Waste from everyday life and industrial sites is causing environmental pollution. Let's see what kind of environmental pollution is caused by waste.

 

<Definition and generation of waste>

 

The law states that waste is garbage, combustible material, sludge, waste oil, waste acid, waste alkali, and dead bodies of animals that are no longer needed for human life or business activities. Recently, it has also been called waste resources, which means that waste can be reused. Waste is an inevitable output of economic activities resulting from improved living standards and changes in lifestyle. Rapidly increasing waste is threatening the natural environment and human life, making our waste treatment ability ineffective.

 

<The types of waste>

 

Waste includes household waste generated from our daily lives and commercial waste from business operations.
Household waste is divided into recyclable and non-recyclable waste, and commercial waste is divided into general, construction, and designated waste containing hazardous substances.

 

Food waste (food residue)
Unnecessary parts in the process of preparing food, residue from cooking, leftovers, deteriorated food, etc.

 

Domestic waste (junk)
Paper, wood, plastic, plastic bags, Styrofoam, electrical and electronic devices (radios, record players, recorders, TVs, fans, air conditioners, etc.), leather goods (clothes, shoes, accessories, etc.), rubber products (shoes, gloves, etc.), glassware (cups, bottles, windows, etc.), clothing, bedding (cotton, nylon, synthetics, other bedding, etc.), iron products (cooking utensils, empty cans, etc.)

 

Large waste
Machinery (industrial machinery, etc.), automobiles (engines, bodies, tires, etc.), cooling and heating equipment (boilers, air conditioners, stoves, etc.), bicycles, motorcycles, furniture, etc.

 

Construction waste
Concrete structures, bricks, old wood, steel structures, electric equipment, sanitary equipment, heating facilities, etc.

 

<Types of general waste>

 

Type of hazardous waste
Hazardous waste refers to all the materials thrown away by humans that pose a threat to the human body or the environment. Hazardous waste is also called toxic waste. It includes substances causing dangerous chemical reactions, highly corrosive substances, explosive substances, toxic substances, etc.

 

A group of 75 similar chemical compounds, dioxins, are toxic substances that occur when chlorine compounds burn. They can cause cancer in the human body and negatively affect the reproductive system, immune system, and nervous system.

 

Having high chemical stability, PCBs do not degrade chemically or biologically. Like DDT and dioxins, they are accumulated in human fat cells and are biologically accumulated throughout the food chain. Scientists have recently discovered some bacteria that can break down PCBs.

 

Radioactive waste is radioactive material produced during the process of power generation or the use of radioactive isotopes at nuclear power plants. If radioactive material is released to the outside world, it will not only cause fatal damage to people, plants and animals but also last for decades; it is necessary to take special care and attention.

 

Source: Eco-generation Korean Website