Greetings urban dwellers! Welcome to another article on urban land pollution. In the previous post, I discussed extensively on the causes of urban land pollution which can be conceptualised from a demand and supply framework. Demand factors include higher purchasing power and greater ability to consume, thus generating volumes of trash and wastes. Conversely, supply-side considerations like the proficiency and efficacy of waste management affect the amount of rubbish being scattered around the urban environment.

Now, what if waste management is effective in collecting trash and litter by putting them in a localised space in the urban environment. In a sense, this space becomes a ‘landfill’ for rubbish. Would it still amount into land pollution? Let’s take a look at the case study of “India’s Mount Everest of Rubbish”

The video has shared how rubbish is being collected and deposited at a designated area. However, this is insufficient to curb land pollution as the consequences such as health risks and stench can still affect the urban inhabitants. As a response to the intense accumulation of garbage, many residents have also relocated their homes as they deem the livability to be threatened. This begs the question: what about those people that do not have the capabilities to change their living environment as they are tied down by socio-economic factors like wealth?

Another interesting aspect of the video is that it does not disconnect land and air pollution. The video attributed air pollution from the amalgamation of litter and elucidated the dangers of how land pollution can therefore, create other types of pollution. We should not belittle land pollution to mere cigaretter butt along the road side or plastic bags hanging on trees. When all these tiny components of land pollution combine, they could pose a serious threat.

You Live in Urban, You Fight for Urban

Your metropollution warrior,

BriChua