It may seem, on the surface, that litter helps wildlife rather than being harmful. Some food litter can help feed animals or give them a place to seek shelter from heat or rain. To the contrary, litter and landfill waste is actually more harmful than beneficial to animals and wildlife.Between the dangers of what is thrown away and how it is thrown away, landfills pose a very real threat to wildlife in and around them.
Cigarette butts, monofilament fishing line, and disposable plastic lighters are quite prevalent hazards as far as litter goes. And, although not one of the most major contributors of environmental pollution, plastic 6-pack rings do their share of damage to wildlife.
These 6-pack rings, also called yokes, get tangled around animals’ necks or mouths strangling them or preventing them from being able to eat. Turtles and other animals have been found with one around their leg or body deforming it for life, if not killing them.
There are many dangers associated with what is thrown into landfills as well; the negative effects of which are most commonly placed into two distinct categories: atmospheric effects and hydrological effects. While they are both of equal importance, it is important to understand the specific factors that drive them on an individual basis.
Atmospheric Effects
According to the EPA, methane is produced by the decomposition of organic matter in unmanaged landfills and is 20 times more damaging than carbon dioxide at trapping heat from the sun. Household cleaning products and other chemicals often get thrown into landfills instead of being disposed of through a Household Hazardous Waste collection site.
The mixture of chemicals like bleach and ammonia in landfills can produce toxic gases that can significantly impact the quality of air in the vicinity of the landfill.Aside from the several types of gases that can be created by landfills, dust and other forms of non-chemical contaminants can make their way into the atmosphere. This contributes further to the air quality issue that plagues modern landfills.
Hydrological Effects
Landfills also create a toxic soup of industrial and home-cleaning chemicals called leachate. Leachate is a naturally occurring liquid by-product usually as a result of natural decomposition. Rainwater is the biggest source of leachate, however. If runoff from a landfill is not properly managed, risk exists for it mixing with the groundwater in that area. This can have dire consequences for local communities, particularly in cases where the landfill leachate is toxic or contains harmful chemicals, and can potentially also impact the ecosystems of rivers, streams, and oceans.
Landfills can be managed correctly, effectively eliminating some of the inherent dangers to wildlife that are associated with them. For more information on trash and recycling visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.
Actions You Can Take:
- Cut 6-pack rings into pieces before throwing them into the trash
- Buy beverages that do not use plastic 6-pack rings
- If you find litter, especially 6-pack rings, dispose of it properly
- Consider the chemicals that you throw into your household trash
No comments:
Post a Comment