The garbage pollution problem in Barranquilla

The garbage pollution problem in Barranquilla

What is garbage pollution?

Garbage pollution means littering civic waste particularly household waste into places not designated to dispose it off. It is mainly caused by mismanagement of solid waste when garbage is not lifted from streets and areas to carry it to landfill sites for its final disposal. It all happens owing to poor system of either garbage collection or its disposal.

CAUSES OF GARBAGE POLLUTION

·         Not having a proper system of garbage collection.

·         Improper disposal mechanism

EFFECTS OF GARBAGE POLLUTION

·         Garbage pollution is main cause of various bacterial diseases and gastro is one of them. Moreover, typhoid, malaria and various infectious diseases are also caused by it.

How does garbage pollution affect my community?

Barranquilla produces 1.600 tons of garbage each day that is taken to the landfill El Henequen. This landfill does not comply with the environmental management to mitigate the bad smells. Barranquilla’s garbage collection company is the “Triple A”, and although they have a collection system, their disposal system is very poor. The company is making a lot of efforts to improve the disposal system with the construction of a new landfill that uses new technology.

The members of our community have a very important role in this issue. If we separate our garbage at home, and apply the 3 Rs we can make a significant difference, but most of the people doesn’t do it.

To help us in this matter, I have designed a small robot that you can have at home, that will separate the garbage for you.  It will be integrated to your trashcan, so when you throw something in the garbage it analyzes it immediately and separates it in different containers. With this robot, we make the disposal of garbage a lot easier to the garbage company. We contribute to reduce the garbage pollution, the reduction of various diseases, and the conservation of planet Earth.