POLLUTION CAUSED BY SOLID WASTE, HOW DO WE MANAGE IT?

Based on the results of a recent study published by The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Indonesia is now in the second place of the countries in the world to donate plastic waste into the sea. The estimated for 2015 amount of garbage which flows into the sea is about 9.1 million tons.

Waste is a problem faced by almost all countries in the world, including Indonesia. Now, waste management problem this is increasing because the population is growing every year. In general, it can be seen from the equation, I = P * A * T, where I = environmental impact, P = Population, A = Affluence, T = Technology (Commoners, 1972; Ehrlich and Holdren 1971; Ehrlich and Goulder, 2007). From that equation, we can assume that the higher number of the population will be increasingly greater amounts of consumption or demand is required, as well as technology and the result will be a huge impact on the environment. As a result, it takes a lot of cost and spacious grounds to hold waste, in this case solid waste. Not only that, problems of garbage can harm public health and the environment if not managed properly.

Urban population tends to be a consumer resident so that an increasing amount of garbage is also directly related to the life of the community. Public awareness is still lacking about the importance of maintaining a healthy environment contribute greatly to the environmental conditions in the future. The habit of throwing rubbish into the river, trenches or ditches and empty fields in, it seems to be a difficult thing inevitable. Community habits and a lack of understanding about the dangers of waste to the environment need to get special attention. There are still many people hoard rubbish on the ground and throw garbage into the river, this activity can lead to disasters such as landslides, floods, as well as harm the animals that live in the water, either along the flow of the river and the sea. The Government has not seriously implemented the system of waste management in the community. And also have a maximum empower and provide knowledge about waste management. Especially elementary school children who are the next generation of the nation.

Causes

Waste comes from all activities carried out by humans. Garbage time consumption and industry. Almost all food packaging ends up being trash. Plastic packaging, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass bottles and other packaging materials will be garbage. Each ingredient should run with a different method while intending to cast. The Government should also have set up special technology in management, so the landfill waste is not mixed and cause environmental problems.

Not only that, the lack of public awareness to manage waste properly contribute to the pollution of the environment, including air and water pollution. Open dumping, landfills, and dispose of waste into streams is an action which is still often found by people who think the impact will be less aroused.

The physical and chemical nature of litter will affect the length of time the garbage to decompose completely. The following are some examples of garbage with a period of breakdown: a. Plastic 50 – 100 years b. Cigarette butts 10 years c. Soft drink Cans (aluminum) 80 – 100 years d. Cardboard 5 months e. Orange peel 6 months f. Leather shoes 25-40 years g. Paper 2 – 5 months h. Battery for 100 years i. Aluminum 80 – 100 years j. Plastics (packs of detergents etc.) 50 – 80 years k. plastic Pouch 10 – 20 years l. Styrofoam cannot be destroyed (Source: Earth-hijau.com/sampah-organik-dan-anorganik/)

According to Chandra (2007) in the Arbain (2008), a less good waste management can give negative influence to health, the environment, as well as for social economic and cultural life of the community as follows: a. impact on health, among other things: 1) a less good waste management will make the garbage as a vector of disease, breeding places 2) the incidence of the disease dengue (dengue fever) will increase as vectors of disease will live and depression in garbage cans or tires with rain water, 3) accidents due to the garbage disposal which are not in place, such as a wound caused by sharp objects such as broken glass, pieces of iron and other psychological disorders, 4), such as shortness of breath, insomnia, stress and others. b. the influence of the environment, among other things: 1) the aesthetics of the environment becomes less eye-catching, 2) decay waste by microorganisms produces certain gases that cause foul smell, 3) burning trash can cause air pollution and fire hazards are wider, 4) garbage disposal into the drain water will cause the water flow is interrupted and channel the water into a shallow, 5) when the rainy season comesthe garbage piling up, can cause flooding and resulted in the pollution of water sources on the surface or shallow wells, 6) flood water can result in damage to the community facilities, such as roads, bridges and waterways, 7) will harm the animals that is in the water. c. impact on social, economic and cultural community, among other things: 1) waste management outcomes reflect the socio-cultural circumstances of the local community, 2) State of the environment and slouchy, would decrease the attraction of tourists to come to visit the area, 3) can lead to disputes between local residents and officials because of the stench that is very distracting 4) numbers increased pain and reduced working days so that the productivity of the society decreased5 environmental improvement) activities that damaged the large funds that require the funds to other sectors will be reduced, 6) decrease in regional income (foreign exchange) due to the decrease in the number of tourists who visit so it will impact on the local community, the income decline 7) reduction and natural resources so that the quality of production is declining and has no economic value, 8) into the garbage buildup is causing traffic jams that can inhibit the activity of transport of goods and services.

Waste Management

Waste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling, and waste disposal. This phrase usually refers to waste material generated from human activities, and usually managed to reduce its impact on health, the environment or beauty. Waste management is also carried out to restore natural resources. Waste management can involve solid, liquid, gas, or radioactive with methods and skills specific to each type of substance.

Waste management practices vary between developed countries and developing countries. Differ also between urban areas and rural areas, between different residential areas with industrial areas. Waste management which is harmless from the settlements and institutions in the metropolitan area are usually the responsibility of local governments, whereas for waste from commercial and industrial areas are typically handled by the garbage processing company. Waste management methods vary depending on many things, including the type of waste substances, land used to cultivate and the availability of the area.

Some developed countries have implemented technology where garbage can be transformed into energy and recycle certain materials for resale to the factory as a base material for the production process. In addition they also apply strict sanctions against the violations that can cause hazard to the environment. To that end, Indonesia needs to have the regulation and law-enforcement are clear about garbage.

The concept of Reduce, Re-use and Recycle

Reduce, Re-use and Recycle are the three simple concepts that can be easily applied to the community, especially among elementary school children. this concept directly can do in everyday life.

Reduce (reduce) is an action to reduce the use of all materials that are not environmentally friendly. The intent is not environmentally friendly is a difficult material destroyed (broken down) by the ground. An example of a hard material destroyed by ground most often we wear is plastic and sterofoam. The time required is about hundreds of years for the land to destroy the materials. If the materials that continue to be used and no reduction, then the balance of humus in the soil will break down, as a result of land infertile and difficult to absorb water. Other things that harm is if only the land which has been contaminated by poison plants that grow upon it, then eat it, then plant their toxicity will join the inedible.

Reuse (wear reissue) was wise to put back the action of objects which are normally discarded disposable. For example, when we are going for shopping, whenever possible, you can be using plastic bags used before. The usage as long as possible before they were destroyed. This act will reduce the use of increasing amounts of plastic.

Recycle (recycling) is the action shape, component, or the structure of an object is unused so get back into objects that have the power to. This action is the last action for objects that could not be used anymore (although in practice there are still many things that can still be worn). There are many ways to recycle them is to create works of art with objects that are unused so it can produce goods that can be used. Another example is the recycling is done by plastic factories.

Composting Technology

Composting system is the processing of organic waste with the help of microorganisms forming organic fertilizer (compost). Making compost can be done by aerobic and anaerobic methods. On composting in aerobic decomposition, processes the raw materials to be composted will be optimal if there is oxygen takes place. While on the anaerobe decomposition of composting materials into the compost, oxygen is not required. Composting also means generating new resources, the compost which rich by micro nutrient elements. Another attempt can be made to reduce the backlog of rubbish is to create methods that are eco-friendly and easy to do at the level of region or household, one of them is by making compost at the level of households or neighborhoods.

In the process of composting, organic waste will naturally described by various types of microbes or remains miniscule as bacteria, fungi or other microorganism. These components come process requires optimal conditions such as adequate nutrition, willingness or fresh air, proper humidity. The faster the process then the good quality of the compost produced. Composting in a container or a composter, first a number of aerobic microbes (microbes that can't live if there is no air), will elaborate a long chain chemical compound was conceived garbage, such as cellulose, carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Become a simpler compounds, carbon dioxide gas and water. Simple compounds are abundant food, microbe grows and breeds rapidly so that amount to compound.

The Government should not only do waste management waste processing method which has been in existence, but also start implementing managed technology waste management capable. It also had to find a solution to reduce the amount of trash generated each day. One of them is by growing public awareness about waste management early on. Thus expected in the foreseeable future will be created by the community with a pattern of life that is more concerned about the environment.