ONCE a country with a culture of cleanliness ingrained within its national psyche, the current state of Guyana’s environment, from end to end of the coastland, bespeaks a converse attitude of disregard for the health and well-being of the nation, as well as unconcern for the gradual deterioration in the scenic landscape of this paradise-like country, once described by colonials as “The Magnificent Province”.Evidence of Guyana’s current culture of littering, which has become endemic to the Guyanese society, is manifest to visitors all along the highway from the CJIA, heaped intermittently in piles right until they reach their destination, sadly, in or out of the city.
Litter consists of waste products that have been disposed improperly, without consent, at an inappropriate location. To litter means to throw (often man-made) objects onto the ground and leave them indefinitely, or for others to dispose of, as opposed to disposing of them properly.
Larger hazardous items such as tyres, appliances, damaged vehicles, electronics and large industrial containers are often dumped in isolated locations on public land. It is a serious environmental issue in many countries.
Litter can exist in the environment for long periods of time before degrading and be transported long distances into the world’s oceans. Litter can affect the quality of life of both humans and lesser animals on land, as well as aquatic life.
Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world, with trillions indiscriminately discarded annually. Cigarette butts can take up to five years to completely break down.
Various areas in Guyana proliferate with garbage, and show extensive littering of plastic and paper. Human waste, illustrated by the urinating man, as well as faecal matter, increase bacterial levels on land and in the water.
Throughout animal history, people have disposed of unwanted materials without fear of retribution, onto streets, roadsides, in small local dumps or often in remote locations. Prior to reforms within cities in the mid-to-late 19th Century, sanitation was not a government priority. The growing piles of waste led to the spread of disease, with plagues often wiping out thousands of lives at one instance of affliction.
To address the growing amount of waste generated by citizens, many countries have enacted solid waste disposal laws, which give authority to the environmental protection agencies of those countries to regulate and enforce proper hazardous waste disposal.
Many countries now have laws that require that hazardous waste be deposited in a special location rather than sent to landfills with regular refuse. In addition to intentional littering, almost half of the litter on roadways is now a result of accidental or unintentional littering, usually in the form of debris that falls off of improperly secured trash, recycling collection vehicles, and pickup trucks.
Illegally dumped hazardous waste may be affected by the costs associated with dropping materials off at designated sites; some facilities charge a fee for depositing hazardous materials. Access to nearby facilities that accept hazardous waste may deter use. Additionally, ignorance of the laws that govern the proper disposal of hazardous waste may have an impact on proper disposal.
Young people cause more litter than the average Guyanese. Automobile drivers and recreationalists, smokers and youths are specific groups that have the proclivity of indiscriminately dumping litter, despite the fact that the same individuals admit that they enjoy a clean environment.
Negligent or lenient law enforcement contributes to littering behaviour. Other causes are inconvenience, a feeling of entitlement and economic conditions. Also, unavailability of public trash and recycling service, shortage of enforcement, and habit are possible causes.
The presence of litter invites more littering. The implications of understanding the different types of litter-reduction interventions that will most effectively reduce littering in a given environment are essential to enhance quality of human life.
Litter can remain visible for extended periods of time before it eventually biodegrades, with some items made of condensed glass, styrofoam or plastic possibly remaining in the environment for periods. Litter travelling through storm and rainwater systems ends up in local streams, rivers, and waterways. Uncollected litter can accrete and flow into streams and drainage canals. Litter in the ocean either washes up on beaches, or settles at the bottom of oceans.
Most marine debris originate from land-based sources. This proves a great danger to aquatic life. Some litter that is collected can be recycled; however, degraded litter cannot be recycled and eventually degrades to sludge, often toxic.
Most litter that is collected goes to landfills. Litter can harm humans and the environment in different ways. Hazardous materials contained within litter and illegally dumped rubbish can leach into water sources, contaminate soil, and pollute the air.
Tyres are the most often dumped hazardous waste. Many discarded tyres end up illegally dumped on public lands. Tyres can become a breeding ground for insect vectors which can transmit diseases to humans. Mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water, can transmit typhoid, dengue and malarial parasites.
Rodents nest in accumulated tyres and can transmit deadly diseases.When tyres are burned, they can smoulder for long periods of time, emitting hundreds of chemical compounds that pollute the air, causing respiratory illnesses and/or cancer. Additionally, the residue left behind can harm the soil and leach into groundwater.
Open containers such as paper cups or beverage cans hold rainwater and provide breeding locations for mosquitoes. In addition, a spark has the potential to hit a piece of litter, such as a paper bag, which could start a fire. Also bottles or discarded glass can start a fire through reflecting the sun’s rays.
Litter also carries substantial costs to the economy. Cleaning up litter costs millions of dollars, much more than the cost of proper trash disposal, which can run into billions per year.
Animals may get trapped or poisoned by litter in their habitats. Cigarette butts and filters are a threat to wildlife, and have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds and whales, who have mistaken them for food.
Also, animals can get trapped in the rubbish and be in serious discomfort. For example, the plastic used to hold beverage cans together can get wrapped around animals’ necks (as in the movie, Happy Feet) and cause them to suffocate as they grow. Other instances where animals could be harmed by litter include broken glass lacerating the paws of dogs, cats, and other small mammals; fishing nets caught on the necks of seals and turtles; or plastic swallowed. Organic litter in large amounts can cause water pollution. Cigarettes could also start fires if they are not put out and then discarded in the environment.
Public waste containers or street bins should be provided by the local authorities to be used as a convenient place for the disposal and collection of litter. Increasingly, both general waste and recycling options should be provided. Local councils should pick the waste up and take it to be re-used or recycled. However, there are issues with this approach. If the bins are not regularly emptied, then overfilling may occur, which can increase litter indirectly.
Some local authorities will take responsibility only for rubbish that is placed in bins, which means that litter will still remain a problem. People may blame the lack of well-placed bins for their littering. Hazardous materials may be incorrectly disposed of in the bins, and they can encourage dumpster diving.
Volunteers, sometimes alone or coordinated through organisations, will pick up litter and dispose of it. Clean up events may be organised, where participants will sometimes comb an area in a line to ensure that no litter is missed.
Companies and organisations can commit to cleaning stretches of road. A number of organisations exist with the aim of raising awareness and run campaigns, including cleanup events. Government continually expends huge amounts of national revenue, but the long-term solution to the problem lies in the citizens themselves becoming aware that it is not a ‘them’ problem; that it is an ‘us’ problem, because the threat to health and public safety means that, in the words of Martin Carter, “All are involved…” So, should an epidemic break out, all would be consumed.