Question

types of land pollutants

Answer 1

1. Agricultural Land Pollution
We use a lot of fertilizers as well as pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides on our agricultural land in a bid to maximize yields.
2. Non-biodegradable Solid Waste
There is a lot of waste that is generated in our homes, schools, hospitals, shops, and even workplaces. Most of this waste is non-biodegradable. It can take up to millions of years to decompose completely.

3. Industrial Waste
Another major source of land pollution is industrial wastes. These wastes include the following:

Chemicals
Plastics
Metals
Paints
Other industrial manufacturing byproducts and residues.
Industrial wastes are normally generated from agricultural produce processors, oil refineries, pharmaceuticals, construction sites, and energy producing power plants.
4. Deforestation
Land degradation and pollution also occur when we cut down trees to clear land for agriculture, construction, mining or other economic activities.

5. Mining
The extraction of materials and ores from under the Earth’s surface also contributes to land pollution. You know how that happens?

Mining degrades the quality of land. These include the extraction of metals, oil, coal, stones, stand, and mineral ores such as gold. When mining or quarrying, you normally have to clear the land surface and drill huge manholes and pits.

After mining, we leave the land completely defaced and exposed to erosion, which further whittles down its quality and value.

Fortunately, there are several things that can be done to avert land pollution and its detrimental effects. Shall we look at some of the solutions to land pollution?

Solutions for Land Pollution
When it comes to dealing with the land pollution menace, the three ‘Rs’ – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – have always be given prominence.

Even governments and organizations across the globe advocate for them. But what exactly do they mean?

1. Reduce
In the spirit of curbing land pollution, you should reduce the use of non-biodegradable products. This is one of the easiest land pollution solutions to implement.

For example, you can carry reusable bags with you when you go out shopping. In this way, you won’t need a plastic carry bag from the shop.

Likewise, use biodegradable materials wherever possible. And replace plastic products with metal or glass ones.

2. Reuse
You should avoid throwing things that can be reused. Why should you even buy new stuff when you can reuse the existing ones?

For example, you can use cardboard and plastic containers for other purposes. This is a great way to save some money.

And if you can’t find any good use for them, sell them for recycling instead of throwing them away haphazardly. Selling the unwanted stuff for recycling is another way of minting some extra cash.

3. Recycle
Recycling is one of the best solutions for land pollution. In fact, the European Union projects that their recycling rate target for the UK would have reached at least 50% by 2020.

And achieving the target just calls for the stepping up of recycling efforts in a bid to reduce the amount of waste being dumped into the landfills.

Besides reducing the amount of wastes in the landfills, recycling also plays an integral role in curbing the disposal of non-biodegradable waste on the Earth’s surface.

Moreover, it helps in minimizing other forms of pollution, such as air and water pollution. It also results in cost savings and conservation of energy resources.

Besides the three ‘R’s’, other effective solutions for land pollution include the following:

4. Proper Waste Disposal
Poor waste disposal is one of the major causes of land pollution. Hence, proper waste disposal is one of the effective ways of curbing land pollution.

This especially applies to the disposal of toxic waste products. It is imperative that industries follow the regulations guiding waste disposal.

5. Integrated Pest Management
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists Agriculture as one of the major contributors to land pollution. And this occurs largely through pesticides.