Non-biodegradable wastes are the by-products of human existence that do not decompose naturally. They cannot be broken down into basic forms by micro-organisms, and the planet cannot use them to continue the essential life cycles that make this world a habitat for humans. They just lie around, contributing to the pileup of things that pollute the planet. They can’t be simplified into other elements without releasing harmful chemicals.

Glass, polyethylene bags, plastics, and iron nails, among other things, are examples of non-biodegradable wastes.They are harmful to the planet because they bring about water pollution and land pollution. Too many plastics on the Earth’s surface means that vegetation and food production would be affected. In the case of water pollution, the disturbing repercussions are in the form of the death of marine animals. And because they don’t decompose, most people make the mistake of setting fire to them. But burning them, as most humans are wont to do, is alarming and troubling.

Land fill sites get to house the non-biodegradable wastes that humans throw out. They are big holes in the ground that contain every rubbish that has been binned. Since non-biodegradable materials do not decay, land fills are usually filled with them. And because those kinds of materials are many, the Earth is dotted with too many land fill sites that poison the environment and ultimately, life.

But, just because non-biodegradable wastes can’t be subjected to the natural workings of the environment, it doesn’t mean that there is no way that they can taken care of properly. We should all learn to recognise the wisdom of the reduce, reuse, and recycle campaign. First, we must try to lessen the usage of non-biodegradable wastes. That’s not hard to do. Some organic and Earth-friendly substitutes can still make life comfortable. Also, if we do get to use them, we should make sure that they get reused for the same purposes. There’s no need to buy so many plastic bags if you know that you only need to put one pair of slippers on them. And, recycling them to fulfil other functions (like turning a plastic bottle into a work of art) will be very beneficial.

Everybody knows that the Earth is going through a lot of environmental issues that could lead to some very undesirable effects in the future. In fact, most people have learnt to tune out those who like saying that the end will come when we least expect it, and we’d all suffer horribly for it. But, that’s a very dangerous thing. As early as now, we need to not only know and recognise that something must be done. We need to start acting. It’s the only way that we could sleep tonight, feeling assured that we actively participated in things that could give us a better tomorrow.