Waste management

• Waste produced by humans can reduce biodiversity
• Biodiversity

  The variety of all of the different species of organisms on earth or in an ecosystem
• Maintaining a rich biodiversity on earth is important as it makes ecosystems more stable
• Over the last 100 years, the population of humans has increased massively and the average standard of living has also increased
• Humans are using more of the earth's resources than ever before and are producing more wastes, leading to pollution
• Water pollution from human waste

  1. Sewage containing urine and feces is released into waterways

  2. Fertilizers from farms pollute rivers and streams

  3. Toxic chemicals from factories are released into rivers
• Sewage and fertilizers in waterways

  Causes dissolved oxygen levels to fall, killing aquatic organisms
• Air pollution from human activities

  1. Burning coal in power stations releases acidic gases, causing acid rain

  2. Burning releases smoke, killing plants and animals
• Land pollution from human waste

  1. Millions of tons of waste are dumped in landfills, destroying habitats

  2. Toxic chemicals leach out of landfills, polluting soil

  3. Toxic chemicals are dumped directly onto land, killing living organisms
• Waste from human activities is reducing biodiversity
• It is extremely important that we carefully handle and dispose of our waste materials without harming the environment