The Dangers of Waste: The Need for Change
Across the world, one of the most pressing issues affecting our environment, and quality of life, is the problem of waste management. Increasing in depth and scope as population numbers grow, the amount of waste produced is quickly catching up to our ability to dispose of it. Waste itself can be broken up into two categories: hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Both can considerably damage the environment if not properly managed.
Hazardous waste covers anything from industrial waste, to household items. Filled with harmful pollutants, protracted exposure to hazardous waste can lead to a large range of health problems; from minor illnesses, to serious diseases. These pollutants can also seep into natural waterways, leading to contamination of said ecosystems, damaging the flora and fauna of the area.
Non-hazardous waste, while less harmful, still poses a number of problems for the environment if not managed properly. Not disposing of materials such as paper, plastic and glass properly can lead to these materials ending up in things such as rivers and ponds, disrupting the local wildlife’s natural habitats and breeding grounds; leading to both a decrease in the biodiversity, and an overall decrease in quality of life.
The growing concern surrounding the issue of waste has led to a need to change the way in which we handle and treat it. Different nations across the world are tackling this problem differently, adopting a variety of approaches and techniques. In some countries, such as South Africa, the recycling of materials is seen as a way of not only lessening these effects but also creating a funding channel for various projects throughout the city.
In other areas, governments are encouraging people and businesses to cut down on their waste production. This is done by a variety of techniques: from providing incentives for businesses that can show a deficit in their waste production, to placing bans on single-use plastics and encouraging people to move towards reusable items.
The way forward for waste is changing rapidly as time progresses, with new and innovative ways being used across the world every day. Whether it’s changing the techniques we use to eleminate waste, providing incentives for businesses to reduce their waste production, or adopting new recycling policies, the world is closer than ever to seeing an effective change in the way we treat the waste we produce.
Change is never easy, but in the face of the global waste management crisis, it has become ever clearer that unless we seek to modify the way we treat our waste material, the results could be devastating for life on this planet for generations to come.