Sand mining is a disaster for the environment

Take a stand for sand has to be the call to action for environmentalists, who are fighting against sand mining.

Earlier, we had mentioned a few sustainability hacks that everyone can adapt to in 2022. Apart from reducing our dependencies on plastic, we also have to focus on the usage of sand. This article sheds some light on how to recycle glass into sand and how it can help protect and preserve our coastlines and riverbeds.

Illegal sand mining is an offense by the Indian Penal Code, Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957 [Section 3(e)] and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Sand is primarily used for making glass and in construction apart from other uses such as oil & gas. In constructional applications, sand provides flexibility, strength, volume, and stability. Because of its versatility, sand mining has become rampant in the country.

How does sand mining affect the environment?

1. Sand mining leading to erosion 
2. Harming aquatic and local wildlife ecosystems

Sand mining leading to erosion

Large volume of sand removal recedes the shorelines and affect the sediment levels of rivers. Changing the structure of the riverbeds can often lead to altering the course of rivers, erosion of river banks resulting in floods which damage life and property around the rivers.

Lowering of the shoreline is a direct result reckless extraction of sand from the beaches results in receding coastlines. Sand removal also leads to the widening of water bodies, which could lead to altering the local biodiversity of a specific area.

In countries such as China and India, millions of tons of sand is either mined or dredged from riverbeds, lakes and coastlines. The rate of replenishment of sand is overpowered by the rate of consumption.

Harming aquatic and local wildlife ecosystems

Sand mining also results in the destruction of delicately balanced ecosystems. Receding coastlines alter the lifecycle of several aquatic, amphibious and terrestrial living beings.

Turtles find it tedious to lay eggs in depleted sands. Migratory birds stop at rivers and lakes to rest and feed themselves during the routine long-distance flights. Removal of sand also leads to the destruction of marine habitat including the vegetation of riverbeds and lakes. Microorganisms lose out on essential nutrients and nourishment, leading to drastic changes in the food chain.

A complete stop to sand mining is not possible. A more realistic target can be taking incremental steps at exploring alternatives that can help reduce our dependency on the silica-based natural resource.

Alternatives for sand mining

One product used in abundance apart from plastic is glass. It has numerous applications in categories like containers, housing, tableware, facades, insulation, etc. The chief components of Glass are sand, limestone, and sodium carbonate.

While glass is not harmful, it can take a pretty long time to decompose. A glass bottle might take close to a million years to decompose. Glass waste also take up a lot of space in dump yards and landfills.

Recycling glass waste will help free up space in landfills and dump yards; it can also be a viable alternative to sand in a few applications.

Cullet is small pieces of glass used by manufacturers as alternatives for sand. This cullet is fed into a furnace. The usage of cullet in the manufacturing process brings down energy usage and CO2 emissions since the melting point of the cullet is less than mineral raw materials.

The cullet batch has to be free from impurities such as metallic and non metallic objects. Other impurities that might might be present in some quantity can be food particles sticking to the inside of certain glass items.

Glass manufacturers have steadily increased the usage of cullet; because of environmental concerns and the abundance of glass waste.

How the common man can contribute?

The glass waste generated at various sources (homes, commercial establishments) should be segregated and sent to recyclers. The glass waste can be collected at pre-agreed dates. Designated bins should be placed for collection.

So until everyone starts contributing, we will come across cases or incidents that directly or indirectly are related to sand mining.