For those who are serious about recycling and the overall well-being of the planet, the entire definition of global warming and most importantly, what causes it, is an extremely important subject and one that is not emphasized enough.
It is inevitable that the production of waste is something that cannot be taken lightly as it is ever-growing and will continue to do so as the population increases day by day. This overall has a huge impact on the environment. Not only now but for many years and even centuries to come. Coming to terms with this fact is quite easy and simple if you think about it. An extreme amount of waste is created each and every day, all around the world. This waste, if not managed or recycled properly, never disappears and remains on earth for decades to even centuries. It’s crazy to think of such a fact when you toss those plastic bottles without an intention to recycle them.
Different Ways Waste Affects the Environment
As one of the biggest contributors to global warming, waste might have more of an impact then you think.
Pollution
Ever heard of ‘leachate’? Well, chances are that most people haven’t. It is a liquid pollutant that occurs when a landfill site is not sealed properly. It is toxic and escapes from the waste to surrounding groundwater which causes environmental problems for both plants and animals.
Ultimately, the process starts with waste breaking down. This type of waste is known to contain heavy metals, pesticides, solvents and chemical compounds that filter into the bottom of the landfill site. This can only be prevented if landfills have a sealed barrier which will prevent liquid pollution to enter groundwater.
Pests
There are many organisms that thrive in an environment that contains waste. These include rats, flies, vermin and even certain types of weeds. These are all considered non-native species. Native species also tend to be attracted to these areas as there are usually plenty of food laying around. This is incredibly dangerous as these animals can easily obtain diseases and spread it.
Loss of Biodiversity
One of the biggest and probably impacts of waste on the environment includes losing species of both plants and animals. Whenever a new landfill site is established, large amounts of vegetation are lost in the environment which places hundreds of species at risk.
Litter
Materials that are lightweight such as film and plastic can be moved from the landfill site with the wind and spread to areas that could potentially harm both wildlife and domestic animals as they might mistake it for food. With 80% of all plastic litter that is found in the ocean, this might be the biggest problem that many seem to ignore which causes one of the worst impacts.
