Disposing of waste is an ongoing issue around the world, and we need to get a grip on our consumer habits before waste overwhelms us. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as digging a hole, pushing in all the waste, and covering it up. In fact, many unexpected types of waste pose problems in the marketplace and the environment. Here are a few waste disposal issues you may not know about.
Food Waste
When you were a kid, your parents or guardians probably insisted you clean your plate. Not wasting food does more than benefit your household budget; it addresses a widespread problem. Food waste usually goes with regular trash, meaning it’s destined for the landfill. By some estimates, that’s a third of all the food produced! The fuel, fertilizer, water, and other necessities for food production were also wasted.
In a landfill, a good chunk of plant-based food won’t have the opportunity to decompose and become compost, feeding future crops. Also, trash that doesn’t decompose naturally produces methane, which harms the atmosphere.
The Grey Market
You’ve likely heard the expression, “Not everything is black and white.” That’s especially true of the grey market, which isn’t a place so much as a term for unofficial stores and distributors that sell off-spec and out-of-date products procured through various means. They’re not necessarily illegal, but grey market items are often shoddy, inferior, and potentially dangerous.
Many manufacturers want to keep their off-spec products away from the grey market in order to prevent grey market distributors from selling them, endangering customers, and damaging their brand. While destroying off-spec products is necessary, business owners must account for the non-recyclable waste the process generates.
Leachate Perils
You may be unfamiliar with “leachate,” but it’s an important term to know. Leachate is water that has run through solid waste and absorbed hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, and organic compounds. This happens when rain seeps through the ground in landfills. The leachate can enter the surrounding region’s groundwater and waterways, poisoning the supply and harming local flora and fauna. Some landfills are set up to avoid leachate, but many are not.
Now you know more about a few waste disposal issues. With a few changes to personal and community habits, we can control waste generation and protect the environment.