How does landfill sites affect the environment

Most rubbish ends up in landfills. A landfill site is a location that has been prepared for the purpose of dumping waste, rubbish or debris. Before the land is used to store waste, diggers are used to give it a suitable shape and it is covered with an artificial water-resistant coating to prevent the rubbish from contaminating the soil. The law states that landfill sites must be located away from inhabited areas, as well as areas used for farming or drinking water.

Waste is crushed and compacted—so it occupies as little space as possible—then transported in lorries to outdoor landfill sites, where it is dumped and buried under layers of soil to decompose.

But the truth is that much of this waste take years to decompose due to the conditions of the landfill sites—where there is little oxygen and moisture—and the characteristics of the materials. Burying waste in the ground has an impact on our environment, even when done in a controlled manner. The main problems that municipal landfill sites generate for the environment are detailed below. Landfill sites are partially responsible for global warming as they generate and release biogas into the atmosphere.

Some of these landfills have degassing methods, which is an improvement over conventional landfills, but still has its drawbacks: degassing is usually performed after the landfill cell has been closed, so methane from the more readily biodegradable components will have already been released into the atmosphere before degassing occurs.

Horizontal degassing projects that aim to capture methane while the landfill cell is still in operation achieve better results, but they can only capture a portion of the methane generated.

Sometimes methane produced by waste from landfill sites can cause explosions and fires. This downside is more common than meets the eye, because the fires that occur are not regular fires with flames, but fires that occur inside the landfill. Also, because the majority of waste materials disposed of at landfill sites take millions of years to decompose, effective long-term strategies and facilities are needed. This usually requires considerable investment.

The large amount of waste mixed with the gases landfill sites produce can easily cause fires to start. The waste management hierarchy as explained below identifies the other, more favourable solutions for waste before sending it to landfill. It outlines the methods from most preferred to least preferred, encouraging creators of waste to explore alternative options and get the most out of it.

Look for opportunities to reuse equipment and materials. Materials can either have the same use or they can be repurposed to have a slightly different use. Waste products — like glass, metal, wood and cardboard — can be recycled and transformed into new items.

Many materials can often be recycled various times without losing quality. Some waste materials can be used to create energy. Surplus food, for example, can undergo anaerobic digestion to create digestate and biogas. Methods of disposal include landfill and incineration. No new product nor energy is created via this option. One of the main benefits of recycling is that it means less waste is sent to landfill. Recycling also helps to conserve natural resources, reduce demand for raw materials and save energy.

Here at SL Recycling , we are committed to diverting waste away from landfill. From metal , wood and cardboard recycling to skip hire and hazardous waste management , we provide a comprehensive range of industry-leading waste management and recycling services in South Wales.

We can provide you with a bespoke recommendation based on your individual needs and requirements. See more: Benefits of Recycling Cardboard. We are open: Monday — Friday: 8. About Us Latest News. A compactor rolls over the waste to squash it and fill the space efficiently, to create a level surface. C Each cell is built up with waste stage by stage.

At the end of each stage, it is covered with inert soils or a special matting that helps to prevent odours and keeps the waste in place until more waste can be placed on top to complete the cell.

D Gas extraction wells are inserted into the cell to allow the gases that are created as the waste breaks down to be captured to generate electricity. E The gases are pumped to a turbine house where they generate electricity for the National Grid. F When water falls onto site it runs through the waste and collects solids and liquid. This liquid is called leachate. Leachate runs to the bottom of the cells where it is collected in a sump and pumped to storage tanks before it is taken off site to be treated before disposal G Each cell is filled with waste until it reaches a certain agreed level.

Then the area is capped with a permanent plastic cover before we begin work to restore the land. H Restoration involves creating several layers above the waste to seal in what is below and protect what will grow above using a combination of high tech linings, subsoils and topsoils.

I Monitoring bore holes are located on and off site to allow us to ensure the quality of ground water in the vicinity of the site. J Surface water ponds can be found on the site. As surface water runs off the landfill site it is collected in the ponds to allow any soil particles that may have been collected in the process to settle before the water is allowed to discharge off site.

K Around the perimeter of the site there is a de-odourising system installed along the fence. This helps to capture airborne odours and neutralize them before they leave the site.

Search for:. Contact us Find out how to contact us here. What is a landfill? Why do we need landfills? What happens when a landfill reaches capacity? Why are landfills bad for the environment? Toxins Many materials that end up as waste contain toxic substances. Leachate Leachate is the liquid formed when waste breaks down in the landfill and water filters through that waste. Greenhouse gas Greenhouse gas production is perhaps the biggest environmental threat posed by landfills.

Some of the reasons include: Landfill is expensive for taxpayers High levels of methane gas and CO2 are generated by the rotting rubbish in the ground.

These are greenhouse gases, which contribute greatly to the process of global warming. Toxic substances end up in landfills, which leech into the earth and groundwater over time. This creates a huge environmental hazard. Substances include: arsenic, mercury, PVC, acids, lead, and home cleaning chemicals. Leachate — the toxic liquid formed when water filters through landfill waste — can easily contaminate our waterways. Landfills present a fire risk due to the gases they create.

Methane is the main gas created, and it is also highly combustible. Landfills trap waste underground with little oxygen, and so even waste that would usually decompose quickly, such as fruit and vegetables, will take a long time to do so in landfill.

Some materials in landfill will take over a million years to break down! Throughout this time, the landfill will be releasing undesirable and dangerous gases, meaning the area will have to be managed forever to ensure there is no excessive pollution or urgent issues. Why are landfills necessary? How can we send less to landfills? What is the solution to landfills? Then anyone who uses the bin can tell at a glance where to put their waste. Remove personal bins — having bins under every desk makes it too tempting to just put all waste in one bin.

Remember, the goal is to make recycling as easy as single-stream waste disposal; which may have to mean making it harder not to recycle! A detailed look at landfill sites A To prepare the land before waste is deposited, several layers of linings are installed to seal up the base.

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