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Unsustainable waste
Excess waste creation and waste disposal methods are becoming increasingly dangerous for our planet. Waste management is an issue which matters to every person on this planet, and action on an individual, national and global level needs to be taken.
The world is expected to generate 3.4 billion tons of waste on an annual basis over the next 30 years, a huge increase from the 2.0 billion tons produced in 2018. High-income countries together are generating 34% of the world’s waste despite only accounting for 16% of the world population. This waste will continue to increase as the world becomes increasingly populated and urbanised.
Why is waste such a problem for our planet?
The impact of waste disposal
Waste disposal is the management of waste from its origin to its final disposal. It includes incineration/burning, burial at landfill sites, discharge in bodies of water, and recycling. The problem with waste management by burial, incineration or discharge is that most waste is toxic and can contain contains hazardous and health threatening chemicals. A report by the U.S. EPA indicates that more than 60,000 untested chemicals are present in the consumer products in our homes.
As mentioned earlier, waste, particularly waste disposal through incineration pollutes the air and creates many health problems for humans, particularly those who live near or work at landfills or incineration facilities. The burning of plastics releases many toxins such as dioxins into the atmosphere. Studies have linked long exposures to these gases to cancer, respiratory and visibility problems. The gases also contribute to acid rain and the ash created can contain heavy metals and toxins.
Landfills leak and pollute the soil and ground water as well as emitting significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Often the regulations of these landfills focus only on severely toxic materials like batteries and fail to cover all other polluting waste.
The world is expected to generate 3.4 billion tons of waste on an annual basis over the next 30 years, a huge increase from the 2.0 billion tons produced in 2018. High-income countries together are generating 34% of the world’s waste despite only accounting for 16% of the world population. This waste will continue to increase as the world becomes increasingly populated and urbanised.
Why is waste such a problem for our planet?
- Air pollution - Waste emits greenhouse gases which trap heat in the ozone layer, worsening global warming. In 2016, 5% of global emissions were generated from solid waste management. Waste pollutes the air as gasses and chemicals evaporate from it, this can occur in landfills, from littering on streets and from incineration of waste. This can make the air we breathe toxic, and leads to acid rain. A lot of waste, particularly food waste releases methane as it decomposes, furthering greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and contributing to global warming.
- Ocean pollution- Waste is hugely polluting our oceans, rivers and lakes which harms many ecosystems, and species both living in the water or dependent on drinking from it. Water dissolves many of the chemicals found in waste which contaminate the water and then get evaporated and contaminate our rainwater. Plastic waste is one of the many types of waste problems this planet faces. Plastic is killing our marine life as many species choke on it mistaking it for food, or their homes are destroyed by it. Plastic currently makes up for 90% of marine debris. In 2016, the water volume of all the plastic waste created could fill 4.8 million Olympic-size swimming pools. These plastics remain in waterways and will continue to affect ecosystems for hundreds of years. In addition, waste can clog drains and lead to flooding and damages.
- Soil pollution - When waste ends up at the landfill, chemicals in the trash get absorbed by the soil, contaminating it. This will hurt plants, along with animals and even humans who come into contact with the soil. Once polluted, contaminated soil can be very hard to clean.
The impact of waste disposal
Waste disposal is the management of waste from its origin to its final disposal. It includes incineration/burning, burial at landfill sites, discharge in bodies of water, and recycling. The problem with waste management by burial, incineration or discharge is that most waste is toxic and can contain contains hazardous and health threatening chemicals. A report by the U.S. EPA indicates that more than 60,000 untested chemicals are present in the consumer products in our homes.
As mentioned earlier, waste, particularly waste disposal through incineration pollutes the air and creates many health problems for humans, particularly those who live near or work at landfills or incineration facilities. The burning of plastics releases many toxins such as dioxins into the atmosphere. Studies have linked long exposures to these gases to cancer, respiratory and visibility problems. The gases also contribute to acid rain and the ash created can contain heavy metals and toxins.
Landfills leak and pollute the soil and ground water as well as emitting significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Often the regulations of these landfills focus only on severely toxic materials like batteries and fail to cover all other polluting waste.
How to help
There is no time to waste! It is very important for our planet, and our health to reduce waste, and to manage waste disposal better.
World Bank Urban Development Specialist says “Uncollected waste and poorly disposed waste have significant health and environmental impacts. The cost of addressing these impacts is many times higher than the cost of developing and operating simple, adequate waste management systems. Solutions exist and we can help countries get there.”
Everyone needs to remember to reduce, re-use, recycle!
Reduce the amount of waste you produce:
Recycle your goods
Another way to help combat the greenhouse gases emitted by our waste is to plant trees! Become Carbon Negative offsets the carbon generated by its customers by planting trees. Trees remove pollutants from the air, create oxygen and provide shade, which reduces the= temperatures around them. This offsets the impact of the carbon generated by customers.
There is no time to waste! It is very important for our planet, and our health to reduce waste, and to manage waste disposal better.
World Bank Urban Development Specialist says “Uncollected waste and poorly disposed waste have significant health and environmental impacts. The cost of addressing these impacts is many times higher than the cost of developing and operating simple, adequate waste management systems. Solutions exist and we can help countries get there.”
Everyone needs to remember to reduce, re-use, recycle!
Reduce the amount of waste you produce:
- Buy less or buy in bulk
- Aim to buy goods with recyclable packaging to avoid toxic plastic waste!
- Reducing food waste is a key point, as an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted globally each year. If people around the world are encouraged to buy less, to plan their meals and to save their leftover food, this could have a huge impact.
- Focus on buying goods with greater longevity that you can re-use
- Buy second-hand goods when possible
- Donate your old products or clothes rather than throwing them away
- Refill a water bottle with water from home instead of buying a new one
- Reuse environmentally friendly bags
Recycle your goods
- Separate your materials to be recycled separately: glass, cardboard, aluminium, lead batteries and plastic
Another way to help combat the greenhouse gases emitted by our waste is to plant trees! Become Carbon Negative offsets the carbon generated by its customers by planting trees. Trees remove pollutants from the air, create oxygen and provide shade, which reduces the= temperatures around them. This offsets the impact of the carbon generated by customers.
