Improper Disposal Is Hazardous
Erica Hill
PBRL 2920
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Issue Statement:
There is evidence that if the Charge-It materials and waste are not properly disposed of in
a recycling center, they can be harmful to the groundwater, air, and land when the materials
starts to break down. This could lead to pollution.
The issue for Sleek Accessories: Should Sleek Accessories create a recycling plant for its
own products to make sure of proper disposal?
Background:
History- in the Middle Ages, diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever broke out all
across Europe, were directly related to unsanitary conditions caused by human and animal
wastes, and garbage.
In 1347, the "Black Death" broke out; an outbreak of bubonic plague. Unsanitary
conditions provided the perfect environment for the deadly bacteria to flourish.
By the 1800s, people began to understand that unsanitary living conditions and water
contamination contributed to disease epidemics. They started to build sewage systems.
In 19th century, industrialized cities across Europe and the United States were
creating a new kind of pollution. Waste created from industries and factories. In 1897,
there were reports of major rivers being polluted in Europe and the United States.
In 1936, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, became so polluted that the water
erupted into flames.
In the 19th century, smog (a combination of smoke and fog) in cities like New York
and London resulted in many deaths. 1948, 20 people were suffocated and more than 7,000
became seriously ill as the result of severe air pollution over Donora, Pennsylvania.
There are different types of pollution that affect the Earth; air pollution, water
pollution, and soil contamination.
Current Status:
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Pollution is increasing due to the development of new technology being
produced and the growth of human rate. More humans in the world are
leading to more driving and production of materials into the world as well as
waste.
United States is the 2nd polluting country in the world behind China.
In Bombay, simply breathing is equivalent to smoking half a pack of cigarettes a
day.
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Many countries in the world are trying to decrease pollution by not littering on the
land and waters.
Other Companies:
Reports of major companies that produce a material that will have hazardous impacts on
the Earth are building a recycling plant. Some have even offered rebates or a discount to another
product if they return it to the recycling plant.
There are reports of some companies being sued by the government for not properly
disposing of potential hazardous materials.
Medical Evidence:
Pollution, especially air pollution is causing more effects to humans and their ability to
breath.
In the U.S., air pollution causes as many as 50,000 deaths per year. Increasing lung
cancer and may further increase any lung dieses; Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease, Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Acute Bronchitis, Lung Cancer, and Cystic Fibrosis.
The air pollution can increase any lung sickness to the extreme or even fatal, such as;
Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary Edema, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Interstitial
lung disease, and Pneumoconiosis.
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Strokes are more likely to occur immediately following 24-hour periods in which
air quality drops into the range the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
considers "moderate."
 Boston Stroke Center
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Increase of reported asthma attacks in children in heavily populated cities.
 Hill Documents
Diabetics are being affected by air pollution.
 Diabetics Studies
Death rate for emphysema is six times higher if living in heavily populated cities.
 Hill Documents
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Economic Impact:
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It costs as much as $40 billion a year in health care from pollution related
incidents.
Crop losses in the U.S. are caused by harmful emissions that are estimated
to be 5-10 percent of total production--more than $5 billion a year.
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The cost to human health and economic losses in agriculture and forestry,
and even countries everywhere, has risen to 110%.
Rebates are given to those who are driving an eco-friendly vehicle.
People are becoming more ill and a decrease in productivity in work field
all across the world.
Children are becoming more ill and a decrease in their education and to
the teachers’ pay.
Government Control:
In the U.S. there are laws pertaining to littering if caught a $1,000 fine or up a year in
prison.
The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, the first United States Clean Air Act enacted
by Congress to address the national environmental problem of air pollution on July 14, 1955.
The Clean Air Act is a United States federal law designed to control air pollution on a
national level. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and
enforce regulations to protect the public from airborne contaminants known to be hazardous to
human health.
The Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act is a 1965 amendment to the U.S. Clean Air
Act of 1963. The amendment set the first federal vehicle emissions standards, beginning with the
1968 models. These standards were reductions from the 1963 emissions: 72% reduction
for hydrocarbons, 56% reduction for carbon monoxide, and 100% reduction for crankcase
hydrocarbons. The impact the regulatory standards will have on air quality in the future
The 1970 amendments required the newly created The United States Environmental
Protection Agency to set the National Ambient Air Quality Standards to protect public health and
welfare.
The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955 was the first federal attempt to control air
pollution. The Clean Air Act of 1990 sets limits on the discharge of air pollutants from industrial
facilities and motor vehicles. These laws have significantly reduced the amount of pollution
released into the environment.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1972) commonly called the Clean Water Act. This
legislation provides money to improve sewage treatment plants and sets limits on the things that
industries and STPs can discharge into the water. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement;
establish federal and state environmental protection agencies and pass the Oil Pollution Act of
1990, which prohibits the discharge of oil into navigable rivers.
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Potential Impact:
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As pollutant levels increase, human exposure to toxins will also increase.
The Earth’s average temperatures will continue to increase leading to the polar ice
caps to melt. This will cause mass floods.
More toxins in the air will lead to more acid rain falls, potentially in cities.
As air pollution increases, the negative health effects of exposure will also
increase.
Options:
1. Continue to not have a recycling plant.
2. Build own recycling plant.
3. Contract with an already established recycling plant to accept our hazardous material.
Recommendations:
Option 2 if we have the resources to conduct it.
Rationale:
Sleek Accessories is trying to change the world of technology, not the world itself. We
must try to maintain the Earth as a healthy environment for future generations far beyond our
own.
Sleek Accessories must obey government regulations. We also need to watch our own
back for potential law suits. We would not want to upset government regulators or even more
our consumers. The consumers are looking for an eco-friendly way to charge their technology
and would not like it if the company that their charger came from is harming their Earth.
If we built our own recycling center we would also decrease the pollution from
transporting our material to another recycling center.
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Hazourdous Material
Radon
Chemicals
Human Waste
Trash