Landfill sites produce a number of toxic gases; the most dangerous of these are methane and carbon dioxide. These are known as Greenhouse Gases, as they absorb and emit radiant energy \u2013 this means they trap heat and make the planet hotter. This in turn causes climate change with effects such as extreme weather, food supply disruptions, more wildfires, droughts, and many more effects.<\/p>\n
Landfill sites leach toxins into the surrounding earth, which becomes an environmental hazard to the soil and water table. Materials such as PVC, mercury, lead, acids and arsenic are all found seeping into the environment in landfill sites, and none of these biodegrade quickly \u2013 some can take thousands and thousands of years to break down, all the time leaking toxins into the earth.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_image_with_hotspots image=”2227″ preview=”https:\/\/coolboxsolutions.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Landfill-damage.png” color_1=”Accent-Color” hotspot_icon=”plus_sign” tooltip=”hover” tooltip_shadow=”none”][nectar_hotspot left=”32.5751%” top=”9.70554%” position=”top”]When we say landfill sites are damaging, we really mean it[\/nectar_hotspot][nectar_hotspot left=”46.05135961852359%” top=”73.51498131303875%” position=”top”]A model of circular production and consumption, where we look to recycle\/reuse\/repair\/refurbish existing materials and products as long as possible[\/nectar_hotspot][\/nectar_image_with_hotspots][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n
The three main areas of pollution arising from landfill waste, aside from the toxins and gases as already discussed, are:<\/p>\n
Leachate is the result of rainwater that has filtered through waste sitting in a landfill environment. This water leaches chemicals from the waste, which then goes on to contaminate the soil around and\/or sit as standing \u201ctoxic soup\u201d. Leachate may contain any number of harmful chemicals that can cause serious health problems.<\/p>\n
As above, there are other impacts that landfill sites have on our environment and communities, such as:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Dust and smoke<\/strong> \u2013 landfill sites produce both, with activities such as moving waste around and incineration. There are regulations that every landfill site must obey in order to keep their permit or licence in place; these regulations exist to try and reduce the amount of dust and smoke being emitted, as well as the type of smoke especially \u2013 all landfill sites must prevent dark smoke, and find alternatives to burning waste in the open, for example. however, it is impossible to reduce the amount of dust and smoke entirely, so these still become issues that impact the earth.<\/p>\n Foul odours<\/strong> \u2013 Landfill sites are high producers of Hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs even at low levels, and pungent ammonia. These gases can also irritate the eyes and throat. People living near to landfill sites will be impacted by these gases, and the sheer stink alone can also have a detrimental effect on house prices in nearby residential zones. As with dust and smoke, there are odour management regulations that landfill sites have to abide by, but the smell and gases still escape.<\/p>\n Noise<\/strong> \u2013 noise pollution is classed as noise that has detrimental impacts on human or animal life. Whilst landfill sites themselves don\u2019t tend to be that noisy (apart from the sound of the birds!), the surrounding processes of managing a landfill site can create noise pollution. This includes the vehicles that transfer the waste, any material processing plants on site and unplanned explosions.<\/p>\n There are many diverse types of rodents, insects and birds that populate landfill sites; whilst they do tend to remain on the site itself, they still have an impact on the wider community.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”] Insects<\/p>\n Birds<\/p>\n There is an increased risk of fire from landfill sites due to the dangerous substances present, as well as the bacterial activity and aerobic decomposition taking place at all times. Fires pose risk to life, as well as the subsequent smoke and pollution that comes with them.<\/p>\n Landfill fires can smoke for weeks, sometimes months, giving out high loads of toxins, chemicals and gases as they burn.<\/p>\n As more and more landfill sites have been created to deal with the mass amount of waste us humans produce, habitat sites for all species have been lost. Not only do people now have to live nearer to landfill sites than ever before, we\u2019ve also lost precious green lands to them. These lands would have previously been home to birds, insects and wildlife, but are now home to decomposing waste and dangerous substances instead.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”] Understanding the impact that landfill sites have on our environment is very important, as we all need to be aware of the damage that is being done<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2228,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,49,48],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2226","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"category-recycling","9":"category-sustainability"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPest infestations<\/h2>\n
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Fire risk<\/h2>\n
Loss of habitat<\/h2>\n
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