The problem of packaging
包装的问题
Read this magazine article to find out how even small things can make a difference when it comes to the environment.
读这篇摘自杂志上的文章，找出当涉及环境时，甚至是小事又如何产生重大影响。
A large source of rubbish is packaging material.
垃圾的大来源是包装材料。
It often makes up more than 30 percent of the total.
它往往占总量的30％以上。
To understand why this is true, think of the packaging commonly used for a simple product, such as toothpaste.
要理解它的真实性，想一想某种简单产品的包装，比如牙膏。
The packaging includes not only the tube for the toothpaste, but also the box for the tube.
包装不仅包括牙膏管，还包括牙膏管的包装盒。
This box is put into a plastic wrapper.
这种盒子用塑料包装纸装起来。
Then, the boxes are transported in a cardboard container.
接着，这些盒子装进纸箱被运走。
Most packaging material ends up in a landfill after it is thrown away.
大多数包装材料被丢弃之后，最终都进了垃圾场。
Though necessary, landfills take up valuable space, often stink, and can leak harmful substances into the soil.
虽然很有必要，但是废渣埋填法占据宝贵的地方，常常发出异臭，而且还把有害物质渗漏到土壤中。
Landfills not included, the production of packaging material itself is a major source of air and water pollution.
除去废渣埋填法之外，包装材料的生产本身就是空气污染和水污染的主要来源。