How Much Waste is Enough?

Americans make around 200 million tons of garbage each year that is

400,000,000,000 pounds a year.

Waste in America can become a global issue due to the chemical waste and or waste products put out into the atmosphere. The chemicals can affect our oxygen levels and many ecosystems.

The main chemical that is released into the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. This chemical is released once the littered or improperly disposed waste is burned. Carbon dioxide sends something called C02 into the atmosphere which is all around very bad for us and if it reaches an alarming rate can be very harmful.

“Waste can poison everything and harm our environment,” says Daniella Werner a junior at Crete Monee High School.

With waste being a serious ecological issue it can be harmful to many animals that make up certain ecosystems. Waste has put a great toll on marine life such as Arthropods, Cnidarians, Echinoderms, etc.

These species are put into harm’s way every time waste gets dumped into the ocean and put into another ecosystem. For example, a fish can get caught in a stray piece of improperly disposed plastic.

Furthermore, there is also chemical waste being dumped into the ocean destroying the marine ecosystem. These chemicals can kill off one organism and could end up destroying an entire food chain. Improperly disposed chemical waste could kill coral, sea mammals, and fish. “The plastic in the water can kill fish and put other species in danger,” Says Frankie Werner a student at Crete Elementary.

Now, not only marine life can be affected, but even humans as well. These pollutants that are put into the atmosphere are beyond dangerous for our health internally and physically. Humans lungs can definitely suffer too due to the carbon dioxide (C02) put into the air.

There is even a higher risk to disease once humans are exposed to the chemical waste. This can lead to something Chemical Poisoning which has the same symptoms as viruses and horrible bacteria.

The human body is a biochemical organism so once unwanted unhealthy chemicals reach your body it tries to get rid of them or detox. Once these chemicals are in the body they start changing the speed of different bodily functions. Sometimes to the point where the functions stop or shut-down completely.

This poison can come from waste being burnt at alarming rates and releasing C02, which is one of the causes of chemical poisoning in the human body. If you do feel like these symptoms are occurring, you can contact poison control at 800-222- 1222.

“Waste is going to always have a horrible effect on the world so that’s why recycling and using biodegradable items will help,” states Susana Tamayo a Crete Monee High School Alumni.