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  • The Path of Hazardous Waste

    Hazardous wastes are wastes that could cause harm to life when disposed of improperly. Hazardous wastes can readily catch fire under standard conditions, like oil-based paints or gasoline. They can be corrosive, reactive and toxic when ingested on there is close contact. Imagine a can of spray paint or insecticide when thrown into a burning fire – it explodes. Those are hazardous wastes that require careful handling to protect life and the environment.

    Hazardous wastes aren’t just found in industries or commercial buildings; they are everywhere. About 13 tons of hazardous waste is generated every second. From households to the streets, schools, and factories – they are everywhere. Hazardous wastes could be:

    1. Household hazardous waste. It could be hard to think of hazardous waste lying around in our homes. However, the cleaning agents used on clean-up days to the can of insecticides used to keep our homes bug free to the batteries in the remote and wall clocks, they are all hazardous wastes. When disposed with regular waste to landfills, they can release heavy metals, corrode, or cause an ignition. These items should be collected separately and disposed of appropriately.
    2. Industrial hazardous waste. A significant amount of hazardous waste is generated from industries. Manufacturing industries generate hazardous by-products during their production processes that require advanced treatment. Industries such as mining, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing generate large amounts of hazardous waste. For every kilo of pill generated in the pharmaceuticals industry, 100 kilos of emissions and waste are generated.
    3. Medical waste (biohazards). Waste generated from hospitals is 15% biohazard. These wastes – used syringes, lab cultures, expired medicine, and blood-stained bandages – could be reactive, infectious or flammable. An estimate of 16 billion injections are administered yearly, worldwide, of which not all are properly disposed. Medical waste should be segregated at the source, placed in clearly marked containers, and treated through processes like incineration or autoclaving before disposal to prevent health hazards.
    4. E-waste. E-waste is one of the fastest-growing categories of hazardous waste worldwide. Old phones, laptops, televisions, and other appliances might look like junk, but they contain heavy metals like cadmium, lead which could leach into the environment if not disposed of properly. Resources – gold, copper, and silver – which are found in many devices can be recovered and reused, and it reduces E-waste is one of the fastest-growing categories of hazardous waste worldwide. Old phones, laptops, televisions, and appliances might look like junk, but they contain harmful substances like cadmium, lead, and flame-retardant chemicals. If not properly recycled, these toxins can leak into the environment. At the same time, e-waste is also a valuable resource—many devices contain precious metals like gold, copper, and silver that can be recovered and reused. This is why proper e-waste recycling is so important: it reduces environmental harm while creating opportunities for resource recovery.

    Hazardous wastes separated at the source and labelled have a higher possibility of being treated and disposed of properly. In countries like Nigeria, where formal recycling centers are scarce and hazardous waste disposal systems are often inadequate, individuals and communities have a big role to play in protecting the environment. While it might seem like one person’s actions don’t make much of a difference, collective effort can drastically reduce the amount of dangerous waste ending up in open dumps, water bodies, or farmlands. Practical steps to prevent hazardous waste in the environment include:

    1. Minimize Hazardous Waste Generation. The best way to manage hazardous waste is to reduce how much you produce in the first place. Reducing demand for hazardous products means less risk of them ending up in the environment. Consider:
      • Choosing rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
      • Buying only the amount of paint, cleaning chemicals, or pesticides you need—so you don’t end up with leftovers.
      • Opting for eco-friendly alternatives when available, such as biodegradable cleaning agents.
    2. Store Hazardous Waste Safely Until Proper Disposal is Possible. If there are no recycling or collection facilities nearby, don’t throw hazardous waste into the regular dustbin or burn it in open air (which releases toxic fumes). Instead:
      • Keep used batteries, bulbs, and small electronics in a separate container.
      • Label containers clearly to avoid mixing with household trash. Store them in a cool, dry place, away from children and pets, until you can access a safe disposal channel (such as a community drop-off event, NGO collection drive, or when travelling to a city with facilities).
    3. Donate or Repurpose Usable Electronics. Before discarding old electronics, consider whether they can still be useful. Many communities, schools, or repair shops can reuse or refurbish old phones, laptops, or appliances. Extending the lifespan of electronics reduces the immediate waste burden and delays the risk of hazardous materials leaking into the environment.
    4. Never Burn or Dump Hazardous Waste in Waterways. In many places, people burn old wires, plastics, or electronic boards to recover metals, or they throw used batteries into gutters and rivers. These practices are extremely dangerous: they release toxic fumes and contaminate water sources. Spreading awareness within your household and community about these dangers is one of the most effective forms of prevention.
    5. Support and Advocate for Better Systems. While individual action matters, long-term change requires better infrastructure and policies. Supporting local initiatives, speaking up at community meetings, or even encouraging schools to set up e-waste collection bins can push authorities and businesses to provide safer disposal options.

    Hazardous waste is not just an abstract environmental issue—it has direct and often devastating effects on human health, ecosystems, and communities. When these materials are mismanaged, the consequences can linger for generations. One of the most serious risks is water pollution. When batteries, chemicals, or e-waste are dumped in open landfills or near rivers, toxic substances like lead, mercury, and arsenic can leach into groundwater. Contaminated water has been linked to diseases such as kidney damage, developmental problems in children, and certain cancers.

    Hazardous waste that seeps into soil doesn’t just stay underground—it affects food production. Crops grown in polluted soil can absorb heavy metals, which then enter the food chain. Farmers may notice stunted growth or reduced yields, while consumers face long-term health effects from eating contaminated food.

    Open burning of hazardous waste, a common practice in many developing countries, releases clouds of toxic smoke. Burning plastics, wires, or medical waste produces dioxins and furans—chemicals known to cause respiratory diseases, skin disorders, and even cancer. For people living near dumpsites, breathing polluted air daily often leads to chronic coughs, asthma, and other long-term respiratory conditions. Children, in particular, are the most vulnerable.

    Conclusion

    It is important to manage hazardous waste properly, given its diverse types and composition and the significant risks it poses to human health and the environment. Improper handling of hazardous waste can lead to severe consequences, including soil and water contamination, air pollution, and long-term health issues like cancer or respiratory diseases. In areas with few recycling facilities, it is possible to manage and properly dispose of hazardous waste and that should be everyone’s priority.

  • Leakages in pipeline networks: do they really matter?

    A leaky tap, an ill-fitting pipe connection, a broken faucet – compared to industries and agricultural farms, the water loss is approximately negligible – so, does it really matter on the large scale of things? About 126 billion cubic metres of water is lost due to these “negligible” losses yearly worldwide. That’s enough water for Nigeria to use in 1,500 years. Now, that’s a lot of loss.

    A leaky tap
    Photo by Nithin PA on Pexels.com

    Now, before you say those values are just an estimate and overhyped, remember that one time you had a leaky tap that refused to close properly, and you left a container at the tap. Remember, you came back to an overflowing container only after a few hours. Now, estimate the number of thousands of households that have the same leaky tap or ill-fitting pipe connection. Does that figure look realistic now?

    Water treatments vary in cost and could be affordable to very expensive, depending on the treatment technique employed, the quality of the influent, and the expected effluent. These leaks not only reduce available freshwater, bringing about water scarcity, but also mean lost revenue used in treating the water. If the leak involved untreated wastewater, it means a reduction in available freshwater due to contamination of existing available water. Either way, it is a loss. A loss we can’t afford for the sake of our future generations.

    When the subject of water scarcity is mentioned, we often think of climate change, water pollution, and overconsumption as discussed in an earlier post, “Are we running out of water?” Leakages, however minimal, increase the risk for water scarcity in an area.

    Water scarcity aside, as long as water can flow out, contaminants can flow in. When a pipe loses pressure due to leakage, dirty water from surrounding soil, drains, or sewage can be drawn inside the pipeline network. This creates a pathway for bacteria, viruses, and chemicals, increasing the risk of contamination or waterborne diseases from consuming such water.

    It always starts out as a little leakage, but if untreated, the leakage gets bigger due to pressure fluctuations around the leakage. Burst pipes damage roads and pavements, resulting in costly emergency repairs and traffic disruptions.

    Can We Ever Eliminate Leaks Entirely?

    The simple answer is no – achieving zero leakage in any large water distribution system is practically impossible. Water pipes are buried underground, exposed to soil movement, traffic vibrations, ageing materials, and fluctuating pressure.

    Instead of striving for the unrealistic goal of zero loss, let’s set performance benchmarks. As soon as these leakages are noticed, they should be dealt with so they don’t become bigger problems later on. Leakages are often due to ageing pipes, delayed maintenance, and limited monitoring technology.

    Locating and repairing every tiny leak is extremely expensive and, in some cases, requires more resources than the water saved. This is why it is important to focus on essential repairs – controlling leaks to a point where water loss, cost of repairs, and service reliability are kept in balance.

    Solutions and Innovations

    While leaks may never be completely eliminated, they can be significantly reduced through smarter strategies, technology, and community action. Some preventive and innovative approaches to keep precious water from slipping away include:

    1. Preventive Maintenance and Pipe Replacement: Much of the leakage problem stems from ageing infrastructure. Pipes that are decades old are more likely to crack, corrode, or burst under pressure. Rather than waiting for leaks to happen, routinely inspecting networks, replacing ageing sections, and upgrading weak materials helps reduce water wastage and ensures long-term reliability.
    2. Smart Water Management: Sensors, IoT, and AI: In our day and time, technology is at the forefront of every activity. Acoustic sensors can listen for the faint sound of water escaping underground. IoT-enabled meters provide real-time data on flow rates, making it easier to pinpoint unusual losses. AI-driven systems that analyse patterns across vast networks, predicting where leaks are most likely to occur. These innovations save both time and money by finding hidden leaks that would otherwise go unnoticed for years.
    3. Pressure Management: Having high pressure at the tap feels good, but it wreaks havoc on older pipes. The constant pressure strains within the pipe result in leakages within the pipeline network.
    4. Community Reporting and Awareness: People are always the first to notice that leaky pipe or tap, the soggy soil, or wet pavement due to leakages. Encouraging residents to report leaks allows for them to be fixed quickly. Public awareness campaigns also remind people that water lost in leaks is still water wasted.

    Conclusion

    At first glance, a little drip here or a minor crack there might not seem like much. But when multiplied across thousands of kilometers of pipelines, those “small leaks” turn into millions of litres of clean, treated water lost every single day. In a world already grappling with water scarcity, this is a hidden drain we cannot afford to ignore. Tackling leakage is just as important as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or reusing water at home.

  • Are we running out of water?

    Water is said to be abundant in nature. Despite its abundance, freshwater is only 2.5% of the available water, with 68% locked up in ice and glaciers and 30% below the ground. Although water is continually regenerated through the water cycle year after year, the quantity of water we have remains relatively constant each year. With the rise in population and industrialisation, a question that may linger in our hearts is, “Are we running out of water?” or “How fast are we running out of fresh water?”

    Earth running out of water

    Surface water

    Surface water – lakes, rivers and reservoirs- is 1.2% of freshwater, and rivers make up only 0.49%. Surface water is replenished through rainfall and melting snow. However, a large amount of surface water is drying up due to climate change. Surface water has a self-cleansing mechanism, which allows for the removal of impurities. This improves the quality of the surface water over time, provided it is not being polluted consistently.

    Groundwater

    Groundwater, which lies beneath the Earth’s surface is 30% of freshwater and heavily relied upon. Groundwater is replenished through percolation of water in the aquifer when rain falls. As rainwater or melting snow seeps through the layers of the earth’s crust, it gets naturally filtered as impurities and suspended solids are removed from the water. Groundwater tends to contain a high level of dissolved solids because minerals from beneath the earth’s surface seep into the water as it flows through the crust. Due to overdependence, groundwater is withdrawn faster than it is being replenished. This over-extraction of groundwater is leading to declining water tables.

    Water pollution

    Even with the availability of water, it is not safe for consumption. This is due to the high level of contamination freshwater is facing around the world. High levels of mineralisation in groundwater and algae blooms in surface waters. Treating the water makes it safe for consumption. However, the costly treatment or the unavailability of the treatment is making water scarce. Major reasons why we are running out of water include

    1. Improper disposal of waste: Some waste disposal companies in some countries directly dump waste into rivers and streams with the hope that “it takes away the problem (the waste)”. In reality, the accumulation of these wastes in waterbodies degrades the water quality over time, and because the waste is dumped from time to time, the self-purification mechanism of the river does not help much with purifying the water bodies. Disposing in landfills also affects the quality of groundwater within that area as leachate gets into the aquifer.
    2. Wastewater mismanagement: Enormous amounts of wastewater are generated daily from industries, residential areas, and commercial buildings. Wastewater could be a reliable source of water for agriculture, industrial cooling, or potable use if it is recycled rather than simply being discharged into the environment.
    3. Overconsumption and misuse: Overconsumption is an activity that humans overindulge in. From extra time in the shower to over-irrigating farmlands and excessive water use in industries, humanity uses more water than is sustainable. With erratic rainfalls, prolonged droughts, and rising global temperatures due to climate change, water scarcity has become a consistent phenomenon.
    Polluted river with plastics and other wastes
    River pollution with solid waste

    Moving forward

    Water crises aren’t inevitable, but urgent tasks need to be prioritised. These tasks include:

    • Enforcing regulations about waste (water and solid waste) disposal to reduce pollution levels due to contamination.
    • Encouraging sustainable use of water in homes, agriculture, and industries.
    • Limiting dependence on surface water and groundwater by harvesting rainwater.
    • Investing in wastewater treatment and reuse to reduce water pollution levels and employ wastewater as a potential water source.

    Conclusion

    We may not be “running out” of water in a literal sense, but we are running out of clean, usable freshwater. And that poses a threat to life and the ecosystem. Water is a renewable resource only if we protect and manage it wisely. Otherwise, the well may run dry sooner than we think.

  • Different colours for hydrogen gas

    Different colours for hydrogen gas

    3–5 minutes

    Hydrogen is a chemical substance with the symbol H and an atomic number of 1. It is the most abundant chemical substance on earth, constituting about 75% of all matter. Hydrogen is usually found in combination with other substances. Although hydrogen is one of the most abundant chemical substances, it takes up only 0.14% of the earth’s crust by weight.

    Basic details about hydrogen as an element.
    Hydrogen is the most abundant element ever. Source: International Renewable Energy Agency

    Hydrogen as a gas is not easily obtained in nature. As a result, numerous processes are used to create hydrogen gas. The different colours for hydrogen are named from the manufacturing method and may range from region to region.

    Hydrogen gas has a wide range of applications, from commercial to personal or domestic. Hydrogen may be used in power plants, as a coolant in factories, in weather balloons, and in the manufacturing of ammonia, which is used in fertilizers.

    Apart from the most well-known colours of green, blue, and grey, hydrogen gas may be identified with six more colours: brown or black, turquoise, purple, pink, red, and white.

    Raw material sources used in the production of hydrogen gas.
    Source: Raw materials used in the production of hydrogen gas. Atome

    Green hydrogen

    Green hydrogen, also known as clean hydrogen, is generated by electrolyzing water molecules to separate hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy such as wind or sun. It is termed green because there are no carbon dioxide emissions throughout the production process.

    Green hydrogen costs twice as much as regular hydrogen and blue hydrogen. The cost of green hydrogen is determined by the cost of power, technology, and storage in the area. Although the cost of renewable energy and electrolysis equipment is decreasing, green hydrogen may not get considerably cheaper because of the high cost of the technology involved.

    Production process of hydrogen till its end use point.
    Production process and end use of hydrogen Source: International Renewable Energy Agency

    Blue hydrogen

    Blue hydrogen is generated from fossil fuels such as methane or coal using heat, steam, and pressure. The carbon generated during the process is captured and stored underground through industrial carbon capture and storage (CSS).

    Production of blue hydrogen often requires a lot of energy, and it is not sustainable. The production costs and the water requirements depend on the technology employed in the production.

    Grey hydrogen

    Grey hydrogen is generated similarly to blue hydrogen, except unlike blue hydrogen, the carbon dioxide emitted during the creation process is not collected.

    Turquoise hydrogen

    Another kind of hydrogen that can be described to offer clean hydrogen is turquoise hydrogen. Turquoise hydrogen is developed by a process known as methane pyrolysis, which generates solid carbon and hydrogen gas. The solid carbon produced can be utilized to make tyres or as a soil improver.

    Grey, Blue, Turquoise and Green Hydrogen compared.
    Grey, Blue, Turquoise and Green Hydrogen compared. Source: International Renewable Energy Agency

    Yellow hydrogen

    Yellow hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using solar energy. It can be argued that yellow hydrogen is another type of green energy on the hydrogen spectrum.

    Brown or black hydrogen

    Brown hydrogen is produced from bituminous coal, while brown hydrogen is produced from lignite coal through the gasification process. The production process is quite polluting because it involves turning coal into gas, which releases a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere.

    Pink hydrogen

    Pink hydrogen, also known as red or purple hydrogen, is similar to green hydrogen in that they are both produced through the process of electrolysis, but while green hydrogen is produced with renewable energy, pink hydrogen is produced using nuclear energy. Since nuclear energy has low carbon and water has no carbon, the entire production process has little to no carbon in it. Radioactive waste is a byproduct of the production process of pink hydrogen, and this hurts the environment.

    White hydrogen

    White hydrogen occurs naturally. It is not developed in the laboratory, unlike other gases, but it is found as a free gas either in layers of the continental crust, deep in the oceanic crust, in volcanic gases, in geysers, or in hydrothermal systems.

    Conclusion

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