"Plastic waste hits food chain"

The Hindu , Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
Tips to reduce air and water pollution Reduction of waste should be given priority, the District Forest Officer said.

Nagercoil: Re-use, reduce, refuse and recycle are the four golden rules in solid waste management that are effective tools to reduce pollution of water and air, said the District Forest Officer (DFO), Sundararaju.

Addressing a National Environmental Awareness Campaign 2006-07 seminar on `Solid waste management,' organised at Marthandam recently, he said that the four rules of solid waste management could be practiced at all levels, including the case of domestic waste. It can help bring down waste generation.

Noting that reduction of waste should be given top priority, the DFO said that the disposal of solid was a major problem as open dumping turned out to be breeding grounds for insects that could spread diseases. In some places, solid waste was buried or burnt contributing to the soil and air pollution, he added.

Pointing out that the plastic waste stunted plant growth, reduced the food sources and affected the food chain for animals and humans, Mr. Sundararaju said that plastic waste dumped callously by humans could prove fatal to animals when they ingest it.

Breeding ground

When left in the open, plastic waste could become a breeding ground for rats, flies, mosquitoes, pathogens and bacterial growth.

Noting that an effective way to minimise solid waste was to separate the rubbish for recycling and by disposing of only the biodegradable materials.

Joe Prakash, the co-ordinator of National Green Corps, in his speech said that new methods were being explored to turn waste into raw materials in various parts of the world.

 
SOURCE : The Hindu, Wednesday, March 14, 2007
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us