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The tree I’ve just

planted on

a dump

Finulla McCloskey

Today I planted a tree. Today I learned that same site was a medical waste dump. I’m scared: we’re running out of time and space.

     It’s safe to say that, as a first-year apprentice gardener, I was extremely disillusioned the day I found out that the very place where I learn about the importance of our plant’s habitat and growing environment is also a place of pollution and waste.
     I’m in regular contact with the soil, digging and planting. But the soil is not what I had assumed it to be: a shining example of the untouched countryside and a healthy growing environment. This led me to ask myself questions. What effect does being in contact with this contaminated soil have on my health and wellbeing? Why are younger generations paying for the mistakes of previous generations and having to tolerate their pollution and waste? But most importantly: why are we not learning from previous generations’ mistakes and the impact that pollution has on the environment around us?
     This shocked me and made me realise that we are crippling our planet. Poor waste disposal is a serious problem and a major contributor to the level of pollution in modern living.
     We need to fight for adequate waste disposal and I have no intention of giving up on this fight. Glasgow is taking a stand to protect our environment from pollution caused by poor waste disposal by installing an incinerator which will effectively deal with waste and create a clean energy source for surrounding communities. It is a bold move to right the past wrongs in waste production.
     Scotland is suffering from the negative effects of pollution: things like loss of species/land/habitat are all being caused by climate change which is directly linked to excessive gasses released from landfill sites. If we take responsibility now and dispose of our waste properly and cleanly we can save Scotland from such negative effects.
     As a young person I feel responsible for conserving the earth for future generations. I have already mentioned how unfair it is that we continue to suffer the mistakes of previous generations and their attitude towards waste disposal. Let’s make the change now.
     As part of making a better future and a greener climate for all, we need to look at new ways to generate clean, eco-friendly energy. The incinerator, as well as helping reduce pollution, will also generate energy. This energy will have less impact on the environment, and can be used for the local community. Its use will reduce our carbon footprint. This is the kind of forward thinking we need to make Glasgow greener.
     Landfill sites require space. We are running out of space; therefore it is only a matter of time before Glasgow will be forced to consider alternative waste disposal options. Instead of waiting for this problem to arise, the city is trying to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive by reducing pollution and introducing an incinerator which will not take up the vast spaces that have been consumed and spoiled by landfills.
     The Earth Summit +20, is taking place later this year, and it is already predicted that ‘waste disposal penalties’ will be put in place by governments to reduce their carbon footprints and find new ways to deal with waste.
     We need to be realistic: if we continue the approach of piling all of our waste into one big hole in the ground, the contamination and pollution caused will never go away; neither will the impact on our environment. Our planet cannot just turn into one big landfill site. We need to be proactive and think of new ways to deal with waste. This incinerator will give us that opportunity.
     We must give future generations a chance at living in a better and less polluted world, because if we keep going as we are, they will be living on a giant landfill site, drinking contaminated water and suffering because of the poor decisions made by our generation.
     The time has come to make our planet our top priority. We need to make it socially unacceptable to carry out acts which are detrimental to our planet, such as continuing to feed landfills to cover up our laziness in not recycling the waste we generate day by day. We need to be brave and take the first steps towards a less polluted future.
     I need to act now. After all, the world is mine and I take responsibility for it and my actions towards it.
     Do you?

Finulla McCloskey, aged 18, is a first-year apprentice gardener with Glasgow City Council. She delivered this paper at the recent Young
Scotland Programme