Why litter is bad for the earth

Did you know it takes 18 months to 10 years for a single cigarette filter to decompose? Meanwhile the residual chemicals from that butt are leaching into the soil or water in which it lands. So what about that fast food wrapper? Most fast food wrappers and containers contain a grease-repelling chemical coating that contains compounds that may affect child development — including changes in growth, learning and behavior, and a decrease in fertility - If they have these effects on humans, you can imagine the effects they could have on smaller animals!

Once on the ground, these compounds can leech out into the soil as well as into waterways. Leeching into the water ways and ground can allow these harmful compounds into our food supply — in fruits and vegetables, and into our drinking water.

Some small steps you can take to reduce litter and reduce the impact litter has on our planet are as follows:. How Littering Contributes to the Destruction of Our Planet Monday, August 20, Amanda Coniglio Although littering laws and regulations are in place to reduce litter and the harmful effects it has on our planet, a simple drive down any street will show you that more needs to be done.

The usage of fuel is the problem here. Most of us are aware that industrial fuel depends on non-renewable sources, such as fossil fuels or petroleum. In a sense, producing clay litter, in terms of mining and baking, is generally not eco-friendly.

Perhaps you guessed it — clay litter is non-biodegradable, which means it will end up in the landfill and take up unnecessary space. Used kitty litter is often tied in a bag and then send to the garbage collector. Then, it is dumped into a landfill and unfortunately, it ends up staying there for a long time — maybe even forever. They are made from the same material and yet they survive thousands of years. Clay litter is going to end up like that but not in a pretty sight.

Due to the disadvantages of clay litter for cats, pet experts and enthusiasts have started marketing and going for an alternative called crystal cat litters. While clay litter uses bentonite clay, crystal litter uses sodium silicate sand, which makes it a little different.

Sodium silicate is typically used as desiccants to keep the item from getting moisture, and therefore protecting it from mold and spoilage. One example is a sustainable and biodegradable type that uses plant-based ingredients. Fortunately, many modern cat litters today are plant-based types, which means that they will decompose when they get thrown out into the dumpsite.

Or, if possible and with the right procedure, these cat litters can be turned into healthy compost for your garden. A product that uses recycled and sustainable packaging will help the environment cut down on costs for production and gathering of raw materials.

This, in turn, reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions, thereby saving our ozone layer from completely depleting. Unlike clay and crystal litter, plant-based cat litter usually has organic ingredients made from quality farms that use no pesticides to create produce. This really helped with one of my assessments. And how to be a Hero and pick it up. Join the conversation Cancel. Add comment. This website uses cookies to improve your experience.

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