 By: Kay Kim Any consumer will throw something into the garbage, but how many know what happens to their discarded items and where it goes? There are generally 3 different bins to throw something out:
Then, they go through different waste facilities; according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the total generation of municipal solid waste in 2018 was 292.4 million tons, which means each person would produce an average of 4.9 pounds of garbage a day just in the U.S. Shelby Bell states that 32.5% of waste was recycled or composted, 12.5% was incinerated (for energy generation), and 55% of it was thrown into our landfills (“Landfills: We’re running out of space”). Due to the growing population, more and more people consume and waste; thus, in most countries, waste production and landfills have been increasing. From 2002 to 2012, Canada’s residential waste rose by 27% (14.3 million tonnes).
Why are landfills bad? Landfills cause several negative impacts on our environment, people and economy. The toxic chemicals that landfills carry are dangerous to our health. Electronic waste, for example, contains mercury, arsenic, cadmium, acids, and lead which are all harmful toxins. Once these toxins are exposed to the environment, organisms, including humans, that depend on water and plants will be impacted. Approximately 35-55% of methane gas is in our landfills (which can be released for up to 50 years) and makes up 17.7% of the total methane emissions in the U.S. Methane causes 72 times more warming than one ton of CO2 (another gas emitted from landfills). The 30-44% of Carbon dioxide will be released to thicken the greenhouse gas layer. To accommodate for the rise in waste production also means more money will be invested to build these landfill sites. COVID-19 and Waste Furthermore, the pandemic has its share in negatively affecting the environment. COVID-19 increased the amount of medical waste, masks, gloves, and plastics used globally. In China, about 40-50 tonnes of medical waste has been thrown away each day before the outbreak; however, according to the statistics from March 1, 2020, the statistic has risen to 247 tonnes a day—a huge jump in waste. Many other countries are facing similar situations. As a result, when waste containing the virus is not managed properly, it can lead to secondary contamination, pollution and hazardous chemical runoff into the environment. Solutions So, what can you do about this pressing issue? How can we reduce the continuous increment in waste production?
If we continue to ignore and waste irresponsibly, it will lead to an unsustainable future and we will be confronted with the negative consequences. Taking action for our communities and being more aware of how our behaviour impacts the environment will be beneficial for finding more sustainable ways to live. If we take from the environment and give back landfills, hazardous chemicals, plastics, greenhouse gases and pollution, there will be not much left for us to take anymore. Sources: Roadrunner https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/blog/landfills-were-running-out-of-space#:~:text=Of%20the%20estimated%20267.8%20million,percent%20is%20buried%20in%20landfill. Environmental and Energy Study Institute https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-landfill-methane United States Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials Statistics Canada https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/160524/dq160524a-eng.htm American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6498/1438.1 UNISAN https://www.unisanuk.com/what-is-a-landfill-why-are-landfills-bad-for-the-environment/
18 Comments
9/7/2021 09:38:50 pm
From the picture above imagine how much plastics and dirty nappies are in there if only these garbage are being recycled we can greatly decrease the amount of wastes in the landfill. 12/6/2021 02:38:13 am
2/23/2022 11:38:10 am
Thanks for the great article on garbage disposal. It's something that I'm really interested in and it was great to see your perspective on it. 3/23/2022 05:32:40 am
I agreed when you stated that the toxic chemicals that landfills hold can cause several negative impacts on our health. I think biohazardous waste provides the same impact on our environment and health. In my opinion, businesses who deal with these wastes should utilize an effective alternative to properly disposed of them. I never took into account the fact that over 40 to 50 tonnes of medical waste is produced even before the pandemic. I hope that establishments and facilities would invest in skip bin hire services that segregated the wastes properly. Also, it will help the planet if the wastes are not all going directly to landfills. 10/3/2022 03:18:19 am
Taking care of the environment is important. If we continue to ignore and waste irresponsibly, it will lead us into an unsustainable future where negative consequences await those who don't take action for their communities as well being more aware about how our behaviour impacts nature. 2/11/2023 01:20:35 pm
Great information. This article served its purpose. Thanks for sharing! 3/10/2023 08:06:57 pm
It got me when you said that there are toxic chemicals that are produced by landfills which can be dangerous to the health of the people. And I think even if we are far from locations like those, our environment is being affected which means that we are also affected in some way. So I hope that the ruby eco-friendly way services out there in every state and every city so that we can all be safe, especially when our world is already polluted as it is. 5/19/2023 01:09:21 am
Thank you for raising awareness about waste management and the environmental impacts of landfills. It's essential to reduce waste through recycling, composting, and using reusable products. Community cleanups and supporting second-hand markets are also valuable contributions. Let's make sustainable choices to preserve our environment for a better future. 5/19/2023 01:12:04 am
Recycling, composting, using reusable products, and participating in community cleanups are practical solutions. Let's make conscious choices to reduce waste and strive for a sustainable future. 9/26/2023 01:23:24 am
Kay Kim's article sheds light on the journey of our garbage, from recycling to landfills, and highlights the environmental challenges we face due to increasing waste production. It's a call to action for individuals to embrace sustainable practices and reduce waste generation to protect our planet. 11/27/2023 01:03:56 am
Thanks for highlighting the environmental challenges posed by landfills, Kay Kim. The surge in medical waste during COVID-19 is alarming. Your practical solutions, like community cleanups and embracing reusable products, offer a roadmap for individuals to contribute to a more sustainable future. 12/7/2023 04:45:39 pm
Understanding what happens to our waste after disposal is crucial, yet it's a process often overlooked by many consumers. The segregation into recycling, compost, and garbage bins is a step toward responsible waste management, but the statistics reveal a stark reality. Despite efforts to recycle and compost, a significant portion, more than half in some cases, still ends up in landfills or is incinerated. The staggering volume of waste generated per person per day in the U.S. alone, as per EPA data, emphasizes the sheer magnitude of the issue. With global populations growing and consumption rates rising, waste production continues to climb, straining landfill capacities and challenging waste management systems. The significant increase in Canada's residential waste over a decade highlights the pressing need for comprehensive strategies that not only focus on recycling and composting but also emphasize reduction at the source to curb this alarming trend of waste generation and disposal. 1/30/2024 03:01:52 am
As readers, we are left with a heightened sense of responsibility for our waste, inspired to rethink our habits and contribute to a more sustainable future. Kudos on transforming a potentially dry subject into an engaging exploration of our garbage's journey and the collective impact of our choices! Leave a Reply. |
TUGIWelcome to Seeds for Thought, the TUGI Blog where we will be highlighting incredible stories of environmental activists and change makers, environmental news, and tips to living a more green and sustainable lifestyle. If you are interested in learning more about what we are doing on a monthly basis, subscribe to our TUGI Newsletter. Archives
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