Published on September 1, 2022, Updated on September 1, 2022
A landfill site is the end destination of garbage that has not been recycled or reused. A landfill site is the oldest and most popular way to dispose of waste. Some landfills are used for waste management tasks including temporary storage, consignment, and transportation. Landfill sites are additionally used for various phases of waste material processing including sorting, treatment, and recycling.
What is the Function of a Landfill Site?
Landfill sites are essential in managing the excess trash produced by residential families and commercial companies. Waste from these sectors is anticipated to increase due to current consumer behaviors and population expansion. Any waste that cannot be recycled must still be managed in a secure and effective way even with current higher recycling rates.
How are Landfill Sites Monitored Per Country?
Provincial environmental organizations and environmental protection regulations regulate landfill sites in Canada. Leaching at older landfill sites is monitored, and some of them have been repurposed into parkland.
The European Landfill Directive monitors landfill sites in the European Union. Residents are prohibited from disposing of waste at landfill sites. The U.K. imposed a charge on biodegradable garbage dumped on landfill sites.
In the US, every state’s environmental agency is in charge of overseeing U.S. landfill sites. All states must adhere to the standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In India, landfills are the main means of disposing of waste, with Deonar in Mumbai being the biggest in Asia.
Is it Harmful to Use Landfill Sites?
The main sources of pollution are landfill sites. Trash decomposes relatively slowly in landfills and endangers the health of future generations.
These are the harmful effects caused by landfill sites.
- Prolonged decomposition of waste due to the lack of oxygen underground.
- Production of greenhouse gasses (methane and CO2) adds to global warming.
- Development of toxic substances which end up in the earth’s soil and groundwater.
- Risk for fire because of highly combustible gasses (methane).
- Additional expense for taxpayers.
How to Reduce the Use of Landfill Sites?
Reducing the negative effects of landfills is a practical and highly responsible way of living. One way of caring responsibly for the environment is by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Another is the zero waste lifestyle which entails using the least amount of plastic possible and swapping it out for reusable and sustainable materials. These strategies will produce less waste that cannot be recycled or reused that is sent to landfill sites.
