The problem of waste

3. THE PROBLEM OF WASTE WHERE WASTE COMES FROM -

Waste is made up of useless materials which become rubbish after they have been used or performed their function.

Production and consumption generates different types of waste:

1. Solid waste: - These are waste generated in urban and surrounding areas.

- Uncontrolled disposal of this waste in large areas of land known as landfills and dums can led some problems: - When waste decomposes and dissolves in wate and other liquids, it produces leachates (lixiviado).

- Degradation of areas: landscape is transform by the accumulation of waste , altering its ecosystems and threatening its biodiversity.

- The landfills can act as a source of infection, fires and unpleasant odours caused by the combustion of gases.

3. THE PROBLEM OF WASTE 2. Liquid waste: - Water can be contaminated by liquid waste from industry, domestic use and irrigation wate containing dissolved chemicals.

- If this water is left untreated it can cause problems: 1.

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Surface water and groundwater can be contaminated by rin-off (escorrentĂ­a) and dumping causing fauna and vegetation to die.

Eutrophication, or abundance of nutrients in standing water (lakes or reservoirs), causes excessive algae growth, decreasing the amount of oxygen in the water and killing fish and plants.

Oil spills in ocean waters cause environmental catastrophes (contaminated areas on the surface called oil slicks) Run- off (liberar) of amurca: a highly pollluting substance when olives are processed to make oil.

3. THE PROBLEM OF WASTE WASTE MANAGEMENT - The first step in waste management is to apply the 3 R rule: reduce, reuse and recycle.

1. Reduce the production of waste 2. Reuse things before disposing of them.

3. Recycle elements that can be used as raw materials in other production proceesses.

- To prevent uncontrolled polluting emissions and run-off into the environment , the goverment enacts regulations (laws) and monitors comliance.

- It has created purification and waste processing plants, where the various types of waste are separated and processed differently