If you’re wondering about how much waste we’re creating in Australia, this article will give you the answer. We’ll go over the waste we produce, how we’re recycling, and why China isn’t accepting our recyclables. But first, we need to change how we use plastic. This article looks at how we’re using plastic and other single-use plastics. How we’re in a plastic crisis that is affecting one of the most natural wonders in the world and we risk losing what is the most vibrant ecosystem in the sea, a backyard to Queenslanders and Brisbanians. Yes! Our beloved Great Barrier Reef.
Floods can exacerbate effects of sludge dumping
In light of recent flooding, environmentalists are worried that the country’s massive sludge-dumping project will further damage Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. As we all know, climate change and pollution have already caused a range of damage to the Great Barrier Reef. However, dumping sludge close to the reef is even worse, as it blankets corals. Australians need to rethink their rubbish removal and recycling strategies to limit what ends up in the ocean. Something as simple as changing your strategy such as ethically thinking about disposal and reuse of items before you call removalists Brisbane to help you relocate. As it can make a huge difference to the amount that ends up in land fill because many items can be effectively reused and recycled that will limit the impact on the environment.
A recent report found that marine debris, mainly cigarette butts, plastic bags, and single-use plastic bottles, is the main threat to the reef. It negatively impacts the Reef’s value, smothering coral and entangles wildlife. What’s worse, plastic debris has toxic effects on marine animals. Toxic wastes are also a significant contributor to the damage done to the Great Barrier Reef.
How our waste is affecting the Great Barrier Reef
Marine plastic pollution is a serious problem. A 2017 report by the Ocean Conservancy found that more than 100 million tonnes of plastic are floating in the oceans worldwide. Most of this plastic is made in China, the world’s largest producer. It has the potential to travel vast distances and cause major impacts. It has been estimated that more than one million marine animals die each year as a result of plastic pollution in the oceans. There are several solutions we can take to limit this marine pollution.
The Great Barrier Reef has been devastated by recent floods, and dumping sludge on the reef will only compound the damage. Climate change is a serious problem, but dumping sludge onto the reef will have disastrous effects. This is because the sludge blankets coral, which is a fragile environment. In the short term, this issue is only a concern. Algae growth is accelerating in Australia’s current summer, when the water temperatures are high.
How are we recycling
A $60 million federal government plan to protect the Reef has just been announced. While the money will be used to tackle issues like crown-of-thorns starfish, pollution and preventing polluted water from reaching the reef, some scientists say more needs to be done to protect the Great Barrier Reef and reduce carbon emissions. For example, Dr Joleah Lamb, a researcher from James Cook University’s Coral Reef Studies Centre, believes that plastic waste is a major contributor to the destruction of the reef.
The Australian Government Reef Trust supports targeted education and awareness raising activities to reduce the number of marine debris. Community clean-ups and reef cleaning events are among the many ways to help keep our beloved Great Barrier Reef clean. We must choose sustainable methods of disposal, ensure that our waste is recycled, and support stewardship activities in the public and private sectors. If we want to protect the Great Barrier Reef, we must start today!
Why China isn’t accepting our recyclables
The United States is the largest exporter of recyclable waste to China, and the Chinese government has decided to curtail the number of recyclables it accepts. In 2013, China announced that it would stop accepting certain types of recycling from other countries and impose stricter limits on contamination levels for the rest of the recyclables it accepts. This move is in response to the contamination of recyclable materials by trash, which has clogged landfills and created piles of trash in some places. In recent months, other countries have also implemented stricter regulations for recycling to be exported to China.
China is a major producer of waste, so it is no wonder it’s becoming increasingly stricter about how it recycles. As the second-largest economy in the world, it produces substantial amounts of waste. The ban on imported waste has lowered the global trade prices of several types of scrap materials. China’s decision has been criticized by many Western countries for imposing an arbitrary ban without considering the effects of the new policy on the recycling industry in its own country.
What needs to be done
Our beloved Great Barrier Reef is under threat from the rubbish we throw into the sea. According to the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, the sludge carries heavy metals from an industrial port. Moreover, dumping it so close to the coast can smother marine life in shallow waters, which can be devastating to coral. Additionally, dumping the rubbish during the hot Australian summer may encourage algae growth, which will negatively impact coral.
The Great Barrier Reef is a world heritage site, comprised of over 900 islands stretching over 1,600 miles. It is the only living organism visible from space. It has long been an iconic symbol of Australia and is listed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. But the Great Barrier Reef is under threat. The Great Barrier Reef recently suffered the worst coral bleaching in recorded history. Nearly 90 percent of corals died in the northern portion of the reef. The phenomenon led outside magazine to write an obituary for the Great Barrier Reef.
