Waste and the Environment

 

Waste are the unusable materials that are discarded after primary use. It includes municipal solid waste come from household trash, hazardous waste and wastewater such as sewage. Solid waste has massive environmental impacts if not manage properly and it is common to observe such impacts everywhere specially in the developing countries.

 

In the same way, solid waste management is one of the prime environment issues in many municipal and urban cities in Nepal. Some of the major causes are: rapid urban population growth, economic development and the overuse of products that generates hazardous waste. Seeing an open dumpsite are not a surprise and is very common in municipal of developing countries because of low budget for waste disposal and inadequate trained manpower. Open dump site prompt many hazards on environment and biodiversity that includes:

 

Soil and water contamination

 

 Most of the waste on the open dump site comprises of plastics made up of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which are indestructible. Soil microorganisms like bacteria cannot break them down and plastic products remain long time in the soil that disturb the soil ecosystem. In similar way, overaccumulation of such waste degrades the soil quality and agricultural productivity.

In addition, soil and water contamination occurs by spilling and burying hazardous waste in the soil. Hazardous waste has extensive potential to leave harmful chemicals into the soil. As a result, such chemicals can seep into the groundwater or into the other water resources bringing numerous life-threatening impacts on our daily life. It has ability to degrade the water quality and properties.

 

Air contamination

 

Incineration are one of the prime causes for air contamination. Incineration is a waste treatment process which involves the combustion of organic compounds present in the waste materials. In other terms, incineration is a kind of thermal treatment of waste. Such treatment release dangerous substances like heavy metals, organic pollutants and other toxic chemical into air. These chemicals cause respiratory, reproductive and circulatory related complication in human body. Asthma and cancer are the major health problems due to air pollution.

 

Effects on plant and wildlife habitats

 

Excessive garbage dumps around wildlife habitat lead in shifting of food habits and ever their permanent habitats. Improper waste management are also one of the key reasons for wildlife habitat shifting. Ingesting the fragments of solid waste is fatal for wild animals. It can result in digestive system complications as it blocks their digestive tracts. Nowadays, plastic pollution is sky rocketing in marine ecosystem threatening many living organisms. There are tons and tons of plastic materials floating in seas and oceans. Similarly, air pollution has utmost negative impact upon plant growth and development. It affects the metabolic functions of the leaves and disturb the net carbon fixation.

  

And the way forward for sustainable environment

 Henceforth, for the sustainable environment, proper waste management is must. Landfill and dumping site should be selected carefully without disturbing the life forms. Municipal solid waste should be managed properly and for that local government should implement appropriate plans and policies. Waste management related interventions should be designed and put forward nationally.

 

References:

 

6 Negative Effects of Improper Waste Management. Available at: https://www.metropolitantransferstation.com.au/blog/negative-effects-of-improper-waste-management.

Lesson: Landfills: Building Them Better. Available at: https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_enveng_lesson05

Air Pollution from Waste Disposal: Not for Public Breath. https://www.guapo-air.org/en/resource-center/waste-management/air-pollution-waste-disposal-not-public-breath

Waste incineration. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-incineration.php

Wildlife Over Waste. https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/wildlife-over-waste

 

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