Solid Waste:
The "Disposable Society"Think about a day in your life and collect everything that you throw away. How much will it weigh? In anindustrial society like US an average person discards about 2.5 kilograms of paper, metal, plastic, and otherdisposable material daily (over a lifetime about 50 tons). This is the example of a disposable society, whereconvenience has become a cultural value. A rich society consumes much more and most of the items havethrowaway packaging. The most familiar case is that of fast food, served in cardboard, plastic, and Styrofoam containers that we throw away within minutes. Countless other products are elaboratelypackaged to make the product more attractive to the consumer. The other disposables: the bottles, pens,razors, flashlights, batteries, and other items designed to have limited life. We are fast emulating the culturalpatterns of Western society.Where does this waste go? Since most of it is not recycled, so it never `goes away'. It needs landfills andposes several threats to the natural environment. So it needs land for disposal, which contributes to waterpollution (both above and below the ground). For the protection of environment, this waste has to berecycled.Preserving Clean WaterOceans, lakes, and streams supply the lifeblood of the global ecosystem. Humans depend on water fordrinking, bathing, cooling, cooking, recreation, agriculture, and host of other activities.According to what scientists call the hydrological cycle, the earth naturally recycles water and refreshes the land.The process begins as heat from the sun causes the earth's water to evaporate and form clouds. Water thenreturns to earth as rain, which drains into streams and rivers and rushes towards sea. This hydrological cyclenot only renews the supply of water but cleans it as well. Pollutants steadily build up that affect the watersupply and the environment.Soaring population and complex technology have greatly increased the societies' appetite for water. Even inparts of world that receive significant rainfall, people are using groundwater faster than it can be naturallyreplenished.We must face the reality that water is valuable, and is a finite resource. Greater conservation on the part ofindividuals, industry, and farming is the answer. Then there is the problem of water pollution affecting thehealth of the people. It is also part of development and population growth.Clearing the AirOne of the unexpected consequences of industrial technology (especially the factory and the motor vehicle)has been a decline in air quality. In the developed countries, great strides have been made in combatingpollution caused by industrial way of life. Laws have made to prohibit air pollution. Scientists havedeveloped new technologies to reduce the air pollution. But in the developing countries the problem of airpollution is becoming serious. Fuels used for cooking and heating damage the air quality. The poor nationsare eager to encourage short-term industrial development but pay little heed to the long-term dangers of airpollution. Cities are plagued by air pollution.There is also the danger of acid rain. It refers to precipitation, made acidic by air pollution that destroys plant andanimal life. It begins with power plants burning fossil fuels (oil and coal) to generate electricity; this burningreleases sulfuric and nitrous oxides into the air. As the wind sweeps these gases into the atmosphere, theyreact with the air to form sulfuric and nitric acids, which turn atmospheric moisture acidic.One type of pollution can cause another. Air pollution can cause water contamination.Preserving the Forests
