Landscapes and waste, a reality we can change

Cigarette butts in flowerbeds, roadside ditches, parks, beaches, mountain slopes, and trails leading to lagoons... A single cigarette butt takes between eight and twelve years to degrade, and its filter, made of cellulose acetate, is highly polluting. Scattered across open fields and city outskirts, in streets and green spaces, plastic containers also pose a serious problem. A plastic bottle takes 500 years to decompose—and even longer if buried. Alongside this waste, items such as cans, wet wipes, household appliances, receipts, and electronic devices accumulate to the point that, in many places, rubbish has become part of both urban and natural landscapes.

According to various reports, the main reasons for indiscriminate waste dumping are environmental disregard, convenience, and laziness. The consequences? More than a million plant and animal species are on the brink of extinction, according to UN figures. And that is just the beginning.

Some waste is visible, but other forms escape the naked eye, such as marine microplastics and remnants of long-banned products that were once discarded without restraint. Litter destroys natural habitats, encourages invasive species, harms flora and fauna, and even poses direct health risks to humans. It is also a leading cause of wildlife mortality.

Plastic islands in the middle of the ocean

The vast floating plastic island in the Pacific near Hawaii is a shocking sight. It contains approximately 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing an estimated 100,000 tonnes and covers more than 1.5 million square kilometres, an area three times the size of Spain.

And it is not alone. At least seven enormous plastic gyres exist in our oceans. One between Australia and the Americas is the size of Iran, while others spread across vast areas of the Atlantic, both north and south. They can also be found in the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean.

In recent years, several innovative efforts have emerged to combat the problem. The Ocean Cleanup, for example, has developed large-scale floating barriers and underwater screens to collect plastic, aiming to remove 50% of the Pacific island’s waste within five years. Meanwhile, bioplastics—made from biodegradable materials—are gaining traction as a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastic, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lessening environmental impact.

One of the most promising projects is the development of plastic-eating enzymes from a bacterium capable of breaking down the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) molecule. Meanwhile, autonomous robots are now patrolling waterways, silently retrieving floating waste.

Reinforced bins to prevent vandalism

Waste management in urban areas can become unmanageable if resources are not efficiently handled. Mexico City generates over a thousand tonnes of rubbish daily, much of which is removed from the streets. However, a growing trend—rummaging through bins for valuables—has become a major challenge for large cities. To tackle this issue, Buenos Aires has introduced ‘anti-vandalism containers’ designed to prevent waste scavenging.

A desert buriend under mountains of clothes

Textile waste is another growing problem. In Chile’s Atacama Desert, between 11,000 and 59,000 tonnes of discarded clothing accumulate each year. On average, each European buys 26 kilos of clothing annually and discards 11. The fashion industry is now the fourth most environmentally harmful sector.

To address the crisis, the Chilean government has taken action. It has launched a programme to eliminate illegal textile dumping sites and incorporated used clothing into the Extended Producer Responsibility Law (REP), which holds importers accountable for their textile waste. Meanwhile, the private sector has introduced recycling initiatives, such as the Czech company Retex, which shreds tonnes of textiles—a process previously handled by Chilean firm Zepeda.

Building a sustainable wardrobe is a wise choice. Before purchasing new clothes, it is worth considering whether the item is truly necessary. Between impulse and action lies awareness.

Beyond second-hand clothing, several other practices contribute to sustainability in fashion. Biodegradable clothing, for instance, can be composted at the end of its life cycle. Upcycling transforms old garments into higher-quality, eco-friendly pieces. Technological advancements are also playing a role—Professor Veena Sahajwalla at the University of New South Wales has developed a method to convert old clothes and mixed glass into high-quality construction materials.

Beaches covered in glass

Glass is a major component of the waste we generate. Just three hours from San Francisco, in the small town of Fort Bragg, residents once dumped their rubbish over coastal cliffs. Over time, what is now known as Glass Beach became littered with bottles, appliances, and car wrecks. Nature, however, slowly turned this waste into smooth, colourful sea glass, transforming pollution into an unusual beauty.

Unfortunately, human interference continues to disrupt these natural processes. Tourists, drawn to the striking glass fragments, have taken them as souvenirs, gradually eroding the unique landscape. A similar fate has befallen Bigaral Beach in Asturias, Spain.

If immediate action is not taken, global waste production will increase by 70% by 2050, according to the World Bank. However, we can still reverse this trajectory. The circular economy, investments in research and development, environmentally responsible businesses, civic engagement, and the coordinated efforts of public and private entities are already making a difference.