerous, and dispose of it according to local rules and regulations.

At every stage of site clearing, there is one important step that’s necessary: proper disposal. Since there can be all kinds of materials on a site, from large trees to waste, it all needs to be packed up and sent to the right facilities according to local rules and regulations. Since site clearing teams have connections and relationships with local disposal facilities, and understand the legal requirements for site prep, they can easily remove all debris and ensure it ends up at the right place. Often for less than doing it yourself.

Why Do I Need Professionals for Site Clearing?

The truth is that site clearing professionals understand every step of prepping a site for construction. They understand how to remove the vegetation, debris and waste from a space. They also know where every kind of waste needs to go, whether it’s recycling wood from trees or taking old garbage to the landfill. When you choose professionals, you are getting the work done right, quickly and efficiently. That means construction will start faster and go much more smoothly.

Trauma cleanup is a complex process where professionals do everything by the book in order to ensure that a scene is fully cleaned after a crime or suicide. Trauma incidents are unlike anything most people have to deal with, as it often involves a loss of a life, whether a family member or personal contact, and they can be either accidental or intentional acts. Dealing with a trauma as a family, especially if it was a suicide can be devastating. Needing to also handle the scene of the incident after the fact can be equally as devastating. Trauma clean ups services are available to take this burden off of the family or friends.

1 – Isolating the Trauma Scene

Due to the nature of traumas, unknown fluids ranging from blood, bile, and any number of other excrements or chemicals, may be found at the scene. Isolating the area is key to dealing with a trauma scene. Without proper testing, there’s no way of knowing what pathogens could have been in someone’s body at their death, meaning any direct contact with their bodily fluids could be hazardous to someone’s health. You cannot allow just anybody into a trauma scene, they must be properly protected with PPE; always plan for the worst case scenario when it comes to chances of contagions.

2 – Calling in the Professionals

No matter the trauma, if it includes blood and bodily fluids, the cleanup process becomes messy, as everything within the scene must be considered a biohazard. The first professionals on the scene are generally going to be first responders, police, firefighters or paramedics, and once their job is complete, there is still a traumatic mess to deal with. It’s down to the homeowner, property owner, landlord, retailer, hotelier or local authorities to deal with the cleanup, and their first call should be to a trauma clean up team so that the process can start quickly, and with due respect to the deceased’s family or public. While trauma is something that is sudden, most commercial or industrial business owners should have a contingency plan in place, so they know who they are going to call immediately after an incident.

Cleanup should never be attempted without the help of professionals. Needlessly putting someone at risk attempting to clean up a trauma scene without proper training and equipment can lead to major health risks, and liability issues.

3 – Take a Sensitive Approach

Trauma scenes deal with the death of a person, and that means there is someone out there that is likely grieving, whether it is a family member, friend, or co-worker. Being sensitive to their feelings is important for any trauma clean up professional, otherwise they can make a painful situation even worse. Even witnessing a trauma scene of a stranger can be psychologically tolling on a person.

4 – Be Thorough with Any Trauma Cleanup

Trauma clean up professionals are trained to be very thorough when it comes to the clean up of a trauma scene. Cross contamination is a major risk, so they take all the proper precautions to ensure nothing dangerous is left behind after the cleaning is complete.

While surfaces may appear clean with just wiping, porous materials are very good at absorbing liquids, so professionals will take a pragmatic view as to whether something can actually be cleaned or must be thrown out. It is always best to be safe, rather than sorry when it comes to pathogen risks. Some things like rugs, carpeting, books and soft textiles may have to disposed of appropriately and replaced rather than cleaned.

5 – Disposal of Biohazards

Anything removed from a trauma clean up site should be considered a biohazard, even the tools and materials used. Trauma specialists are properly trained in the disposal of any biohazards from a trauma site and know what can or cannot be just flushed down a drain.

Trauma clean up can be a dangerous job, so leaving it to the professionals is a must. Trauma specialists have the training, equipment, and mental and physical fortitude necessary to handle the arduous task of cleaning up after an accidental, intentional, or personal trauma.

Suicide is an unspeakably tragic event. Whether it is a family member, roommate, or tenant, it is an emotionally intense situation. This is paired with the complex logistics of working with law enforcement, contacting family members, and dealing with personal affairs. In addition to these issues, someone needs to clean up any mess left by the incident.

Hiring suicide clean up service will ensure that your property goes back to normal as soon as possible. What do these services do? Here is an overview of their two-step approach.

Before Cleaning: Working with Law Enforcement

Before cleaning begins, law enforcement does need to assess the scene. Even cases that are clearly suicides or drug overdoses need to be treated as a possible crime scene. It is essential to follow the instructions of police officers. If the individual is deceased upon your arrival, leave the room and do not touch anything until the police arrive.

While cleaning needs to wait until police have completed their work, you should contact a suicide clean-up service while assessments are underway. This will ensure a cleaning crew is on-site, equipped, and ready to work as soon as possible. Technicians can also discuss clean-up and repairs while police are investigating.

Removing Dangerous Materials and Biohazardous Waste

Once a scene is released for suicide clean-up service, the priority is to remove dangerous materials from the site so technicians can operate more freely. Weapons, sharp objects, and drug paraphernalia that remain at the scene are safely disposed of. Cleaners can then begin to address biohazardous materials.

Suicides, and other traumatic events, often involve significant amounts of bodily fluids. This includes blood, vomit, or fecal matter. Not only are these intensely unpleasant to handle, but they also pose a biohazard risk. Rare and dangerous diseases can be transmitted through bodily fluids, so it is essential that only trained professionals clean them.

Clean-Up and Repair

Once safety hazards of the scene have been addressed, suicide clean-up services can now focus on conventional cleaning and repairs. Rooms should be “good as new” after technicians address them because damage or stains may trigger traumatic memories for the occupants.

Carpeting or wallpaper may have to be replaced in the course of repairs. Blood or other bodily fluids can stain carpeting, especially if they are left for any length of time. Many property owners take this as an opportunity to renovate a room, reducing the association with the traumatic incident.

In cases where a body has not been found and several days have elapsed, there may be a disagreeable smell in the room. This odor may be invisible, but it is essential to address it. A combination of powerful cleaning products and ventilation will address these lingering odors.

Discreet and Sensitive Service

Professional suicide clean-up services aren’t just about the work completed but also about how the work gets completed. Suicide is a highly traumatic and disturbing situation, especially if the deceased is a family member or loved one. There is also tremendous stress from dealing with law enforcement, organizing legal affairs, and managing funeral logistics. Cleaning technicians need to find a way to do their jobs without getting in the way of everything else.

Technicians working in suicide clean-up services must be trained to work in a manner that is respectful to grieving members of the household while doing a thorough job. Cleaning should also be done as quickly as possible so the spaces can be used again. Achieving this balance while remaining sensitive to the family’s needs comes from experience and a high standard of professionalism.

In the case of apartment buildings and hotels, discretion is critical. Some people are inappropriately nosey and will become curious about the suicide. It is essential to minimize attention to the affected unit. Cleaning and renovating also need to be completed as soon as possible so the space can be reused.

Professional Suicide Clean Up Services

Suicide is a terrible situation, and there is no way to change that. Professional suicide cleaning services help make the circumstances slightly easier. While it is impossible for things to ever go “back to normal” after a suicide, clean-up services help you find a new normal so you can move on with your life.