Responsible waste management doesn’t just benefit the environment and climate in which we live; it also protects the animals that support healthy crop growth and protect the ocean. Recycling is just one form of waste management that can keeps animals safe, so they can flourish. Use this beginner’s guide to understand how your recycling benefits surrounding wildlife. 

What Are the Effects of Waste Management on Animals? 

1. Reduces Landfill Waste 

On average, every American generates almost 4.5 pounds of trash each day. Most of this trash ends up in large landfills. Unfortunately, the creation of landfills can push wildlife out of their natural habitats, upsetting fragile ecosystems. Because recycling is re-used for something else, it reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills. This, in turn, slows down the need for more landfill space.  

2. Reduces Presence of Plastic 

Each year, over 100,000 marine animals and 1 million sea birds die from plastic. Animals may find themselves trapped in plastic, unable to escape until their eventual death. Others ingest the material, which may harm or kill them. If they survive and pass the plastic, it can be ingested by another animal. Practicing plastic recycling can save wildlife. 

3. Reduces Access to Human Food 

Human food is not meant for animal consumption, and a shocking one-third of food ends up in a landfill. That food attracts wildlife and, as a result, can increase local animal populations, interrupt reproduction trends, and redefine ecosystems. Human food can also be full of toxins and chemicals that harm animals that eat it. Waste management, like composting, reduces the amount of human food in the landfills—thus reducing wildlife access to it. 

When you trust Freedom From Waste with your waste management, you’re supporting responsible trash and recycling methods for your community. Located in Farmington, MO, when the 2017 hail storm scattered thousands of shingles, they collected and recycled them, avoiding the 1,000 years it would take for them to decompose in a landfill. They’re also home to a recycling center that accepts all types of donations. Learn more about their residential and commercial waste management services online, or call (573) 747-0550 to schedule garbage collection today.