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Introduction - Problem statement Discussion - Residential waste - Waste materials - Garbage disposal 3. Conclusion - Importance of environmental protection Hazardous Waste Impacts on Environment It is a known fact that since man has entered the Industrial Age in society, he has taken advantage of what natural resources that have been accessible to him. Mankind has brought about the extinction of many plant and animal species. He has dumped waste and polluted many lakes, rivers, and streams to the point where nothing can exist in them any longer. He has destroyed forests at an alarming rate causing many species to die and the loss of thousands of square miles of forest area, a majority of it in the name of profit.
Confident that the atmosphere can tolerate, dissipate or otherwise cope with the unwanted by-products of industry and fossil-fuel combustion, we continue to pump poisons in our environment. However, the hidden cost of our negligence is now coming to light. In a community, for example, garbage disposal seems to be a never-ending problem. It is said that approximately one-third of the household garbage is composed of paper, another third is organic waste (food scraps and yard refuse); and the third is glass, metal, plastic, textiles and wood. Residential wastes make up one-third to one-half of the total waste stream; the rest is produced in manufacturing and industrial processes that provide us with the goods we buy and the services we demand. However, if packaging is a measure of a consumer society, it also characterizes the many problems that arise from our consumer habits.
The more layers there are of different materials, all combined for maximum protection, the more difficult it is to recycle the package. As a result, the package is disposed of in landfill or is incinerated. There is also the problem of the materials themselves. Some foam contains CFC plastics that release toxic chemicals when burned and they dont break down in landfill sites. (Martinson).
When garbage is incinerated, part is left in the form of ash. When garbage is dumped in landfill sites, it is basically being stored and reduced by compaction, shredding or decomposition. Both landfill and incineration have environmental price tags. One of the main problems with incineration is that, if the incinerator is not highly efficient, the emissions from the burning process and the resulting ashes may pose risks to human health and to the environment. Because in most cases, little is known about the exact composition of each load of garbage; there is no control over what gets burned.
Toxic and hazardous materials may be going up the stack and into the air. The resulting ash may also contain toxins or hazardous substances that are transported to landfill sites (Dadd). The damage we cause today by dumping waste or creating more smog in the city unlikely will be seen by those who create it. As population growth continues to accelerate into the 21 st Century, waste management will play an integral part in maintaining an ecological balance within our environment. We can no longer generate unlimited quantities of waste, and must sacrifice our economic viability to ensure long term protection of the earth. Therefore, recycling plays an important strategy in minimizing the generation of waste and reducing the need of hazardous landfills.
Bibliography: Dadd, Debra Lynn. Non-Toxic and Natural: How to Avoid Dangerous Everyday Products and Buy or Make Safe Ones. New York: St. Martins Press, 1984.
Martinson, Charles. Air Pollution Control in the flexo graphic printing industry. web
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