Lesson 9: Human Activities and Waste Management

Objectives:

In this lesson, you will learn to:

1. Identify human activities, such as farming, construction of structures, and waste disposal, that
affect the quality and quantity of soil and other earth materials
2. Give ways of conserving and protecting the soil for future generations
3. Describe how people generate different types of waste (solid, liquid and gaseous) as they make
use of various materials and resources in everyday life
4. Explain how different types of waste affect people's health and the environment
5. Cite ways of reducing the production of waste at home, in school ), and around the community

The Impact of Human Activities on Earth

The past modules taught us about the different earth materials, how they are formed as well as
their value to our society. This module gives us an idea on the impact of the human activities on Earth,
such as farming, construction, waste disposal and others.

Part of this module also discusses the importance of soil conservation, as well as the different
ways to conserve its quality and quantity.

Moreover, you will learn about the different types of waste, as well as their environmental
i mpact which will affect the health of living organisms.

Lastly, this module will help you learn of the different was to reduce the production of wastes
and help save the environment.

Humans and the Environment

Humanity owes its progress to the environment. We get all of our natural resources
from the planet Earth, use them to our advantage, and continuously develop our civilization as
ti me passes by.

Nevertheless, human seem to forget the importance of preserving the environment

which have nurtured them. We begin to neglect nature as we keep on striving for economic
progress. The population growth, as well as the rising standards of living, means that there is an
increase in the demand for natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable. Many
different human activities affect the environment, and are continuously threatening it.

Agriculture

Agriculture is practically the oldest industry in the world. It is essential to sustain the
li ves of people. For thousands of years, humans have been doing agricultural activities which
helped develop the civilization today.
 But while agriculture served
as a catalyst which helped human
progress, it is important to keep in
mind that human survival depends
on the health of our environment.
Agricultural activities have a
negative impact on the biodiversity,
which then causes a great change in
the environment that we are living today. Source: feica-geosysterns.corn

In agriculture, we tend to select more useful or edible species to plant. This selection
process has been done since the days of the ancient farmers, in order to yield food products
which are actually beneficial. However, this method is also the reason why there is a lessening of
species of plants and animals today. There is also the issue of the loss of natural habitat due to
farming practices such as clearing of forests.

Population growth and urbanization caused the growing demand for agricultural goods,
and it continues to be a threat to our environment. This led farmers to use ways to improve
productivity, such as the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. These caused new pressures
on the land, affecting the natural quality of the soil as well.

When it comes to agriculture, we must keep in mind that we are likely about to change
our environment for the sake of economic development. Farmers should be wary of the
chemicals that they use on the soil. They can cause pollution, or change the quantity or quality
of the earth which in turn will affect the entire biodiversity.

Mining

This human activity is necessary in order for us to acquire mineral resources which are
essential for the economic growth of nations, but without proper policies it can leave a negative
i mpact on the environment. Mining poses a great threat to many living organisms, which
includes humans.

Just like agriculture, mining is one of the most relevant industries that humans have
been practicing since the ancient times. It is through mining that the people were able to use
minerals such as gold, silver, iron, copper, and precious stones and other valuable geological
material today. Without these minerals we are unable to
have proper materials to create the technologies and
other things we need in order to live our lives more
efficiently.

But just like agriculture, mining is a human activity that

poses threat to the environment. Mining comes as many
disadvantages as there are advantages: it is a cause of
land, air, and water pollution. Moreover, it has destroyed
natural habitats, which have affected the wildlife. Mining
was also the cause of several cases of water pollution
Source: somssar.ca

2
wherein the water bodies were contaminated by chemicals that leaked from mining waste, affecting the
locals.

Logging

Commercial logging involves cutting trees for sale. Logs are essential raw materials which are
used for construction of homes, furniture, as well as paper and paper products.

Selective logging: a type of logging wherein loggers choose only wood that is highly valuable,
such as mahogany.

Clear-cutting: unlike selective logging, clear-cutting means cutting all of the trees down, thus
clearing the forest.

Logging is a human activity that has a lot of negative impact on the environment. Clear-cutting,
for instance, affects tropical rain forests because when all of the trees are removed, the soil loses its
nutrients and becomes barren. Selective logging also causes damage on the surrounding trees. It is
estimated that 40 out 11D0 trees die from just one tree being cut down using this method. Cutting down
a tree also has an effect on the wildlife. Many species of animals have become extinct due to loss of
natural habitat. Aside from deforestation, logging can also cause landslides that can affect humans and
wildlife,

Waste Management
Even without taking part in activities such as mining or agriculture, humans are still able to
influence our environment. The activities that we do at home, at school, or everywhere we go have an
i mpact on our environment.

One of the things which we must keep in mind is the way we manage our waste. Waste
management is one of the many environmental issues which numerous organizations all over the world
are advocating. It refers to activities and actions which are essential to manage waste. Collection,
transport, treatment, and disposal are among the processes that must be done in waste management.

Types of Waste

Humans and other living organisms produce different types of waste. They are classified
according to their sources and properties. The most commonly known classification of waste
would be the biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Biodegradable wastes are wastes that
are decomposed by biological or microbial action. Non-biodegradable waste, on the other
hand, refers to the wastes which are not decomposed by microbes but are oxidized and
separated automatically.

Below are categories of waste according to their properties:

Solid wastes: they are unwanted substances which are discarded by human society. This
includes urban wastes, industrial wastes, agricultural wastes, biomedical wastes, and radioactive
wastes. They are also called refuse.

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 Liquid wastes: these types of waste are generated from washing, flushing, or
manufacturing processes of industries, or dissolved materials in domestic sewage or irrigation
return flows. They are also called sewage.

Gaseous waste: wastes released in the form of gases from automobiles, factories,
burning of fossil fuels, etc. They get mixed in the atmosphere and are the cause of air pollution.
Carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide are a few examples of these wastes.

Aside from their properties, wastes can also be classified according to their sources:

Municipal solid Waste: these are wastes collected from residential houses, markets,
and other places usually found in urban areas and are disposed of by municipal bodies.

Industrial Waste: are wastes released from chemical plants, power plants, mining
operations and factories. They are classified into two: hazardous, or wastes that are dangerous
to humans and fauna, and non-hazardous waste.

Agricultural Waste: waste produced by agricultural areas. This includes chemicals from
pesticides which are harmful to the environment.

Commercial Waste: these are generated by commercial establishments, which are often
dumped in inhabited areas that cause danger to human lives.

The Impact of Waste Accumulation

Pollution has always been a great threat to our planet. The air, water, and land are all affected
by this environmental problem. The industrialization, urbanization, and the rapid growth of the human
population all contributed to the accumulation of huge amounts of waste today.

Source: agenciamincis.mg.gov.br

4
 The issue of improper waste disposal must also be addressed. The accumulation of waste in
densely populated areas, as well as the improper disposal of liquid and hazardous wastes onto water
bodies, all contributed to the growing problem of pollution which is now affecting millions of people all
over the world. It has been estimated that about twenty-five human diseases are associated with solid
waste. The accumulation of waste is also the cause of increase in the number of rats and flies, which are
known to carry organisms which are responsible for several dreaded diseases. It is estimated that about
70.000 flies are produced in one cubic foot of garbage. This means that there are more or less than
seventy-thousand carriers of dreaded diseases such and dysentery and diarrhea.

While pollution is a huge global issue, this is ecological and social problem which we can actually
do something about even at home. Proper waste segregation, or the process of sorting of your waste
into dry and wet, biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, is actually helpful. The dry waste
includes recyclables such as paper, metals, and glass, while the wet wastes include organic waste such
as leftover food. This makes waste management easier. Moreover, the recyclables can be sent to
material recovery facilities and the organic wastes to the farmers to be composted, thus lessening the
amount of waste to e put in landfills.

References:

Effect of human activity on biodiversity. Retrieved from:

http://www.fa o.org/agricu I tu re/crops/thematic-site ma pithemetspilsoi I -biod iversity/effect-of-hu ma n-
activity-on-biod iversity/e n/

National Geographic Society. Pollution. Retrieved from:

http:finationalgeographic.orgjencyclopediapollution!

Wastes, N i k it a . Wastes: Sources, Classification, and Impact. Retrieved from:

http://www. biologyd i scussi on.com/wastes/wastes-sources-class i fication-a nd-i m pact/7091

Waste Management. Retrieved from: http://www.journals.elsevier.comiwaste-management