Let’s save our planet together!
Almost every human uses products made of plastic and polyethylene. Most consumers will already make use of portable grocery bags during their daily shopping trips. If you take a closer look around, you can see masses of waste. Our planet is choking on human-made products. More than a million plastic bottles are consumed every minute on earth. What steps can be taken to change this situation?
Harm of garbage pollution
In the modern world, people are constantly faced with different types of waste. However, did you know that an ordinary person produces about 300 kg of garbage annually and this becomes a huge problem. Only 14% of this garbage is recycled, and about 80% of urban waste ends up in landfills. Millions of tons of chemical compounds pollute forests, water and soil. Even during processing, dangerous dioxins are produced.
Scientists and environmentalists predict that by 2050 the world’s seas and oceans will be so polluted that the amount of plastic waste will exceed the population of fish and marine life. This is largely due to microplastics invisible to the naked eye, which often become food for aquatic organisms, gradually poisoning them. Plastic also has a negative impact on the health of coral reefs and affects the lives of marine species.
Also, baby diapers play an important role in environmental pollution. They were created to make life easier for parents and they are a really great solution that works. Thanks to the sodium polyacrylate insert, diapers can absorb a large amount of liquid. According to statistics, the average child uses 6,000 to 8,000 diapers in the first three years of life. However, recycling a ton of used diapers saves up to 400 kg of wood, up to 145 cubic meters of gas and up to 8,700 cubic meters of water. This list of issues is endless, highlighting the urgent need to change our attitudes towards waste.
How long does it take for different products to decompose?
The terms of waste decomposition range from several days to millennia. It depends on many factors: the origin of the garbage; its material (plastic, metal, etc.); location (landfill, soil, water). During the decomposition of some types of waste, toxic substances are released that pollute the environment. Organic waste decomposes in less time, it is not dangerous. Everything that is artificially created, as a rule, decomposes longer and requires special processing. The time of its decomposition depends on which group the waste belongs to.
- Food waste: 2-4 weeks.
- Plant debris: from 2-6 months.
- Printed products: plain paper 2-3 months; cardboard 4-5 months; glossy magazines up to 5 years.
- Polyethylene and polypropylene: bags and other products up to 200 years.
- Hygiene items: diapers, pads and tampons from 400 to 500 years.
- Plastic: decomposition period of more than 100 years or more.
- Glass: 1000 years.
The list is endless. All this leads to the accumulation of waste exponentially, because even the first products have not yet been dissolved in the environment, and according to statistics, the production of such things is only increasing every year.
How to save the earth – simple solutions
Conscious consumption and waste sorting will help save the environment. In general, the process is not so complicated. The main thing is to develop the habit of distributing your waste and getting rid of it wisely, as well as inspire loved ones to do the same. There are simple rules and recommendations that should be followed in order to preserve the earth:
- Garbage sorting. This approach greatly simplifies the separation of reusable waste.
- Opt for reusable water bottles.
- Reuse plastic bags or ditch them in favor of a shopping bag made from recyclable materials.
- Choose eco-friendly transport. You should replace the car with a bicycle - this will reduce exhaust emissions, as well as improve health.
- Cleaning up after yourself. When picnicking or relaxing on the beach, do not leave trash behind. Use a trash bag to collect waste.
- Environmentally friendly products. Products made from natural raw materials are less harmful to the environment, as they are easily processed and do not contain synthetic substances that pollute the biosphere.
- Reducing electricity consumption. Don't leave the lights on unnecessarily. It would also be appropriate to use energy-saving light bulbs.
- Controlled water consumption. Excessive use of water resources leads to the drying up of watercourses. This not only destroys nature, but also increases the cost of the resource.
- Reusable packaging and the rejection of disposable tableware. This will prevent plastic and polyethylene from accumulating at home.
- Reusable diapers serve several purposes. First, the family will experience significant cost savings. Secondly, the child is much earlier accustomed to asking to go to the toilet. And, thirdly, a decrease in consumption will lead to an improvement in the environmental situation.
The reason for the violation of the environment lies in the irrational and irresponsible behavior of people who do not care about the environment. Therefore, the key to solving many problems lies in changing the attitude of mankind towards nature. Can one person save our planet from ecological catastrophe? Probably no. But together people achieve the impossible only by following simple rules.
