Wasteful Packaging: Cosmetics, Research Paper Example

Issue

For the purposes of this research paper I will examine the key global environmental issue of hazardous wastes. I will further highlight the different perspectives about how the causes and effects of hazardous wastes are understood by the key political actors and further suggest possible solutions to minimize or eliminate this global environmental issue.

Sources of Hazardous Wastes

Gases, particles and wastes from humans are small contributions to what we consider hazardous wastes. These are all contributions to pollutants to our environment including air and water pollutants. Industries such as chemical, petroleum and other plants continue to discharge amounts of hazardous wastes into the atmosphere and water and as a result our river waters become contaminated and affect the level of health humans have. Often humans dispose of certain items inadvertently and do not realize they will be disposed into the ground and end up into drinking water again. Presently there are approximately over 80,000 chemicals in production and with that said there are many dangers associated with such chemicals. New chemicals are made at the rate of approximately 1,500 per year. Scientists do their best to keep up with the chemical composition to access the hazardous effects of such chemicals but not all chemicals are privy to Material Safety Data Sheets which outline the health and safety hazards to a human. “There was a school that was exposed to a large dose of Chromium through an adjacent building when it blew through the air.” (“Hazardous Waste Effects”). This is a prime example of how dangerous certain airborne chemicals can be to children and adults through even short-term exposure. It is very sad to say that it is only after a fatality that the government seems to intervene and make policy or political provisions to protect human life.

The contamination by hazardous wastes is expected to decline by approximately 25% by year 2011 due to new technological advancements of waste remediation. Recycling of hazardous wastes should eliminate the hazardous waste contaminants by the rate of 19% by the year 2011. Separation techniques are expected to decline the hazardous waste pollution by 23% and chemical dissolution techniques by 14%.

The following chart represents the recommended treatments for hazardous waste minimization in the near coming years:

Report Code: ENV006A, Published: April 2006, Analyst: Andrew McWilliams

Large advancements in the chemical industry have lead to the reduction of hazardous wastes with the ability to compete for uses of more by-products. This has lead to an increase in profit as the bye-products are formed for plant product; more industries and generating additional products for what was once classified as “Hazardous Wastes”. Further this has emerged into an increase in profit and a decrease in waste. Industry as a whole has been utilizing more of their raw product that was once classified as waste into sellable product. The sellable product has led to a more competitive business industry as a whole.

Causes and Effects of Hazardous Wastes from a Political Stance

Free trade and toxic wastes has been a leading factor in the chemical industry dating back to the days of Huey P. Long and his stand against Stand Oil. Since these days of the Chemical and Oil Industry has been closely regulated by the EPA. Politics and Hazardous Wastes have been at the fore front of some of the most high profile acts that have affected the manor Industry and its regularities polices. “One of the most harmful acts of the neglect of hazardous wastes in the United States was the disaster at “Love Canal”. (“Fletcher, 2003). The damages that occurred at this residential site have lead to human birth defects and millions of dollars in clean-up due to the non compliance of Governmental Regulations.

Graphite projectiles were thrown erratically from the Chernobyl Disaster on April 26, 1986 at 1:23 a.m. when “two explosions ripped through the reactor number four in the Ukraine.” (“Barbalace, 2006). Radioactive particles emerged from the blast and were spread all the way to Europe and the western portion of the USSR.

There are various causes of hazardous wastes but the main cause is the ignorance of people. Most people do not realize what exactly is hazardous or where the hazards exist. They can exist in simple landfills, in industry such as chemical, petroleum and nuclear plants and in household products being dumped into the rivers that we use for drinking water. A toxic waste is anything that causes a potential threat to human health. The waste can be corrosive, toxic, flammable or reactive according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Many solvents used to clean equipment in plants are categorized on the F list are considered hazardous because of the chemicals contained in the solvent. The K list contains pesticides and petroleum hazards. P list and U list wastes can include pharmaceuticals are wastes that are set aside and not disposed in a timely manner. They begin to deteriorate and change chemical composition. “Some wastes may be ignitable and considered flammable under certain temperatures and conditions.” (“Cottrell, 2010). Reactive wastes are considered unstable and explosive. Even light bulbs are considered wastes because they contain Hg which is considered a hazardous waste that must be disposed of environmentally correct according to certain standards. High level mixed waste is those that contain nuclear radioactive by-products from weaponry used in the military.

Possible Solutions to Eliminate Global Environmental Wastes

Some environmentalists propose using aftermarket techniques to dispose of environmental wastes effectively and minimize wastes. Companies such as ModusLinks reuses their computer parts and disposes of the unused parts intrinsically by burying them beneath the earth so that they can never be recovered. They do not use a landfill. “Cell phones, computers and other electronics often contain certain toxics that cannot be recycled properly hence the carcinogens and heavy metals have to be disposed of according to EPA guidelines. Often reuse of the products for other components substituted for disposal of such electronic components. E-scrap is often used as an advantage to help client achieve goals of recovering value and improving profit margins.

“End of Life Vehicle Solutions (ELVS) has incorporated an educational outreach program with the automotive industry to remove Hg from the switches by dismantlers.” (“ELVS”). Removing the mercury switches will put an end to the life of the vehicle. This system will prevent vehicles from being simply sent to scrap material. “ELVS manages on a nationwide basis, programs including the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program, to collect, transport, retort, recycle, or dispose of elemental mercury from automotive switches. We also provide educational outreach and promote vehicle recycling and proper management of substances of concern.” (“ELVS”). The importance of Hg waste is emphasized due to the toxicity and strict EPA regulations to dispose of it.

ELVS Mercury Switch Recovery Program Reporting: All Years

References

Sources of Hazardous Wastes (1999) Retrieved April 26, 2010 from, Referenceshttp://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/hazardous_waste_-_effects.html

Fletcher, T. (2003) From Love Canal to Environmental Justice: The Politics of Hazardous Justice Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2003.

Barbalace, R. (1996) Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Revisited Retrieved April 26, 2010 from, http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/hazmat/articles/chernobyl1.html

Cottrell, A. (2010) Causes of Toxic Waste Retrieved April 26, 2010 from, http://www.ehow.com/about_5162734_causes-toxic-waste.html

ELVS Mercury Switch Recovery Program (2010) Retrieved April 26, 2010 from, http://www.eqonline.com/services/elvs-mercury-switch-recovery-program.asp