Waste And Pollution

Undisturbed ecosystems are ecological communities that together with their environment functions as a unit. In such natural environments, substances decompose and are eventually broken down which means that it decomposes and becomes part of the earth again.

Waste is the unwanted by-products from industry and human activities.

Pollution is the unwelcome concentration of waste by-products that the environment does not have the capacity to dissipate. These substances are detrimental to people and other living organisms.

Waste - Waste refers to the “leftovers” or unwanted products from industries and other human activities.

Pollution - Pollution is the unwelcome concentration of unnatural, harmful or poisonous substances that are beyond the environment’s capacity to handle. These substances are detrimental to people and other living things.

Acid Rain - When the water in the air combines with gasses, most importantly sulphur and nitrogen, rainwater becomes more acid and is referred to as acid rain.

Global Warming - Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the earth’s lower atmosphere as a result of an increase in greenhouse gasses since the industrial revolution. Greenhouse gasses are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. The sustained increase in temperature causes climatic changes.

Acid rain occurs naturally where active volcanoes erupt, where there is lightning, or if there is bacterial action in the soil. Acid rain has however reached levels where the environment is no longer able to cope with it due to increased human activity that produces sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides. The burning of fossil fuels, for example in power stations, factories and petroleum-based vehicles, contributes to this problem.

The all too frequent oil wars also cause huge amounts of sulphur and nitrogen to enter the atmosphere in a relatively short time period and pose a serious environmental and climatological threat to the earth’s survival systems.

If materials and equipment are used carefully and responsibly, their lifespan can be extended, and the amount of waste can be reduced. Farmers must follow regular calibration and maintenance plans, which will reduce wear on tyres and other equipment.

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the earth’s lower atmosphere. It is believed caused by as a result of an increase in so-called greenhouse gasses (including Carbon Dioxide and Methane). The sustained increase in temperature could cause dramatic changes in climate.

Air pollution from agriculture may occur during land clearing through the burning of the natural veldt. The smoke generated affects the air, be sure to control fires when burning firebreaks.

Water pollution may occur when sewage enters water sources due to inadequate sanitation. The pathogens that then develop in the water cause many diseases and illnesses in humans. Water pollution by nutrients such as fertilisers leads to denitrification of water sources, which could kill aquatic life and destroys the food chain. When Agrochemicals pollute water sources, the toxic agrochemicals interfere with the breeding of and life cycles of animals and plants, affecting the food chain.

Farm activities generate a certain amount of waste. It is the responsibility of farm management to control and limit the amount of waste generated, but workers must be able to identify waste and control it before it pollutes the environment. In the table below, various sources of waste and pollution are described.