Pollution affects our planet’s biodiversity
through the air, the land, and the water. This article primarily focuses on
land pollution, and its effects on our ecosystem.
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| trashitman.com |
Each and every
day, the average United States resident is responsible for 4 lbs of trash. This
presents enormous costs, dangers, and waste. And while the actual number of
landfills in the United States has gone down in recent years, their mass continues
to rise. Several factors contribute to the waste accumulation, but one of the
most important contributors is the lack of recycling being done. Studies have
shown that nearly 90% of the average citizen’s trash is in fact recyclable, yet
only 26% actually gets recycled. A recent study broke down what is in the
average citizen’s trash: 31% Paper, 13% Yard Debris, 13% Food scraps, 12%
Plastics, 8% Metals, 8% Rubber and Leather, 7% Wood, 5% Glass, and 3% Other.
That
overwhelming 31% paper content of trash is completely recyclable, yet much of
it goes straight to landfills and waste locations. The 13% yard debris is also
recyclable, and can be made into useful soils and other organic matter. The 13%
food scrap contents can largely be easily compostable. If these practices were
implemented in the average United States household, it would result in over
half of their trash now being recycled.
| cityofredlands.org |
The driving
reason behind the efforts to reduce waste are the emissions waste management
produces. Methane, along with several other dangerous gases negatively affect our
environment and the ecosystem by contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The
major efforts to reduce waste are source-management, which is education on how
to control human consumption in the first place, recycling efforts, and
increased awareness of the benefits of composting. In addition, there have been
increases in education and awareness of at-home practices including lawn care
and home building design that have been proven to reduce, manage, and control
waste produced by the United States.
Waste management is important to maintaining a healthy
planet. Find out more at:
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