Sustainability is living in a way that allows us to meet our current needs without compromising those of future generations.
Current Waste Production
With the multitude of waste that we produce in our consumer culture, we are damaging the environment around us. The methane that emits from landfills is contributing to global warming, which is altering Earth's climate system and changing habitats at a rate in which many species cannot keep up. Also, the leachate the trickles into the soil from landfill is toxic, and thus if plants are exposed to this toxic soil, they can die. This ultimately affects biodiversity, as we are currently in the Sixth Mass Extinction and loosing plant and animal species at a rapid rate. Every year, 1 out of 1 million species goes extinct. The amount of waste we are producing contributes to this devastating statistic, and if we keep producing the same amount of waste, there will not be an Earth for future generations to live on.
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Changing Course
The Zero Waste Movement is one that can cause the human population to live more sustainably. By producing a minimal amount of waste, the amount of methane and leachate in the environment will significantly decrease. This will also have a positive effect on our oceans and water resources, as they will be less contaminated. Subsequently, plant and animal species will have cleaner habitats and an increased ability to survive, thus adding to the biodiversity in our ecosystems. In securing these ecosystems, the natural services we so heavily rely on, including water purification and pollination, will be saved as well. Also, if companies strive to produce zero waste, they will extract less resources (and burn less fossil fuels) from the environment by reusing. These resources will be crucial to sustaining future generations, deeming the zero waste movement one that promotes sustainable development.
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