By Owen Ryan, Staff Writer
Have you ever stopped and wondered how much raw material goes into the vast amount of infrastructure that exists today? As population and urbanization continue to increase dramatically, cities continue to push the limits on what we imagined possible.
According to BBC’s Vince Beiser, “The number of people living in urban areas has more than quadrupled since 1950 to some 4.2 billion today, and the United Nations predicts another 2.5 billion will join them in the next three decades. That’s the equivalent of adding eight cities the size of New York every single year” (BBC).
With the massive rise in population, there will also need to be a growth in the construction of homes to live in, roads to drive on, and places to gather. The construction of these new modern pieces of infrastructure requires a massive amount of raw materials, materials of which are shipped from all over the world to be constructed into the cities we call home. This increase in demand for new infrastructure shines the light on a new crisis which has yet to receive much spotlight.
A sand shortage — yes, you heard that correctly. From the concrete that supports the world’s infrastructure to asphalt roadways, drainage systems, fracking procedures, plaster, glass, and even silicon chips used in electronics, sand has made its way into almost every industry.
According to the United Nations, the global demand for sand is currently 40-50 billion tons per year. With a rapid population increase occurring globally, in addition to the already towering demand, it seems obvious that a problem would arise.
Looking around, you may wonder how a sand shortage could be an issue. With deserts spanning miles long full of sand, it seems as though humans should have access to large volumes of the necessary aggregate. Although this may be true, much of that easy-access sand is not useful for most industrial purposes.
The more desirable sand comes from riverbeds due to the way it is weathered by the water, and retrieving it requires a lot more work and heavy machinery to collect. Not only is it extremely complicated to collect sand from the riverbeds, but it is also extremely harmful to the environment and pre-existing habitats.
According to the Department of Geology at Nagarjuna University, on the Kwale Coast in Kenya, “people suffered from health risks with titanium mining. The endangered colobus monkey, marlins, tiger sharks, stable antelopes, mangroves and coral reefs lost their habitat” (WWF). Some criminals have even seen this as an opportunity, creating black markets for sand and endangering the civilians and infrastructure which lay nearby.
Throughout the world, many countries have been ridden with illegal groups looking to make top dollar off the sand they mine. Many times, these groups operate in corrupt ways using crime and fear to their advantage.
An article from the World Wildlife Foundation gave insight on how illegal sand mafias in Uganda and Kenya are operated: “it is male-dominated, with heavy use of unprotected child labor… The cartels are organized into gangs, with up to eight gangs operating at a single site, and violently contesting each others’ territory. Profits are enormous. Filling a ten-ton truck with sand costs 20,000 shillings, but the sand sells for 140,000 shillings” (WWF).
Not only do these illegal sand mafias force their workers to work under extremely poor conditions, but they also remain unregulated. Without any regulation from the governments, these groups are free to mine in whichever way they please. Oftentimes, this results in mining operations and procedures which are extremely unsustainable, environmentally hazardous, and dangerous for downriver infrastructure.
While it may be challenging to slow the growing demand for sand globally, there are certain precautions and procedures which can be followed to ensure safety and sustainability of the entire process.
The first and most basic step is focusing extra attention to maximizing land use and planning around the existing conditions of a site. Another step towards sustainable sand use is to be attentive of the origin. The further the sand needs to be shipped, the greater the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. Instead, if possible, sand should be brought in from regions which are geographically practical, both environmentally and financially.
Another option is substituting the sand coming from the rivers with sand created by recycling old material. Although this sand shortage may be a looming issue for years to come, I remain optimistic. I choose to put my faith in the adaptability and resourcefulness of humankind.
