The Week Junior - UK (2022-04-23)

12

M

ore than two billion tonnes of rubbish is created

around the world every year. Old clothes,

electronics, food, metals and plastic add up to a huge

problem and it’s getting worse. Rubbish affects not

only the environment but human health. To mark

Earth Day on 22 April, find out about the damage

rubbish does and how we can make a cleaner future.

A history of rubbish

On the Greek island

of Crete, now

popular with

holidaymakers,

waste was put

in pits and

covered with

soil as far back

as 5,000 years

ago. This is called

“landfill” and is used

widely today. However,

in many countries, including the UK, waste

was once just left in the streets. In the 19th century,

governments realised this caused air pollution and

spread diseases. In the UK, it became the law for

people to use bins. Local councils were put in charge

of taking this waste and getting rid of it.

Environmental issues

It’s estimated that two billion people on Earth do

not have their rubbish collected. Around one billion

tonnes of waste are burned each year to get rid of it.

Burning releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Greenhouse gases traps heat in the atmosphere,

causing climate change (long-term changes in

weather patterns). Burning waste can also release

chemicals into the air that can make people ill.

Landfill sites create methane, another greenhouse

gas that is caused by organic waste (things such

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Discover why Earth’s rubbish

problem needs to be solved.

Crisp packet pitch

Old crisp packets have been

turned into rubber pellets and

used as a soft layer under new

five-a-side football pitches.

UEFA, which runs football in

Europe, worked with Walkers

crisps to make the pitches. The

first opened in South Africa, then

in Brazil, England and Turkey.

Rubbish ideas?

Cardboard beds

Cardboard is used in many ways.

At the Tokyo Olympics last year,

18,000 cardboard beds were

made for the athletes. This was

more environmentally friendly

than using metal or plastic.

After the Games, when the beds

were not needed any more, they

were simply recycled.

Industry is

a polluter.

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The Week Junior • 23 April 2022

The island

of Crete.