Pollution is an all-encompassing word that covers everything from water contamination to air pollution to land degradation.  As humans we produce so much waste that it is staggering.  It affects not only our own species but also every species on our planet.

In 1995 the United States produced solid waste of about 190 million metric tons.  This would mean a daily output sufficient to fill the Superdome in New Orleans 2 ½ times daily!  (Owen et al. 423)  This amount of refuse is almost unimaginable.  We hold the distinction of being the world’s largest garbage producer.  This is not something of which we should be proud.

Solid waste has many detrimental qualities.  First, it is extremely expensive to handle.  Waste disposal in many cities is second only to education expense.  Secondly, solid waste disposal requires the use of landfill spaces which are often in short supply.  This land could be put to much better use.  In many cities there is no more space for landfills, and they must transport their wastes to other cities or states.  Often we are dumping our waste at sea, assuming that because it is out of sight it does not create problems.

Thirdly, garbage disposal and incineration require that we waste valuable natural resources which could be made available for other uses.  Some larger cities dispose more aluminum each year than can be produced by a small bauxite mine, and the same applies for many other products.  Fourth, the waste of these products requires that we squander more valuable resources replacing these products which have been thoughtlessly discarded.

Now that we are running out of places to build new landfills, more people are realizing the need to come up with alternatives.  Yet, unfortunately, still only about 20% of our waste is reused or recycled (Owen et al. 424).  This is not a sustainable process, as we are finally beginning to understand.  See the page on What Can Be Done for more details on our options.

Incineration is an option, but it is heavily contested.  While we have been able to drastically reduce the emissions from these plants, they still pollute the air.  The burning of plastics and other materials containing chlorine also emit dangerous compounds called dioxins.  These have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and other health problems.  Pollution control devices also generate a hazardous residue called “fly ash”, materials which were removed from the smokestack gases.  The “bottom ash” in the incinerator is also toxic as it contains heavy metals.  Sweden and Denmark have decided to halt construction any new incinerators until scientists can determine the risks which they pose.  Reducing one form of pollution while creating another form is not a wise option.

The United States is also the world’s leader in hazardous waste production, by some estimates creating one metric ton annually for each U. S. citizen.  The chemical and petroleum industries account for almost 70% of this production (Owen et al. 423).

During the 1950s and 1960s case after case appeared where communities discovered toxic waste dumps near or actually under their homes.  Health problems, especially in the young and unborn, were dramatic, ranging from respiratory difficulties to birth defects.  These situations were uncovered in many developed countries of the world.

Despite the fact that governments drafted regulations to clean up these sites, progress has been excruciatingly slow.  The Superfund (CERCLA) was created by the U. S. Congress in 1980 to help in this process.  This act has been renewed in 1986 and 1990 and empowers the EPA to collect  reimbursement for its expenses in cleaning up these sites.  This money can be obtained from hazardous waste site owners, operators, and companies which have paid to have their wastes dumped in the area.   See the EPA home page for more details.  There have been millions of dollars spent in legal fees as everyone tries to sort out who is at fault.  It is extremely expensive to clean up these sites, and no one wants to acknowledge responsibility.

If we do not curb our hazardous waste production, cleanup efforts will be never-ending.  Part of the answer has been that the EPA now requires all producers, transporters, and disposers of hazardous waste to register them with the EPA so that they can be tracked from point of origin to point of disposition.  In addition, facilities now must be licensed to handle hazardous waste.

By modifying or redesigning the manufacturing processes that create these wastes, they can be significantly reduced.  Many companies have found that once they have done this not only have they reduced their waste by over 50%, they have also saved millions of dollars in production and disposal costs.  This is one area in which there has been massive participation.  The EPA instigated a voluntary program for manufacturers to reduce their hazardous waste by 50% by the year 1994.  The program was so successful that the 50% reduction goal was reached a year ahead of schedule (Owen et al. 437).

Hazardous waste can also be recycled for use in other processes.  This option has not been utilized effectively to date.  We can look to Japan as a role model in this area.  They produce about 200 million metric tons of waste, both hazardous and nonhazardous annually.  Over 50% of this is recycled, while another 30% is incinerated (Owen et al. 438).  There are new developments in this type of incineration which can destroy all traces of PCBs and other organic wastes.  Hazardous waste can also be used in combustion processes in cement and lime kilns.  This can reduce costs to these companies and dispose of the toxic waste at the same time.

Air pollution has increased dramatically since the industrial revolution of humans.  For a detailed description of this problem, refer to the page on Air Pollution.

Water covers nearly 70% of our planet, yet the majority of this water is salt water.  We have very little reserves in fresh water for human use.  However, we have polluted or contaminated a great majority of our water sources with little thought about our future needs.  This pollution has extended to the ocean now in the belief that it is so vast we cannot cause any real damage to this environment.  Our shortsightedness is deplorable and will cause problems for many generations of people to come.  See the page on Water Pollution.

For specific regulations on various types of pollutants, visit the Environmental Protection Agency website.
 
 

Terrestrial Ecosystems	Marine Ecosystems