The Garbage Factory - What a Waste!!

Have you noticed signs of pollution and seen garbage strewn around? Did you ever investigate it to see what different types of litter was there and What was the most common type of litter? [Learn more about waste and waste disposal]

Are we living in a throwaway society? Take for example UK, where 20 million tonnes of waste is thrown away from homes every year. Another 15 million tonnes is thrown out by offices and shops, and 70 million tonnes by industry. [What a Mess]

Similarly United States generates approximately 230 million tons of "trash" every year,about 4.6 pounds per person per day. [Garbage Dump]

Lets not forget the growing pile of discarded parts of computers, mobile phones and other consumer electronics equipment in India and China. [E-Waste issue]

But is all this waste only strewn on land? Unfortunately NO!! Improperly treated sewage from land activities is a major source of coastal pollution resulting in decreased quality of bathing waters and nutrient enrichment leading to eutrophication. [Read 'How' on UN Atlas of the Ocean]

A question that keeps arising is - Can we do something about it?

If you have any ideas, why not try them in the Dumptown game where you become the new City Manager! When you start to play, you'll see Dumptown at its worst — it's littered, polluted, and nothing is being recycled or reused. all of the trash is going right into the landfill just outside town. In your new position, you can start programs that encourage Dumptown's citizens and businesses to recycle and reduce waste. You have 10 programs to work with. Each time you try out a new one, you can see immediately how the Dumptown landscape changes and how much waste you are saving from going into the landfill. [Play Dumptown]