The Negative Impact Of Poor Waste Management

Companies of all sizes have a legal and moral duty to effectively dispose of all waste. When harmful chemicals and toxic materials are released without care into the environment, they can cause serious repercussions for the planet and human health.

For this reason, a business must ethically dispose of plastics, chemicals, food waste, and more to create a safer planet for everyone. If you’re unsure about the damage it can cause, continue reading to learn more about the negative impact of poor waste management.

Human health problems

Contaminated air, water, and soil can cause negative consequences for people of all ages. Any toxin that affects the environment will gradually reach humans and may cause genuine health issues for people of all ages. Also, a person’s age may increase their risk of fatalities, such as young children and seniors. For this reason, businesses must professionally dispose of all materials, such as hiring a licensed waste carrier to remove and ethically destroy waste at a commercial waste disposal site. 

Unfortunately, the harm might already have been done to many people across the United States. Anyone exposed to a toxic substance due to business negligence can take action against the guilty parties, as they can contact experienced lawyers for toxic tort litigation. A toxic tort case can hold a company liable for exposure to a harmful substance that caused a serious illness or stole a loved one’s life.

Environmental issues

Improper waste disposal cannot only harm human health, but it could destroy entire ecosystems. Toxic waste can secrete into soil and water, which will quickly contaminate the environment and cause irreversible issues. Also, landfills and waste-burning facilities are responsible for producing significant chemicals like methane, which increase air pollution and contribute to climate change. For example, a considerable release of methane gas will accumulate in the air, depleting the ozone layer and increasing global warming.

Damage to animals and marine life

Similar to humans, animals, and marine life can experience health issues and fatalities due to exposure to toxins in the environment. For example, many businesses of various sizes are making the mistake of dumping raw or untreated sewage and garbage into the oceans. As a result, it causes algal bloom to form, and the clusters will contaminate and suffocate various marine life, such as fish and coral.

Also, waste dumped into the ground will absorb into groundwater and soil, which will contaminate the land that produces food and water, ultimately killing humans and animals. What’s more, garbage like plastic bottles, cigarette butts, and plastic bags kills many marine life. For instance, plastic pollutions reportedly take the lives of more than 100,000 marine mammals every year.

Businesses must not underestimate their responsibility to human health, the environment, and the lives of countless animals and marine life when disposing of waste. They must find ways to safely and ethically dispose of waste to avoid contaminating air, soil, and water, as it will create a safer planet for everyone.