Ocean Sentry
The volume of solid domestic waste discharged in the Earth’s biosphere has reached a geological figure – over 400 million tons a year. Such an enormous amount of waste affects global geochemical cycles. For example, the discharge of organic carbon – 85 million tons a year – doubles its natural absorption in the soil mantle – 42 million tons a year.
A huge pile of garbage, the height of a ten-storeyed building and the size of a soccer stadium can be seen from space.
Over 250 garbage trucks arrive to the landfill daily. Each KamAZ truck delivers 15 cubic meters of waste. The huge dump has earned the reputation of a ‘death factory’ for the local population. It contains hazardous medical waste – amputated limbs, blood transfusion systems, disposable syringes, expired medications, etc.
Plastic waste kills over 1 million sea birds and over 100,000 sea mammals a year. Zoologists may often find syringes, cigarette lighters and toothbrushes in the stomachs of dead animals, fish and birds… Read Full Article
