Source Distribution 4 Or More Popular Periodicals Magazines ✓ Solved

Source Distribution 4 Or More Popular Periodicals Magazines

Source Distribution: 4 or more popular periodicals (magazines, newspapers); 4 or more reference (encyclopedia, government); 1 or more scholarly (peer-reviewed research, academic journal, trade journal); 1 or more multimedia (documentary, blog).

With an organized synthesis of sources, you support your thesis and ultimately answer your research question on this complex issue of sustainability.

Paper For Above Instructions

Title: Waste Disposal: Negative Impacts on Sustainability

The issue of waste disposal presents a significant challenge to sustainability across multiple dimensions—environmental, social, and economic. The growing volumes of waste created by urbanization and consumer behavior lead to complex interrelated problems that have detrimental effects on health, ecosystems, and economies. Each individual contributes to the global waste problem, with the average American generating approximately 4.43 pounds of trash daily (Levinson, 2012). Although it may seem that each piece of waste constitutes a minor issue, collectively, they overwhelm ecosystems and threaten sustainability.

One of the primary impacts of improper waste disposal is its disruptive influence on ecological balance. A study by the University of Bayreuth highlights that as aquatic species develop defenses against predators, pollution, especially from plastics, hampers this development (Targeted News Service, 2019). When species are unable to defend themselves adequately, their populations decline, which can lead to cascading effects throughout the food web, with predators facing abundance in prey, creating imbalance (Sahagun, 2013).

Plastic waste poses significant risks beyond just individual species, affecting microorganisms which can transmute into pathogens. Tiny plastic particles in aquatic environments serve as vectors for harmful microbes, jeopardizing both human health and marine biodiversity (Sahagun, 2013). When plastics break down in the ocean, they become ubiquitous in the food chain, eventually contaminating seafood, with potential health consequences for humans (Knapton, 2018).

Furthermore, waste decomposition contributes significantly to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 16% of human-related methane emissions in the U.S. originate from waste decomposition (EPA, 2018). In developing nations such as the Philippines and India, open burning remains prevalent in waste management, exacerbating the methane problem and contributing to global warming (Ferronato & Torretta, 2019).

The health implications of waste processing are starkly visible in regions where local populations rely on informal waste collection for livelihoods. In Cairo, for instance, families comb through municipal waste—a highly polluted environment—exposing children to myriad health risks (Collie, 2003). Such toxic exposure can lead to long-term chronic health issues, with children impacted by contaminants that enter their systems through contaminated water and food (Anetor, 2016).

Moreover, economic burdens tied to waste management also escalate. A report by the Wall Street Journal notes that cities like Los Angeles have seen garbage processing costs triple due to new recycling mandates (Wall Street Journal, 2018). This drastic increase affects low-income families who struggle to pay for essential services, often leading to a conflict between maintaining quality of life and addressing environmental regulations.

Conclusion: The consequences of waste disposal are injurious to all three pillars of sustainability—environmental integrity, human health, and economic stability. Plummeting biodiversity caused by pollution, health inequities experienced by marginalized communities, and economic pressures resulting from increasing waste management costs collectively threaten sustainable development. Comprehensive approaches involving better practices in waste management and robust community engagement are imperative to mitigate these consequences and pave the way for a sustainable future.

References

  • Anetor, Gloria O. "Waste Dumps in Local Communities in Developing Countries and Hidden Danger to Health." Perspectives in Public Health, vol. 136, no. 4, 2016.

  • Collie, Tim. "TRASHING A WAY OF LIFE; CAIRO'S ZABBALEEN, OR GARBAGE PICKERS, MAY LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOOD." South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Apr. 20, 2003.

  • EPA, Environmental Protection Agency. “Wastes.” 19 Nov. 2018.

  • Ferronato, Navarro, and Vincenzo Torretta. “Waste Mismanagement in Developing Countries: A Review of Global Issues.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 24 Mar. 2019.

  • Knapton, Sarah. "Plastic Waste Leaves Reefs Vulnerable to Diseases: Scientists Say 11 Bn Items of Waste are Lodged on Corals, Massively Increasing the Risk of Infection." The Daily Telegraph, Jan. 26, 2018.

  • Levinson, Marc. "At the Top of the Heap; does America Suffer from a Trash Addiction?" Wall Street Journal, Apr. 17, 2012.

  • Sahagun, Louis. "A Trash-Based Ecosystem; Scientists Call it the Plastisphere, and it's Got them Worried." Los Angeles Times, Dec. 28, 2013.

  • Wall Street Journal. "Garbage in, Garbage Out in L.A." Feb 07, 2018.