Lesson 4: Impact of Waste

What you should know by the end of this lesson:

Impacts on air quality; water quality; landscape, including the marine environment; biodiversity; and climate change.

You should already have an idea of some of the impacts which affect the landscape and air quality as a result of waste.

This was covered in lesson 3 of this unit:

Toxic components and heavy metals can pollute local water supplies if a landfill is not properly managed.
They stink.
It is a breeding ground for bacteria that can risk public health (through cancer and respiratory diseases).
Methane gas is released from decomposing landfill sites which is a greenhouse gas.
It is also highly explosive if not managed properly.

This lesson will mainly focus on the other aspects; water quality, marine environment and biodiversity.

Marine Environment

Plastic is the true polluter of the marine (ocean) environments.

Digital Workbook Task and Paper Jotter Task:

Watch the video on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Answer the questions below in your jotters

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the equivalent size of how many Texas?
What is the name of the rotating ocean currents which collects the trash?
How much plastic is entering the ocean each year?
Why does the plastic not sink in the sea?
Name 3 different forms of plastic which are found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Name 2 different animals that get entangled and caught up in the plastic fishing nets.
What is the name of the plastics which are most troubling in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
How do this form?
Why is it such a problem?
What is the process where these microplastics can contaminate the human food chain?

Check your Answers

2
Gyres
1.2-2.4 million tons
It is less dense.
Lighters, toothbrushes, baby bottles, cell phones, plastic bags, water bottles, phones and fishing nets
Turtles, whales, and fish
Microplastics
They are broken down from larger plastics after exposure to the sun and waves.
Animals confuse these small plastics with food and end up dying.
Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation

Microplastics are becoming an ever increasing risk, not just for animals but for humans as well

Digital Workbook Task and Paper Jotter Task:

Study the 2 diagrams
Write a paragraph explaining how the plastic from a plastic back could be ingested by humans.

Waste and Biodiversity

Generally waste has a negative impact on biodiversity:

Plastic nets trapping animals leads to a reduction in biodiversity
Eating microplastics leads to animals starving and dying leading to a reduction in biodiversity
Bioaccumulation means that there is not only risks the increase of toxins to the animals eating microplastic but also creates a risk further up the food chain leading to a reduction in biodiversity

As with everything, some animals are very adaptable and there is 1 way in which biodiversity is improving through waste.

Watch the video closely and answer the question
What type of animals actually benefit from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Be sure to take a clear not of at least 2 ways biodiversity is reduced through waste

Waste and Climate Change

Our oceans are the great unsung hero in the fight against climate change. 30-50% of atmospheric carbon produced since the start of the industrial era has been absorbed by oceans. Kelp (seaweed) absorbs C02 the same way that forests do. They then float out to sea and sink sequestering the carbon at the bottom of the ocean.

Plankton is another miniature hero in the fight against climate change. It also absorbs carbon and sequesters it within the oceans.

Plastics and microplastics smother both plankton and kale and prevent them from absorbing as much carbon from the atmosphere. Plastics do take a long time to break down, but the sun does eventually do the job but as these plastics break down they give off methane and ethylene both of which are greenhouse gasses.

Lesson Complete

Now return to your Teams assignment and complete the quiz to test how well you have understood this lesson

Return to Waste Mangement contents page

Page updated

Report abuse