Before we start on the steps to get us to a zero waste lifestyle, let’s figure out why we are doing this and the true impact of waste. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people in our world that don’t believe in climate change or the huge impact our lifestyles have on the environment. That’s why educating and awareness on this topic are extremely important.
Impacts On Our Environment
Even though waste is unseen after our disposal, it can have an enormous impact on our environment and health if not properly disposed of. It affects everything from our soil and water to air pollution.
Soil – After our waste reaches the landfill, the chemicals within our waste can seep into our soil, contaminating it. This affects our plants and vegetation. Not to mention, animals and humans who may come into contact with the soil. When plants are affected, so is the oxygen they give off, the food we grow, and the foliage animals eat. Once the soil has been contaminated, it’s extremely difficult to clean. This results in the soil having to be dug up to clear the area.
Water – These chemicals don’t just stop at the soil. They can also reach surrounding areas of surface water which includes lakes and rivers. This forever changes the levels of chemicals in the water. The ecosystems in the water change for the worse affecting fish habitats and any animals drinking from this water source.
Air Pollution – The gasses and chemicals that are evaporating from this waste creates air pollution. This often occurs in open-air dumps where a lot of our waste and electronics go. It also occurs through the incinerators used. In fact, incineration can even release toxic substances which result in acid rain. Other wastes will release methane which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change/global warming. It can even ignite an explosion!
Impacts On Our Health
“The environment you live in determines what kind of illness or infection you acquire.” If we reside in areas that do not manage or dispose of our wastes appropriately, or if we don’t learn to minimize the amount of waste we produce, the effects come back to haunt us.
These chemicals that our waste sites produce, such as cyanides, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls, are extremely toxic. Exposure to these chemicals can lead to diseases and complications. Residents living in close proximity to these waste treatment locations usually have excesses of cancer detected. Specifically burning our waste which releases toxic gases that are mostly carcinogenic or cancer-causing.
Even without incinerating the waste, landfills, and dumps alone are breeding grounds for bacteria and vermin. Exposure to landfill sites creates diseases with adverse health effects which include birth defects, respiratory illnesses, and again, cancer. Living within proximity of these areas is linked to affecting people of all age ranges. Especially if they include hazardous waste, which most do. Of course, young children are more susceptible to bad reactions compared to an adult due to their developing organs.
Being a mother, this is a risk I don’t want to take. It’s vital we’re aware of the chemicals our stuff is made with. As well as the impact the waste has on our health and environment. These chemicals don’t just disappear when we throw them away, they continue to exist in new ways which results in huge environmental problems. Getting rid of your waste the correct way, or ideally, minimizing the amount of waste you even produce, is one of the best things we can do for the impact our waste has on our environment.