Land pollution and minimisation of waste

Waste

items that people no longer have any use for. Solid wastes – which take the form of solids and liquid wastes – can include chemicals, household wastewater, industrial wastes, etc.

examples:

• household items

• sewage

• 
  wastes from manufacturing

• 
  wastes from packages

• 
  old cars

• 
  appliances such as old televisions, refridgerators

• 
  agricultural wastes

Where waste comes from?

• Households

• 
  Commercial activities - groceries, restaurants, and fast food outlets

• 
  Industry – oil companies, automotive companies, clothing

• manufacturers

• 
  Agriculture

• 
  Construction and demolition

• 
  Mining and quarrying

• 
  The generation of energy

Waste categories

• Municipal Wastes - includes household and commercial wastes

• Industrial waste - including manufacturing, refining (production of metals, food, beverage and tobacco

  products, wood and wood products)

• Hazardous Waste

• Construction and Demolition Waste

• Mining Waste (topsoil, overburden, waste rock)

• Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment - ewastes

• Biodegradable Municipal Waste

• Packaging Waste

• End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) and Tyres

• Agricultural Waste (pesticides, waste oils and

  veterinary medicines, fertilizer)

Waste minimization

the process of reducing the amount of wastes produced by a person or a society.

Waste pollution problems

• the land for disposal could have been used for alternative purposes.

• some wastes may be hazardous and can pose a serious threat to the environment and human health if not disposed of properly.

• additional resources have to be used in waste disposal e.g. energy for compacting the waste.

• the resources of the earth are limited and the population is increasing rapidly.

The four R’s

Reduction - By practicing waste prevention, or "source reduction," less will be consumed and less will be thrown away.

Reuse - Reusing items by repairing them, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them also reduces waste.

Recycling - Recycling transforms materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resource.

Recovery - Parts or items, materials or energy from wastes products that cannot be recycled can be recovered for reuse or recycling.

Kyoto Protocol

The protocol called for reducing the emissions of six greenhouse gases in 41 countries plus the European Union.

Contaminated land

land with hazardous substances in or on it that are reasonably likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment (including human health).

How land becomes contaminated

Land can become contaminated when hazardous substances are not used, stored or disposed of in a safe way.

What causes land pollution

• Manufacture and use of pesticides

• Production of gas and coal products

• Production, storage and use of petroleum products

• Historic mining – usually associated with metals leaching from old tailings dams and mine shafts.

• Timber treatment

• Sheep dipping – from use of DDT, dieldrin, arsenic and other chemicals to treat parasites on sheep.

Waste management hierarchy

1. Prevent

2. Reduce

3. Reuse

4. Recycle

5. Recover

6. Dispose

risks associated with contaminated land

• Air contaminants.

• Toxic waste.

• Radiation.

• Disease-causing microorganisms and plants.

• Pesticides.

• Heavy metals.

• Chemicals in consumer products.

• Extreme temperatures and weather events.