Junk Planet: Is Earth The Largest Garbage Dump In The Universe?

The article “Junk Planet: Is Earth the Largest Garbage Dump in the Universe?,” by Robert J. Burrowes, claims that earth likely is the largest garbage dump in the world. Burrowes describes the types of garbage that are created, the locations where it is being discarded, and potential solutions to the problem. One form of garbage is pollution, the carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere from cars, electricity, and farming of animals. These pollutants can potentially cause cancer, asthma, and birth defects among other consequences. The solution he proposes to this is to not travel by air or car as well as refrain from eating meat. The next form of garbage Burrowes examines is the ocean garbage. While plastic largely contributes to the destruction of oceans, the absorption of carbon dioxide and chemical runoff does as well.

The waterways of creeks, rivers, lakes, and wetlands are affected by chemical poisons and heavy metals and the groundwater supplies on Earth are becoming polluted by gasoline, oil, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and hazardous wastes. Burrowes also discusses soil contamination, antibiotic waste, genetic engineering and gene drives, nanoparticles, space junk, military waste, nuclear waste, and even our own bodies. He even goes so far as to state that our attention is distracted by forms of junk like television. He recommends that we make a conscious personal commitment to take action. The change has to start with individuals. We should also attempt to prevent children from acquiring traits of consumption and pollution. He concludes with the idea that we have two choices: conform to the creation of Earth as a junkyard or make a decision to fight the devastation of the