There are currently many environmental problems facing the planet, and the consequences will continue to come if we do not change our way of acting. It is necessary to strengthen environmental education for present and future generations, as well as to have professionals trained in this sector who are capable of implementing innovative waste management methods.
There is a long list of environmental problems, but among the main global challenges we face today are: climate change, pollution, soil degradation, deforestation, areas with water scarcity and, most sadly, the extinction of animal species.
This post will be dedicated specifically to talking about environmental education, energy efficiency and urban waste management.
What is environmental education ?
It is the process by which society is instructed to take a conscious attitude towards the current situation of the planet. To make known the importance of the relationship between human beings and the ecosystem and the consequences of this. Therefore, the main function of environmental education is to get society to take a conscious role regarding the complexity of nature and thus guarantee that future generations can enjoy a stable and healthy environment.
Today we will give you a couple of tips that you can put into practice from your home to collaborate with the care of the environment and thus, improve your environmental education and that of those around you.
Energy efficiency at home:
Turn off the lights at home, in the office or at school when you are not using them.
It's normal to get home and turn on all the lights you pass by out of bad habit, but by turning off the ones you're not using you'll also be helping to reduce your electricity bill. Another option is to use low-consumption light bulbs. To do this you'll need to make a small investment (as they tend to be more expensive) but, in the long term, you'll be saving some money.
Reduce electricity consumption. In addition to trying to spend less, look for optimization solutions. Don't waste energy by having equipment plugged in when it's not in use and try to insulate your home better to be more efficient in the use of heating or air conditioning equipment. There are new glass ranges that improve the exchange of temperatures, so that the house has to work less hard to regulate the interior temperature.
Avoid plastics:
A simple practice is not buying or asking for plastic bags every time you go shopping. Ideally, you should have recyclable bags at home specifically for shopping, this way every time you visit the supermarket you will avoid taking unnecessary bags home.
Recycle:
You can help by recycling garbage at home, separating paper, plastic, cardboard, plastic or glass containers, etc. It is becoming more common for cities to provide residents with different garbage containers that help improve environmental education.
Environmental education, Solid waste management
Carpool:
If you live in a city where it is impossible for you to get around by bicycle, you have more options to collaborate with environmental education : use public transport or share a car with people who go to nearby areas or to the same one that you have to go to every day.
Plant trees:
If you have the advantage of living in a city where houses have gardens or you have parks around, you can plant trees. These provide great benefits to the environment, such as absorbing carbon dioxide and transforming it into oxygen.
Aid:
Keep the spaces you inhabit clean: beyond putting trash in its place, help clean parks, green areas or contaminated beaches that are within your reach.
Find out:
On the other hand, there are more professional activities that require expert kuwait numbers s to carry them out. To do this, we will talk about urban solid waste management.
Urban Solid Waste Management
The final destination of waste is the set of operations carried out for its elimination or, in some cases, the use of some of the resources contained in it.
It should be noted that, although there are some countries that have a high level of control over waste management, there is a large majority that does not.
At one time, one of the most commonly used methods for dealing with solid waste was to dump it into the ground or the sea. This was the easiest way to do it and the serious consequences that this would bring were not taken into account. As civilization and research into the consequences developed, methods were created that proposed or propose a solution to this problem.
The main solutions implemented:
Controlled discharge:
This involves placing the waste on the ground, spreading it out in small layers and reducing its volume. Ideally, the layers should be covered daily to minimise the risk of environmental contamination. In this case, the land must have the capacity to absorb the waste. When the capacity of the layer is full, the ideal is to convert these lands into sports areas or the possibility of creating gardens.
Incineration:
It is the controlled combustion process that transforms waste into inert materials, i.e. ashes and gases. One of its advantages is that it can be carried out in urban areas.
Recycling:
This is one of the most popular processes, as people can start the technique from their homes. The main objective is the recovery of certain components contained in said waste and one of the main advantages is that it represents a considerable reduction in the resources to be treated, making it more economical and practical.
Composting:
It is the process of transforming, through controlled fermentation, the organic matter found in urban waste into a harmless product with good properties as a fertilizer. Applying it to soil does not cause damage to plants and it can be stored for a period of time.
Consequences of poor waste management
As we have already mentioned, climate change is one of the biggest problems that some countries are already facing and one of the consequences of poor waste management. It should be noted that most of these are developing countries, such as Puerto Rico, Honduras, Haiti, the Philippines, Burma, etc. These are victims of hurricanes, floods, fires, thus representing the most visible and devastating effects of global warming. In addition, an increase in deaths is estimated between 2030 and 2050, the main reasons according to the World Health Organization (WHO), will be due to malnutrition, diarrhea, malaria and heat stress.