Effects of Mills Effluents Released into the River on the Natives and Their Environment - Research Paper Example

number Formal Report Detailing Initial Findings on the Effects of Paper Mills Effluents Released into the River on the natives and their Environment. I. Abstract In this report, the different capacities of actions and steps that have been taken worldwide to deal with industrialization have been analyzed. Majorly, it will focus of the initiatives and plans that have been made to ensure that effluents from the St. Joe paper Mills Company in Jacksonville, FL. It will reflect on how the management at the St. Joe paper Mills Company has ignored its responsibility to take care of the environment and the surrounding community. Both flora and fauna have been affected as a result of the release of factory effluents into rivers that are used by the local people. As such, the main purpose of the research will be to highlight the improvements that have been made to reduce and avoid the adverse effects of the waste released from the company into the surrounding environment. Table of Contents I. Abstract………………………………………………………………..………………1 II. Executive summary……………………………………………………..……………..3 III. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………4 IV. Factors that Lead to poor waste disposal by factory management……………………4 a. Actions Taken by the factory Management…………………………………………...4 b. Locals………………………………………………………………………………….5 c. Government and Non Governmental Organization…………………………………...5 V. Analysis of the Nature of Pollutants…………………………………………………..5 a. Components……………………………………………………...……………………7 b. Effects to the Environment and natives………………………….……………………7 c. Efforts of the Company management…………………………………………………8 d. Efforts by the Government and Non Governmental Organization……………………8 VI. Relationship between factory Management and its Stakeholders…………………….8 VII. Conclusions and Recommendations…………………………………………………..9 VIII. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...…10 IX. Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………12 II. Executive summary Pollution has been found to be a serious issue within many societies. This is especially when it results from the numerous efforts that have been made to bring about development and make life better for the local people. The growth of many different cities in the world has necessitated an improvement in the form of infrastructure. In this relation, they have experienced the growth and development of buildings and road networks as well as the number of motor vehicles in operations. In such cities, there has also been a growth of factories, companies and factories in the effort to provide job opportunities for their growing populations (Hassan, 1998). A proper example of this is the St. Joe paper mills factory that was built in Jacksonville, F.L, in the effort to ensure expansion and growth as well as provision of more job opportunities for those living within the area. In this sense, the St. Joe paper mills factory was established in order to provide employment for the local people of the area as well as lead to development of the region. However, with time of its operations, it has been a serious risk to the local people due to the hazardous conditions that it exposes them. This is brought about by the release of its waste products into the rivers around the area. Most of these are used by the inhabitants of the area and as a result present health challenges to them. In this relation, the water from such rivers is not usually fit for consumption. Pollution as such is still viewed as a serious problem since although some of the companies and factories are making efforts to ensure that they reduce their effects on the same, some of them are ignorant and continue to make the living conditions of the people living around them difficult. It therefore becomes a difficult thing to curb the problem of pollution since its source remains to be unresolved throughout the world (Lewis, 2000). III. Introduction The two major components that are affected by acts of pollutions from factories and farm areas are usually the flora and the fauna (Arundel, 2000). A major relationship exists between the effluents released into rivers from the factories. These activities lead to the loss of lives in the rivers and the spread of illnesses that affect the natives. This report will look at the efforts by the management of the company and government efforts to eliminate pollution (Marcos, 2007). In most cases, when different companies chip in to help, they do not resolve the underlying problem but only make efforts to compensate those who have fallen victims of the adverse activities. As such, the source and the main underlying issue are not handled. With this it is expected that the pollution issue will remain a major problem until considerable efforts are put both by the companies that are fundamentally involved and the government. IV. Factors that Lead to Poor Waste Disposal by Factory Management The main reason for poor waste disposal by the factory is ignorance. However, lack of sufficient resources may also contribute to the problem. a. Actions Taken by the factory Management It has been discovered that the management at the St. Joe paper mill company in Jacksonville, FL has been reluctant in relation to taking care of the environment and the local communities living around the factory. As a result of this, they have continued to witness the release of harmful chemicals and substances into the rivers, which are at times primarily used by the locals for various activities. In addition, they have failed to take necessary measures such as the treatment of these substances to make them less harmful even if they are released into the rivers. b. Locals The locals around St. Joe paper mill factory have been involved in a number of ways to ensure that the affluent released from the company does not cause harm to either the flora or the fauna. Some of the steps have involved treatment of the water before they are used for a number of activities such as irrigation and domestic use. The other includes numerous cleanup activities that ensure that the chemicals and waste products do not affect lives. Additionally, they have created awareness regarding the problem by reporting the issue to relevant government authority as well as holding negotiations with the company management. c. Government and Non Governmental Organization A number of studies and inspections around the surrounding have led to the determination of the extent of harm caused by the release of effluents from St. Joe paper mill into the rivers. It has led to the creation of awareness by the government and some nongovernmental organization to the local communities about their surroundings. Most of the time, they have issued warning concerning when it is not safe to use the waters from these rivers. V. Analysis of the Nature of Pollutants Since the St. Joe paper mill company deals in the manufacture of paper from tree products, the processes involved towards this require the use of a number of chemicals. Some of these are completely used up while a number of them remain unused and have to be disposed off away from the factories. In addition, with trees being the main raw material, there are some part of it that is useful while some of the parts are released as raw materials. Some part of the paper making process result into the conversion of solids into pulp, liquid which makes it easy to mix with other chemicals and manufacturing components. It is subsequent to this that paper is ultimately produced. As such, most of the materials found within the processes are found in liquid or semi solid form which can easily be released into rivers. The most common elements found in such affluent wastes include hot substances that burn the plants growing in the rivers, oils that prevent air from getting into the water leading to the death of plants and chemicals that present a health problem if ingested such as Sulfur and nitrate components. Table Showing the Proportions of Substances within the waste products Hot oils Sulfur Nitrates 40% 20% 30% 30% Effect on plants 90% 100% 50% 50% Effect of humans and animals 10% 10% 80% 90% Fig. 1: Graph Showing the Proportions of Substances within the waste products a. Components The pollutant components from the St. Joe paper mill factory in Jacksonville, FL are found in different proportions based on their ability to be recycled and the amount used during the manufacturing process. Those released into rivers are found in the proportions of high heat, deadly chemicals and oils. b. Effects to the Environment and Natives With the release of factory affluent materials both animals and human beings. For instance, products that are released while hot cause instant death on plants because they destroy them through burning. Oils prevent the entry of oxygen below the surface leading to plant death. Chemicals such as Sulfur and nitrates present health problems if ingested by humans or even water animals such as fish (Marcos, 2007). c. Efforts of the Company management The company management has made little effort to ensure that the products released into the rivers do not cause harm to the lives and local people. d. Efforts by the Government and Non Governmental Organization The government and nongovernmental organizations have made to provide certain services to bring about care and do what is right without causing threats to the life and activities of the local people (Michael &Winebbrake, 2000). VI. Relationship between Factory Management and the Stakeholders As a result of the negligence and ignorance exhibited by the management at the St. Joe paper mill in Jacksonville, there has been a constraint between it and the stakeholders. This is especially in relation to the members of the community living around the factory. This has also affected the relationship between the management and customers who have heard about their reluctance to deal with issues of pollution. Table Reflecting the Efforts made by different sectors to deal with Effluents Factory management Locals Governmental and Nongovernmental organizations 10% 30% 60% Treatment 10% 60% 30% Building of ponds 5% 5% 10% Cleanup 10% 70% 20% Creation of awareness 10% 30% 60% Fig.2 : Graph Reflecting the Efforts made by different sectors to deal with Effluents VII. Summary and Reccommendations A number of companies that possess waste products have been known to take care of the environments in the effort to take care of the locals from the adverse effects of pollutions. This is just a small portion though. A large number of them have been negligent towards this fact and have continued to release their affluent wastes into rivers that are used by the locals. The St. Joe Paper Mills in Jacksonville, FL was majorly constructed to aid the locals in terms of developmental expansion and the provision of employment opportunities. However, it has also been found to possess negative effects to the same local people since its management has ignored their responsibility towards protecting the environment and the local people. They are still found to be releasing the affluent waste from the factory into rivers that are used by the locals. As a result, they become completely unfit for consumption. Some of the measures that can be taken by the paper mills include the building of ponds where the harmful effluents from the factory can be cooled and treated. This should take place at different stages before the water can be channeled into main rivers, water sources or part of the environment. It will ensure that there is safety in the lives of plants and animals living around the factories (Whitton, 1975). In order to ensure that such problems are completely dealt with and curbed measures that have been found to be effective need to be emphasized and reinstated. They include the inspection and governance of the operations of such companies by the government. These will include the taking of severe measures to companies that are found to go against the environmental policy by polluting the environment. In addition, they include frequent inspections by relevant government authorities and the requirement that all employees of these companies are made aware of the steps needed to be taken to prevent such effects. Regular reports will be provided by the companies to show the level with which they have been involved in taking care and preserving the environment. VIII. Conclusion It is evident that helping of people who have been victims of pollution does not serve as the solution since it is an occurrence likely to be repeated from time to time. Instead, the underlying cause which is the responsibility by the government should be targeted and dealt with to ensure that the environmental pollution through the release of affluent wastes into rivers from factories is completely eliminated. With this, both the fauna and flora that are usually affected by these activities leading to their death and destruction will be saved. IX. References Arundel, J. (2000). Sewage and Industrial Effluent Treatment. New York: Willey Blackwell. Hassan, J. (1998).A history of water in modern England and Wales. Britain: Manchester University Press. Lewis, D., S. (2011). Americas Water and Waste Water Crisis the Role of Private Enterprise. USA: Transaction Publishers. Marcos, S. (2007). Basic Principles of Wastewater Treatment. New York: IWA publishing. Michael, J. & Winebbrake, J. (2000). Dynamic modeling of Environmental systems. New York: Springer. Whitton, B. A. (1975). River Ecology. Berkeley: University of California press. Read More