We can all agree that we live in a bothersome pandemic situation. Maybe for some, the past year felt like someone hit the pause button of our lives and our world just stopped in a way. Monotony became the norm. We heard fewer honks by the vehicles as we roam out less. One might think that minimum usage of vehicles would’ve made the world a little better because of the lesser emission of greenhouse gasses. But it’s not the case anymore as things are getting back to normal. If we turn our attention to the waste we produce from our own household, it would’ve been as huge as heaps and heaps of mountains of waste.

What is waste?

Waste is the final product of a usable commodity, or we can say waste is recurring in nature. Once an individual gains more wealth, they tend to buy more and more commodities. As a result, we tend to discharge these commodities after their usage without properly searching if there are any other alternative ways to use them again. Well, guess what? we live on earth, remember the living planet? Which is not a planet to merely carry trash alone? Ring any bells?

If you ever feel you can’t use a product, don’t throw it away like it’s trash. There are many orphanages, which can use your semi-used commodities. You can save your commodity from going to trash cans (which will probably end up in an ocean), and easily you can be a reason for someone’s smile. To avoid any consequences, we can use a used-up item till they properly expire. Too much hard work? Well, there’s this quote by Jeff Bezos: “our biggest cost is not power, or servers, or people. It’s the lack of utilization. It dominates all other costs.” This means before throwing off a product, think about an alternative of how it can benefit you TWICE!

What is municipal waste?

Municipal waste is outlined as waste collected and treated by or for municipalities. It covers waste from households, together with enormous waste, similar waste from trade, workplace, buildings, establishments, and little businesses, besides the yard and garden waste, street sweepings, the contents of litter containers, and household waste. The definition excludes waste from municipal waste product networks and treatment, besides waste from construction and demolition sites. Municipal waste matter is outlined as waste matter or a combination of waste matter from households and of commercial origin, besides precipitation water.

Decrease in natural resources:

As lands are constantly being used by us for commercial or residential expansion, we tend to slowly eradicate the existence of forests and greenery for a living, oh mother irony?. The waste collected by the municipality is even burnt. Because of the burning of waste, the air is trapped with toxic components which result in troubled breathing for the people nearby.

Is Municipal waste hazardous?

Environmental protection drives waste management policies wherever there’s robust legislation protecting the air, water, and land, also wherever environmental degradation is very visible.

Affects of Municipal waste:

• Mud and Filthy Dirt: robust wind and storm are spreading mud and filth from the open dumps of solid waste to adjacent areas.
• Odor: areas closer to the open dumpsites get affected with a horrible smell of filth from the waste, thanks to odor emitting from these dumps.
• Rats and other vermin: Open dumps of communal solid waste are providing an enticing environment for rats and a variety of vermin.
• Greenhouse Gasses: Greenhouse gasses are incessantly exposed to the atmosphere.
• Contamination: Contaminating fresh water through the open dump contaminates groundwater resources.
• Health and Sanitation: Open dumps of solid waste are a significant threat to human health and sanitation.

Solid waste dumps are a factor to consider for spoiling the environmental conditions in developing countries. The negative environmental impact of improper solid waste is simply discoverable everywhere in the developing world. Several developed towns are facing miserable solid waste management crises thanks to speedy industrialization, urbanization, and shy funding. Improper solid waste dumps are spreading diseases within the study space. It’s investigated through an elaborate analysis, thanks to rapid climb in population, increments in solid waste generation rate, management deficiencies, lack of legislative implementation and funding, that we are probably heading towards a waste-ridden society.

An inefficient municipal solid waste management system that produces serious negative environmental effects like infectious diseases, land and air pollution, obstruction of drains, and loss of diversity.

Conclusion:

Natural resources are getting depleted in the swipe-up generation. Because of excessive waste, most of the developing countries aren’t able to offer correct facilities for the gathering and disposal of communal solid waste to the complete population. Considering the general negative effects related to greenhouse gasses and burning on open grounds, these practices should be powerfully discharged.

By Fred & Aryaman