It’s the ultimate truth of our existence – Almost every household deals with garbage daily. Many families end up using bins, recycling centers in their locality, or private waste removal services to dispose of their waste. From household waste to commercial waste of businesses, proper removal of rubbish matters. But, there are still those who decide to dispose of the garbage themselves. And that could lead to a lot of problems.
To curb this, the authorities are implementing strict waste management laws and regulations, which include heavy penalties for people involved in improper waste management.
To an extent, they have been successful in promoting junk removal practices in many countries.
Here are some of the effects of improper waste management and waste disposal.
1. Soil contamination
Soil contamination is the biggest problem caused by improper waste removal and disposal. Some waste ends up in landfills that release hazardous chemicals and seep into the soil. In the case of plastic bottles, eventually, they break down and release a carcinogen that affects our reproductive system, and causes liver sclerosis, and weight loss.
Soil contamination not only affects plant growth but is also unhealthy for animals that feed on those plants. Hazardous wastes such as plastic, metals, and electronic wastes are being recycled at any local recycling center.
You can do your bit by segregating and sorting recyclable wastes and bringing them to recycling centers.
2. Air contamination
Wastes that contain hazardous chemicals, such as acids and bleach, need to be handled with the utmost care and only in recommended containers with correct labels.
Papers and plastics that are burnt in landfills emit chemicals and gas that hurt the ozone layer. They also release dioxins that are dangerous and pose a massive health risk when they diffuse into the air that we end up breathing.
If all these issues go unattended, the entire community is at risk.
3. It adversely affects the local economy
Clean environments not only contribute to healthy and safe living but also adds to the beauty of a place. A city with poorly managed waste grounds will act as a deterrence to tourists and investors too.
4. Missed recycling opportunities
Many people may not be aware of this, but recycled waste can generate a lot of revenue. Recycled waste can be reused for manufacturing purposes.
Cities that fail to implement recycling and removal of wastes miss out on this opportunity. They also miss out on raising the employment that waste management creates.
5. Extreme climate changes
Decomposing waste can emit certain gases that rise in the atmosphere, trapping heat. People do not realize that this causes temperatures to rise which brings problems of its own.
As you might remember from your 9th-grade science lesson – Greenhouse gas is one of the biggest culprits in erratic weather changes on a global scale.
6. Food Poisoning
Poor waste disposal can also lead to the risk of food poisoning among people. One of the causes of food poisoning is the contamination of meat that is caused either due to soil pollution or water pollution.
The leaches from the garbage rot reach water bodies beneath the soil that contaminates the soil where plants and vegetables grow. Sounds dangerous, right? It is!
Conclusion
Having effective waste management solutions and taking care of disposals is not only a hygienic practice but is also a matter of public health. We hope that we have done our part in spreading community awareness to curb environmental malpractices. What about you? If this article was helpful, make sure you share it with others you know!
