More and more often in modern society, questions are raised on the topic of ecology. This is the widespread air pollution with industrial waste and gases, and pollution of water bodies, as well as the problem of garbage and waste disposal.
There are too many human waste
Human life is closely related to the occurrence of decay products, food and industrial waste. Some of them must be subjected to the correct processing method, otherwise they can cause serious harm to the environment. In addition, the decay time of many materials rolls over 100 years. Active pollution of the planet and the unsolved problem of garbage have led to global changes - the destruction of the environment for the existence of living organisms.
Garbage collection, especially from large cities, is becoming an increasing problem of our time. None of the developed and developing countries can boast of an established waste management system. Today, only 60% of waste receives a second life through recycling, where do the remaining 40% go? Burning or burial is not particularly appropriate, which complicates an already heated environment.
What to do with waste?
The problem of waste disposal applies to absolutely all types of waste: from household to chemical. Moreover, many of them have hazardous decomposition products, which significantly complicates the processing methods. Debris, decomposing, releases alcohols and aldehydes, which then seep into the soil, residential buildings and fall into the air. An already polluted environment suffers another invasion of toxic substances. And this happens not once a year, but every day and in many places.
The environmental problem of garbage is gaining alarming proportions, because every day the amount of unprocessed waste only increases, and no one can give clear instructions to deal with this problem. In Italy, for example, several cities are simply littered with waste waste. The problem of garbage makes itself felt most acutely in cities such as Naples and Palermo. In order to somehow free up living natural space for themselves, residents burn garbage directly in the central squares of the city. It is terrible to say what is happening on the outskirts of these cities. Fetid fumes swirl in the air and pollute the already terrible air.
Hazardous and safe waste must not be mixed
The problem of pollution with garbage begins with the manufacturer of the goods. At the production site, it is necessary to draw up a waste passport in which instructions for disposal should be clearly spelled out. In no case should hazardous waste be mixed with safe waste. This kind of confusion threatens with unpredictable and health-threatening consequences. For example, energy-saving light bulbs that many people love, must be disposed of as hazardous waste, that is, in a place specialized for this. This type of light bulb contains mercury, even its small emission into the atmosphere poses serious problems for the safety of people and organisms.
Further, the problem of garbage moves on to the resident and the state. Agree, not every user of the battery or the same light bulb will worry about where he will throw this waste. The garbage mixes into containers, and then into special machines. This is at best. If the work of garbage collection organizations is suddenly disrupted, a very noticeable problem arises: the city is suffocating in its waste. Remember the picture happening on New Year's holidays. Landfills are crowded, and if it weren’t for the fresh frosty air, it would be easy to choke on the smell of rotting products.
Where to start solving the problem
The problem of pollution by garbage often does not have a solution due to a poorly organized collection system, lack of proper place or plants for disposal, as well as companies performing such dirty work. The most effective, but at the same time time-consuming process is the redistribution of garbage for recycling or for use as fertilizer. The method is especially relevant for countries with developed industry. Some garbage, according to such a policy, is burned in furnaces to generate energy. In addition, the processing of waste material into such new products ultimately reduces government spending on production and at the same time solves the problem of pollution by garbage. For example, the production of paper from waste paper requires much less energy and water. Thanks to this solution, it becomes possible to solve not only the problem of pollution by garbage, but also to rid the atmosphere of excess greenhouse gases.
Pollution of the planet’s water
The environmental problem of garbage affects not only land, but even the oceans. Plastic waste fills the body of water more and more. The area of ​​such a landfill exceeds the area of ​​the United States. The largest accumulation of debris was seen off the California coast. This is the largest heap in the world with household waste weighing about 100 million tons. Garbage floats at a depth of 10 m in a wide variety of forms: from toothpicks and bottles to ship wrecks. All the debris brought by the current forms a kind of water dump. For the first time, an environmental problem in the water was discovered in 1997. Location - North Pacific Spiral. Such an accumulation is associated with the circulation of water, bringing a variety of garbage. According to scientists, such a landfill is the cause of death of about 100 thousand birds per year. In addition, plastic, entering into reactions, emits harmful substances, which then enter the person with the fish caught. The existence of a floating landfill once again reminds us that the problem of garbage has long gone beyond the bounds of states and has acquired a global global character.
The "garbage" problem of Russia
Unfortunately, the current disposal problem is particularly affecting Russia and the former Soviet republics. The approach to garbage collection is much different from European methods. Abroad, it is customary to dispose of garbage in accordance with the type of waste. You will inevitably be fined if you throw metal or plastic into the glass container. It is much easier to recycle garbage. In Russia , recycling ends with the removal of various kinds of waste to a landfill. Huge hundreds of hectares of polluted land become unsuitable for life and emit harmful odors.
We are very far from solving the problem.
It is not clear why measures are not being taken for a more rational disposal of waste. After all, once, or rather very soon, there will not be enough space on Earth for all the heaps of unprocessed garbage. Instead, there are more and more products made of chemical materials that do not decay themselves, and when decomposed hundreds of years later, they destroy the environment. Why not stop the production of polymers in the form of commonplace polyethylene? Previously, they used to use ordinary paper, which decomposed perfectly in natural conditions and did not harm nature.
“Have you thrown the garbage into the bin?”
Considering the problem of disposal, it is worth saying that little depends on the average person. For the cleanliness of the city or the whole country, well-established removal, sorting and processing of garbage waste is necessary. First of all, there should be a production providing for the almost complete processing of unsuitable raw materials. However, do not litter on the already polluted streets. Throw away the waste in the right places to make your smallest and possible share in a clean environment.
The garbage problem symbol image
For the first time, garbage processing began in the UK 200 years ago. Over the past sixty years, the world community has begun to understand the seriousness of such a crisis for the planet as a whole. To attract the attention of the population to this burning topic in public places, on packages, on consumer goods, there is a symbol “garbage problem”. It represents 3 cyclic arrows closed in a triangle clockwise. Most often green, sometimes black.
The symbol “garbage problem” was introduced by environmentalists in the 70s of the 20th century to indicate containers and packaging material that have a long decomposition period in nature, and also as a reflection of the need for industrial processing of garbage. The student Gary Anderson came up with this sign in 1970.
The “garbage problem” symbol on the product may also mean that it is made from recycled garbage. Then the three arrows, closed in a triangle, are placed inside the circle. Often, such a sign can be seen on paper or cardboard products. Some interpretations of the symbol have been specially created for various industrial groups and are mandatory for application to goods.