Alena: Companies are producing more and more electronic devices. Every new model is designed to be more sophisticated than its previous one so that people will buy it. As a result, devices are often used only one or two years. But what happens to the old devices nobody wants any more? Have you ever wondered where the old computers and mobile phones everybody throws away go to die?
Waskar: When someone buys a new device, its old model is sometimes taken by the seller. In lots of countries electronic waste is collected by local authorities.
Alena: But what happens then? Are the gadgets recycled or they are thrown away?
Waskar: The recycling of electronic gadgets is expensive and difficult. It isn’t possible to reuse everything, and many electronic devices contain toxic material, like mercury. So, it’s cheaper to export e-waste somewhere. E-waste is accepted by developing countries such as India, Ghana, Vietnam. Workers dismantle it completely and nothing is wasted, but the workers aren’t paid very much.
Arturo: Is it dangerous for workers’ health, isn’t it?
Waskar: Of course it is! This work endangers their health. A lot of electronic waste isn’t recycled at all. It is simple dumped. Mobile phones and other electronic items often contain precious metals like gold and silver. That’s why some people in these poorer countries make a living by searching the e-waste dumps. The dumps damage the environment and also risk poisoning these local people.
Arturo: Is it possible do anything to help?
Waskar: I think so. First of all, we can keep our phones and laptops for another year instead of exchanging them for the last versions.
Alena: In my opinion there must be strict laws about what happens to the old electronic gadgets, such as the law passed by the EU in 2012. In that year a law was passed by the European Union, making sure that e-waste is accepted by shops and manufactures. It obliged each member country to collect a certain quantity of e-waste and limited the export of old broken gadgets to developing countries.
Arturo: It is also important to raise awareness of this problem. Each family has got too many gadgets and this produces a lot of waste which is dangerous for health and the environment. About 35 millions tonnes of e-waste are produced every year, and the amount is constantly increasing. In 2015 this phenomenon was described as ‘a tsunami of elecronic waste rolling out over the world’ by the United Nations. Each of us must do our part. If each of us gives up something, the environment will benefit greatly.
Good afternoon and welcome to our podcast. We are Lucija Batinić, Jagor Jureković, Kristina Kožić, Dora Štrković and today we’ll be talking about toxic waste.
First of all, what even is toxic or hazardous waste? Well, it is a chemical waste material that can cause death or injury. It includes waste that is poisonous, radioactive, explosive, carcinogenic, mutagenic (causes damage to chromosomes), teratogenic (causes birth defects) etc. Poisoning with this kind of waste occurs because of consumption, inhalation or skin absorption. It’s produced during industrial, chemical, and biological processes, but can also be found in household waste, for example in batteries, pesticides, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
There are different classifications of toxic or hazardous waste. It can be divided into three categories: chemical waste, radioactive waste and medical waste. Chemical waste consists of chemicals that, in interaction with other substances, create explosive or toxic products and heavy metals, such as lead or mercury. Radioactive waste is made of elements and compounds that produce or absorb ionizing radiation or materials that are in contact with such elements and compounds. A good example of this are rods and water that moderate nuclear reactions in nuclear power plants. Medical waste includes tissues and fluids that may contain organisms that cause infectious diseases or the containers by which they are transmitted.
Now that we know what toxic waste is and how it’s produced, we may ask ourselves: “How is it handled?” Waste management is a very expensive process – it means preventing the creation of a large amount of waste, recycling and disposing of the waste that has been generated and, if possible, preparing it for further processing. Waste is often disposed of in recycling yards, underground storage is even cheaper, but could be more dangerous in case of non-compliance with the rules and storage time. Unfortunately, inequality exists also in this field, so the waste can be sent to other places or countries to avoid higher costs and impacts. In certain situations it could lead to a high risk of waste spillage and endanger the health of the local population. Furthermore, people who handle such waste are sometimes not professionals, which increases the chance of a disaster.
One of the first mass poisonings occurred in Minamata, Japan in the 1950s. At that time, mercury from industries that was created during production processes poured into the bay and entered the food chain of the sea and the organisms eaten by humans. Deformed fish appeared in the bay, alongside vision and hearing problems, paralysis and other damage to the nervous system, which appeared in humans. One of the most famous disasters is the Chernobyl disaster that happened in 1986. Due to the technological limits of that time and human error, there was an explosion that released large amounts of radioactive dust.
This disaster, as well as many others, made people aware of hazardous waste, its dangers and awakened environmental awareness. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), or commonly known as Superfund is a law introduced in 1980 that imposed a tax on the chemical and oil industries and require the parties to pay compensation for the cleaning of reactive places that were created by their actions.
Today, the problem of how to properly dispose of the generated waste is greater than ever. In the long term, the most effective method would be the elimination of its production. However, it’s a difficult technological process. In the meantime, hazardous waste can be managed in a better way, which will make it safer for the environment. Some types of waste can be permanently disposed of in landfills or used in waste-to-energy plants, for others bioremediation could be applied, a process in which living organisms are added to the waste, which then decompose it to make it ecologically safe. In addition, phytoremediation could be used to restore soil.
To conclude, even you could contribute to the safer management of toxic waste, for example by separating batteries from other waste and disposing of them appropriately.
Thank you for listening and stay tuned for the next podcast by our Italian colleagues on toxic waste from electronic devices!
Welcome to the Environment Issues podcast. Today, we’re discussing the topic of landfills and their impact on the environment. We’d like to thank our friends from Romania for raising awareness about the problem of land contamination.
So, what exactly are landfills? Benas, could you explain?
Landfills are large sites where solid waste is buried. They’re used to dispose of non-biodegradable materials, such as plastic, glass, and other industrial by-products. Waste is collected from municipal and industrial sources, and then placed in layers of soil, sand, and other materials to form a landfill. This helps contain the waste and prevent it from harming the environment.
Dovydas, can you give us an idea of how many landfills there are?
Well, it’s difficult to provide a precise answer, as the number of landfills varies depending on the country, and not all are officially registered. But with illegal landfills included, there could be hundreds of thousands in Europe alone.
Benas, could you explain how landfills work?
Certainly. Landfills are engineered systems designed to contain and manage solid waste. They’re made up of layers of soil and clay that act as barriers to prevent waste from seeping into the environment. Waste is deposited in layers and then covered with soil or other materials. The waste is monitored and tested for leachate, which is a liquid that has migrated through the waste and into the environment. As the waste decomposes, it creates methane and other gases, which are collected and managed to reduce environmental impacts. Landfills must also meet certain environmental regulations to ensure that they’re properly designed and managed.
Dovydas, what kind of impact do landfills have on the environment?
Landfills can have a significant impact on air, water, and soil pollution. The gases created from decomposing trash in landfills can cause air pollution and health problems. Leachate, which is the liquid that filters through the landfill and carries bacteria, can contaminate nearby soil and groundwater, leading to health risks. Landfills also attract animals and insects, which can spread disease. Finally, landfills take up valuable land and can create an eyesore in a community.
So, how can we reduce the problem of landfills, Ben?
Here are some possible solutions:
Welcome to the Land Contamination podcast, where we explore the topic of land pollution and its impact on our environment. We are Budai Andrei Luca, Barna Ana Maria, Pop Marisa Alexia and Hutanu Iris from the Romanian group.
What does the term “land contamination” mean?
Land contamination refers to the presence of harmful substances or pollutants on land that can have negative effects on human health and the environment. It can occur naturally or as a result of human activities such as industrial and agricultural practices, waste disposal, and mining.
What is your opinion on Europe Legislation for waste management?
In Europe, legislation has been put in place to address land contamination and waste management. The European Union’s Waste Framework Directive, for example, sets guidelines for the safe disposal of waste and requires Member States to take measures to prevent or reduce pollution from waste.
Is this still a major issue?
Despite these efforts, land contamination continues to be a major problem in Europe and around the world. Illegal dumping of waste, inadequate disposal practices, and lack of enforcement of legislation are just a few of the challenges that must be addressed.
Do you believe that people are responsible for this type of pollution?
The fact that waste is produced by humans is an unavoidable fact of life. Society needs to find a solution to the challenging issue of waste. The average UK household produces about a tonne of trash each year. When you sum it all together, you get a yearly total of 31 million tonnes, which is the equivalent of 3.5 million double-decker buses and would allow you to travel around the world in a line 2.5 times. Yet inert waste like soil, bricks, bricks, and concrete makes up the majority of business waste.
Is it possible to repurpose waste?
The inert trash is typically utilized to build roads on-site once the site has been filled. There are strict restrictions in place, but it is conceivable to reuse the area after it has been covered and made “safe.” Landfills are carefully chosen, designed, run, and monitored to make sure the regulations are being followed. They are also designed to protect the environment from pollutants that can be present in the waste stream.
So, In conclusion, land contamination is a serious issue that affects human health and the environment. Proper waste management is key to preventing and reducing pollution, but it requires cooperation and commitment from individuals, businesses, and governments. We must all take responsibility for our impact on the environment and work together to find sustainable solutions.
Thank you for tuning in to the Land Contamination podcast. See you soon with another interesting topic.
Lithuania: Dovydas Danielius, Elvinas Kapaciauskas, Benas Kuizinas
Romania: Iris Huțanu, Marisa Alexia Pop, Andrei-Luca Budai, Ana Maria Barna
Croatia: Lucija Batinić, Jagor Jureković, Kristina Kožić, Dora Štrković
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