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LANDFILLS ARE POPPING UP EVERYONE

Hello Monday,

It’s a new week and a new beginning, looking to get out of your comfort zone and start your life over?

Each one of us reaches a point where we get fed up with our current situation. During such times, letting go and starting over can be the best thing for us.

When we let go of what didn’t work, what held us back previously, or wipe out those fears that don’t deserve to rule us anymore, we can create room to become a more passionate, engaged and inspiring individuals.

So how can we start over? When creating the life, we want, start by clearing out the things we won’t have use for and get our surroundings in order.

Since none of us knows what the future holds, the idea of new beginnings can feel terrifying at times. However, if we focus on that which is optimistic and encouraging, starting afresh can be an exciting time. So, lets start a new page and create a new chapter this week.

No one can ever take your memories from you – each day is a new beginning, make good memories every day.” –Catherine Pulsifer

The other day I learned a new word – STRIFE. This is an interesting word and may play a part in the week ahead. This word goes back to the biblical days and is used in the Bible. You can look in the world today and see no shortage of strife which can be defined as a vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism toward someone else or others. Strife could include being in a quarrel, struggle, or clash with others or another person and might even include an armed conflict but is not limited to being in competition or rivalry with someone else or with others. Strife sometimes includes a bitter and even violent disagreement even with those who are in authority.

As we start this new week, let’s remember to change the word STRIFE to PEACE.

Even if this means walking away from other’s that may start strife. There is this saying - Is it better being right and proofing it, then having people in your life?

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Yesterday, I blogged on a hidden type of land pollution. However, in reality it’s one of the biggest one throughout our planet. Today, I’m continuing with the same topic! However, now we are moving to the drastic effects of landfills.

1. There are more than ten toxic gases emitted from landfills, of which methane gas is the most serious. Methane gas is naturally produced during the process of organic matter decay. On this account, EPA records that the methane expelled during the decomposition of organic matter in unmanaged landfills has the potential of trapping solar radiation 20 times more effective than carbon dioxide.

The outcome is increased urban and global temperatures. Aside from the methane gas, other household and agricultural chemicals that find way to the landfills like bleach and ammonia can generate toxic gases that can greatly impact the air quality within the landfill vicinity. Dust, particulate matter and other non-chemical contaminates can also be expelled into the atmosphere, further contributing to air quality issues.

2. The primary environmental problem arising because of landfills is groundwater contamination from leaches. There are several hazardous wastes that find way into the landfills and once they are there, the inevitable is the natural deterioration of ground water.

The toxic products in the landfills range from industrial solvents to household cleaners. Besides the chemicals from household and industrial products, electronic wastes contain lead, mercury and cadmium.

FRESH START 🦋

A new day, a new week, a new beginning.Remember we see what we want to see 🌞 have a great day

A huge percentage of these landfill toxins infiltrate the soil to reach the fresh water waterways, which eventually end up in the domestic water and sadly enough, the foods that we consume. The pollution can also adversely harm animal and plant life. Research reveals that 82% of landfills have leaks.

3. Increases in the risk of severe health implications such as birth defects, low birth weight, and particular cancers have been reported in individuals living next to landfill areas in numerous studies. For instance, TCE is a carcinogen element often originating from landfill leachate. Other discomfort and self-reported symptoms for people living next to the landfills include sleepiness, headaches and fatigue.

The effects are linked with the toxic actions of the chemicals present in the landfill wastes. From contamination of the air with harmful gases to water pollution, the outcome is adverse human health effects. Landfill toxic gas releases and water pollution are as well associated with lung and heart diseases respectively.

“Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” ~ Carl Bard

4. Landfills directly render the soil and land where it is located unusable. It also destroys the adjacent soil and land area because the toxic chemicals spread over the surrounding soil with time. The upper layer of the soil is damaged, distorting soil fertility and activity and affecting plant life. Industrial and electronic wastes in the landfills destroy the quality of the soil and land thereby upsetting the land ecosystems.

5. The economic and social cost of landfill management is very high. From the management of the gases coming out of the landfills to groundwater contamination management, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulatory policies drains a lot of the municipality’s and tax payer’s money in terms of integrated waste management.

Because most of the materials disposed in the landfills take millions of years to decompose, designing effective strategies and facilities for managing landfills requires high capital investments with regards to management and recycling initiatives.

6. Landfill gases together with a substantive amount of landfill waste, can easily start a fire. Once fires are ignited, it can be challenging to put it out and further cause air pollution. If not put out immediately, they can get out of control and destroy the neighboring habitats.

Methane is notably the most flammable and combustible gas in the landfill and as such, given its abundant supply it can create havoc. Combustion of the landfill even worsens the situation as the burning of the chemicals adds more chemical load to the area.

“It’s never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald

GUESS WHAT'S FOR DINNER ❓