Planet Earth
is not how it was a thousand or even millions of years ago and this can be
largely attributed to the impact of humankind. From poor management of natural
resources to increasing pollution and changes in weather conditions, we have a
lot to be responsible for. For example, did you know that when you throw
plastic bags and other plastic materials in the ocean, it kills as many as 1 million
sea creatures annually?
However,
today we are a lot more aware of what’s gone wrong and how we can minimise
environmental problems through sustainable choices and green living. In fact,
there are probably a lot more things that you can as an individual or business
than you realise and every small change makes a big difference. So, where did
these issues stem from?
At WM
Thompson & Sons, we’re aware of the issues associated with quarrying, but
as a business, we do all that we can to provide sustainable solutions for our
customers such as providing recycled aggregates and responsible waste disposal
services. If you’re looking for ways to make your construction project,
business decisions or lifestyle greener, we’ve put together this useful blog to
tell you a little bit more about how the planet has changed.
When did the environment start changing?
It’s
hard to determine when the planet’s condition began to change, however, it’s
been argued that around 1610 marks the beginning of Anthropocene - a time of
significant human impact on Earth’s geology and ecosystems also known as the
Age of Man. During this time, a transition towards a modern era was happening
and around 150 years later the Industrial Revolution was born.
The Industrial Revolution
Between
around 1750 and 1840, the Industrial Revolution began in Europe and the United
States, marking the beginning of new manufacturing processes, production and
the increasing use of steam and water power. This movement is considered one of
the most important turning points in history as almost every aspect of daily
life was influenced by the changes. But what did this mean for our planet?
One
of the major changes that started to occur was a big increase in air pollution.
As the world saw big improvements in transportations such as better roads,
steam trains, ships and cars, air quality degraded. As a result, this affected
human health as it does today, with significant events such as the great London
smog of 1952 that killed 4,000 in one week, not to mention the devastating
effects on the environment.
Society
today wouldn’t be as advanced as it is today without the Industrial Revolution,
but there is no denying that we are still living with the effects. However,
throughout the centuries society has become a lot more aware of this and has made
changes to combat these problems such as the Clean Air Act 1956. A new
awareness now means that we know a lot more about how we can help such as using
public transport or cycling instead of going in the car and businesses have
more of a responsibility to work using greener processes.
Quarrying
Mining
and quarrying in the UK can be dated back as far as the 14th century. Although
the UK is small compared to other countries, we have some of the best tones in
the world. Elsewhere, quarrying is found evident in ancient civilisations such
as the Egyptians and Romans who extracted limestones.
When
the Industrial Revolution hit the UK this also impacted the quarrying industry
as new and improved machinery meant raw materials could be extracted a lot
quicker and in much bigger quantities, most of which is still used today.
However, an excessive amount of quarrying has led to a major depletion of raw
materials as they have been quarried at a quicker rate than they are
replenished.
One
important way of making quarrying sustainable is by using recycled aggregates.
This means reusing materials from demolition sites for example. Recycled
aggregates are still high-quality, but the main benefit is they are
eco-friendly as they slow down the need for raw materials. For construction
companies, this is a cost-effective option that also ensures you reduce your
carbon footprint too.
Here
at WM Thompson & Sons, we specialise in high-quality recycled aggregates
that are suitable for
a range of construction projects. The aggregate we supply have been tested
through rigorous control procedures to provide you with the best materials.
Find out more today.
Rubbish and climate change
Another
major change for the planet is the amount of rubbish we produce and climate
change problems. In the early 20th century plastic was first introduced marking
the start of a new era. From packaging to products, plastic has been used in so
many ways but simultaneously this has resulted in a huge increase in rubbish
and waste. Additionally, climate change, which means warming up or the planet
and an increase in extreme weather conditions, has been caused by the burning
of fossil fuels.
These
changes have occurred over hundreds of years, but there are several things that
we can do to slow the process. Firstly, rubbish needs to be sorted, recycled
and reused in the right way. In 2025, 44.3% of household waste was recycled but
more can be done. Landfill sites are now mainly used for materials that cannot
be recycled and this is done in safer ways than before. Climate change, on the
other hand, has been harder to control but using less energy, using renewable
energy and making sure that household appliances are used in energy-efficient
ways.
What does the future of our planet look like?
Every
month scientists warn us of the global effects our planet is facing such as
more natural disasters and damage to the ozone layer, so we will likely
experience this in the near future. On the other hand, the awareness that we
now have means that we can find ways to make our future’s more sustainable.
Luckily, green living is now a popular and recognised movement that all kinds
of people, businesses and industries are doing their part for. It’s difficult
to know what the future will bring but there are always more things that we can
do to help!
WM Thompson & Sons: Sustainable services
for your next project
At
WM Thompson & Sons, we’re proud to be the go-to company for recycled
aggregates and mix onsite concrete in Dumbarton, Glasgow and Lanarkshire. If
you’re looking for high-quality building materials for your project, you
needn’t look further than us. As one of the leading quarry aggregate businesses
in the west of Scotland, we’ve got the experience and skills to deliver only
the best service.
We
also offer reliable waste disposal services for those looking to get rid of
large amounts of waste. Unfortunately, not all materials can be recycled but
our specialist team does all they can to ensure that the safest disposal option
is used. We work closely with environmental agencies to keep every disposal in
line with current regulations and avoid negative environmental impact. For more
information, get in touch
today.
