Environmental Benefits and Impacts (2024)

Table of Contents
Benefits Impacts FAQs

Benefits

Resource Conservation

IDEM encourages the 3Rs of waste – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reduce the amount of waste we make to a feasible extent by using resources wisely and using less than usual. For example, packaging. Reducing waste will not only protect the environment but will also save on costs or reduce expenses for disposal. In the same way, recycling and/or reusing the waste that is produced benefits the environment by lessening the need to extract resources and lowers the potential for contamination.

Energy Production and Environmental Quality

Biomass Anaerobic digesters and biomass gasification facilities collect biomass, manure, or other appropriate feedstock and convert the energy stored in its organic matter into methane or synthetic gas, which is used to produce energy (gas or electricity). This reduces the potential for pathogens to enter water systems through exposure to the land.

Certain suitable and allowable high fuel value solid and hazardous waste used as alternative fuel source in combustion devices reduces the use of coal or natural gas, as well as, reduces waste disposal.

Fertilizer and Soil Amendment

The animals raised in confined feeding operations produce manure and wastewater that is collected and stored in pits, tanks, lagoons, and other storage devices. Most farmers apply the manure to area fields as fertilizer. When stored and applied properly, this beneficial reuse provides a natural source of nutrients for crop production. It also lessens the need for fuel and other resources that are used in the production of commercial fertilizer.

Impacts

Environmental Contamination

Improper handling of waste may lead to contamination of surface water, ground water, land, and the air. For instance, when waste is illegally dumped along roadsides, in the woods, in illegal dumps, in wetlands, in lakes and streams, or by being improperly burned, these are all examples of improper handling. Once waste affects the environment, it can:

  • Cause potential threats to human health
  • Harm or kill animals
  • Damage plants and natural resources
  • Spread of diseases

Unsightly waste piles can also spoil the aesthetic appeal of Indiana’s landscape, decrease community quality of life, lower property values of surrounding homes, negatively affect tourism, and cost municipalities money for cleanups.

Potential Negative Health Effects

Physical hazards at open dumps include broken glass, sharp metal, and hypodermic needles that can cause painful injuries; appliances in which children or animals can become trapped; and tires that may catch fire and emit toxic smoke. Illegal drug lab waste can pose immediate threats (i.e., explosions, fires, chemical burns, or vapors). Chemical hazards include toxic substances such as antifreeze, paint, pesticides, and mercury from gas appliance pilot light sensors and other products that can be especially hazardous to curious children.

Biological hazards include contaminated medical waste that can cause life-altering diseases (HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B or C). Household garbage (e.g., food scraps, dirty diapers) can attract disease-spreading rodents. Discarded tires or other objects that collect standing water can provide breeding areas for mosquitoes that could carry encephalitis or West Nile Virus.

Environmental Benefits and Impacts (2024)

FAQs

What are the environmental benefits? ›

Environmental benefits: Reduction or elimination of polluting emissions at the point of use. Reduction or elimination of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions along the length of the fuel chain. Elimination of some resource extraction and its negative consequences.

What are the impacts of environmental? ›

Environmental impacts are changes in the natural or built environment, resulting directly from an activity, that can have adverse effects on the air, land, water, fish, and wildlife or the inhabitants of the ecosystem.

What are five environmental benefits? ›

Environmental Benefits
  • Improved Air Quality. Trees are called the earth's lungs. ...
  • Climate Change. ...
  • Improved Water Quality. ...
  • Biodiversity and Habitat Protection. ...
  • People Act Greener. ...
  • Challenges. ...
  • Negative Effects. ...
  • Potential Indicators.
Sep 16, 2013

What are the 16 environmental impacts? ›

Impacts are calculated for the 16 impact categories of the Environmental Footprint method (Commission Recommendation C(2021)9332 final): climate change, ozone depletion, human toxicity – cancer, human toxicity – non-cancer, particulate matter, ionizing radiation – human health, photochemical ozone formation – human ...

What is an example of environmental impact? ›

Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water.

What is most beneficial to the environment? ›

There is so much we can do collectively to reduce energy use and waste production. From little things like cutting the lights off when you leave a room, to larger things like eliminating meat from your diet, there are plenty of personal decisions we can make together to improve our environment.

What does environment impact us? ›

Environmental pollutants can cause health problems like respiratory diseases, heart disease, and some types of cancer. People with low incomes are more likely to live in polluted areas and have unsafe drinking water. And children and pregnant women are at higher risk of health problems related to pollution.

What are the three main impacts on the environment? ›

The list of issues surrounding our environment go on, but there are three major ones that affect the majority of them overall: global warming and climate change; water pollution and ocean acidification; and loss of biodiversity.

What is the most environmental impact? ›

1 – Fossil fuels – It is no surprise that the fossil fuels sector is the most polluting in the world. Despite this knowledge, emissions from fossil fuels keep increasing. After a brief decline during the Covid 19 pandemic, they grew by 1% in 2022, reaching 40.5 gigatons of CO2.

How environment gives us countless benefits? ›

The environment gives us countless benefits that we can't repay our entire life. As they are connected with the forest, trees, animals, water, and air. The forest and trees filter the air and absorb harmful gases. Plants purify water, reduce the chances of flood maintain natural balance and many others.

Why should we protect the environment? ›

Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services we depend on for our health, happiness and prosperity.

What are 30 ways to help the environment? ›

30 actions to save our planet
  • Sort waste. Sort waste is an excellent way to keep your house organised and cleaned. ...
  • Stop ad. ...
  • Turn off your devices. ...
  • Limit the heat and the air con. ...
  • Drink from the tap. ...
  • Cover your pots with a lid. ...
  • Take showers. ...
  • Don't put anything in your toilets.
May 31, 2023

What are 10 ways humans impact the environment positively? ›

7 Ways Human Activities Positively Impact the Environment
  • Recycling and sorting. ...
  • Reusing and Wasting Less. ...
  • Using better alternatives. ...
  • Renewable Energy, Wind and Solar. ...
  • Technology and Inventions. ...
  • Urbanisation and Migration. ...
  • Globalisation.
Dec 13, 2023

What are 10 ways humans impact the environment? ›

10 Human Activities That Affect The Environment
  • Deforestation and Habitat Destruction. ...
  • Fossil Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. ...
  • Industrialization and Air Pollution. ...
  • Agricultural Practices and Soil Degradation. ...
  • Water Pollution and Contamination. ...
  • Overfishing and Marine Ecosystem Depletion.
Sep 26, 2023

What are multiple environmental impacts? ›

Multiple environmental impacts refer to the various negative effects on the environment caused by factors such as pollution, climate change, and ecological degradation.

What are 4 benefits of environmental management system? ›

1) A reduction in negative environmental impacts. 2) Improved reputation. 3) Enhancement in regulatory performance and therefore lower risk of fines for not adhering to environmental legislation. 4) A reduction in waste.

What are three benefits of environmental health? ›

The Benefits Of A Healthy Environment

Stay away from infections that are spread by a polluted atmosphere. An area is free of air pollution. Water becomes cleaner and more enjoyable to drink. When people are doing their everyday duties, things will be calmer.

What are social and environmental benefits? ›

Social and environmental benefits are the external benefits that the business produces for society and the environment.

What are the benefits of environmental economic? ›

Benefits include extra income, improved quality of life, clean water, and beaches, and costs include opportunity costs, internal and external costs, and externalities.

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