Garbage Dumps: Water Pollution's Unseen Hazard

Garbage dumps can pollute water in a variety of ways, with potentially devastating consequences for the environment and human health.

Firstly, waste in dumps can contain a range of harmful chemicals and toxins, which can percolate through the soil and enter groundwater and surface waters. This is known as leachate, and it can contain bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds, among other contaminants. Leachate can also be produced when rain and snow enter landfill cells, picking up contaminants from the waste.

Secondly, when waste is dumped near or in waterways, it can directly pollute these water sources. This can happen when people litter or illegally dump waste, or when waste blows out of trash bins or collection vehicles. This form of pollution is common in both urban and rural areas and can include a range of materials, from household trash to construction debris and car parts.

The impact of water pollution from garbage dumps can be far-reaching. It can affect wildlife, causing internal organ failure or strangulation in animals that ingest plastic waste. It can also interfere with plant growth, affect the reproductive behaviour of fish and other animals, and deplete oxygen levels in the water as organic waste decomposes.

Furthermore, water pollution from dumps can have significant social and economic impacts. It can create health and safety risks for nearby communities, spread disease, attract pests, and cause fires. It can also negatively impact recreation, tourism, and local economies, as cleaning up aquatic trash is expensive and can fall on local governments and residents.

Overall, garbage dumps can have a detrimental effect on water quality and the environment, endangering plants, animals, and human health.

Landfills leak harmful chemicals into the ground and water supply

Landfills can leak harmful chemicals into the ground and water supply in several ways.

Firstly, landfills are often lined with compacted soil and clay, which does not prevent leachate from escaping. Leachate is the liquid that has percolated or passed through the landfill and contains dissolved or suspended microbial, organic, and inorganic constituents. Leachate from landfills can contain hazardous chemicals such as volatile organic compounds, chloride, nitrogen, solvents, phenols, and heavy metals. These chemicals can contaminate groundwater and drinking water supplies, causing a range of health issues.

Secondly, even modern landfills with plastic liners and collection systems designed to prevent leachate from escaping will eventually fail. Plastic liners are prone to ripping and developing holes and cracks over time, allowing leachate to leak out and seep into the groundwater. This is a significant issue, as it is impossible to retrofit old landfill cells with new liners.

Furthermore, the production of leachate is inevitable, and despite attempts to collect it in newer landfills, some of it still escapes into the environment. The failure of double liner systems is acknowledged by the EPA, which states that "no liner... can keep all liquids out of the ground for all time".

Additionally, landfill gas emissions can also contribute to groundwater pollution. Landfills emit large amounts of landfill gas, which typically contains methane and carbon dioxide, as well as trace amounts of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These gases can migrate underground and contaminate groundwater, particularly if the landfill is unlined or has a faulty liner system.

Finally, organic waste in landfills can interfere with the establishment of aquatic plants, affect the reproductive behaviour of fish and other animals, and deplete the water of dissolved oxygen as it decomposes. This can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and further contribute to water pollution.

Overall, landfills pose a significant risk of leaking harmful chemicals into the ground and water supply, and the impacts of these leaks can be widespread and long-lasting.

Leachate from landfills contains a variety of toxic chemicals

Landfill leachate (LFL) contains a variety of toxic chemicals, including heavy metals, ammonia, and other dissolved and suspended contaminants. The specific composition of leachate depends on the age of the landfill and the type of waste it contains.

LFL is formed when water filters through decomposing waste in a landfill. As the water comes into contact with the waste, it becomes contaminated and, if it then flows out of the waste material, it is termed leachate. The decomposition of carbonaceous material also produces methane, carbon dioxide, and a complex mixture of organic acids, aldehydes, alcohols, and simple sugars.

The wide range of toxic chemicals found in LFL includes:

• Volatile organic compounds
• Chloride
• Nitrogen
• Solvents
• Phenols
• Heavy metals such as lead, nickel, copper, and mercury
• Xenobiotic organic compounds such as halogenated organics and PCBs
• Pesticides
• Solvents

The presence of these toxic chemicals in LFL poses serious environmental, ecological, and health risks, particularly when it contaminates groundwater and surface water sources.

Landfill liners are not a long-term solution to preventing groundwater pollution

Landfills are used for the disposal of numerous types of waste, including municipal and industrial waste. They are designed, constructed, and operated to protect the environment and public health from the waste. However, landfills are associated with environmental pollution and health issues.

Landfills are a significant source of groundwater pollution due to the leaching of organic, inorganic, and other substances of concern (SoC) contained in the waste. The liners at the bottom of landfills, meant to prevent the migration of waste into the surrounding environment, are not a long-term solution. Over time, these liners degrade and develop holes and cracks, allowing toxic chemicals to leak out and seep into groundwater. This is further exacerbated by rainfall and snow, which enter landfills and pick up contaminants from the waste, creating "leachate." The production of leachate is inevitable, and despite attempts to collect it in newer landfills, some still escape into the environment.

Even newer landfill systems with double liner technology are vulnerable to leaks. Many landfills have been operating for decades, and the technology meant to keep groundwater safe was never expected to last. Older landfills that began operating with unlined or clay-lined cells are assumed to be leaking toxic contaminants. Clay liners, even those a foot thick, will fail within five years. Plastic liners often rip during installation and will also break down over time.

The failure of double liner systems is inevitable and acknowledged by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They state that "no liner... can keep all liquids out of the ground for all time."

The only way to truly prevent groundwater pollution from landfills is to stop building them and instead solve the waste problem with Zero Waste programs.

Landfills can contaminate drinking water sources

Secondly, landfills can contaminate drinking water sources through landfill gas emissions. Landfills emit large amounts of landfill gas, typically composed of methane and carbon dioxide, as well as trace amounts of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Methane is explosive, and there have been numerous examples of explosions at landfills. Landfill gas can also have adverse impacts on vegetation and contribute to greenhouse gases.

Thirdly, landfills can contaminate drinking water sources through the improper disposal of waste. Hazardous waste, such as pressure-treated lumber, used oil filters, and lead-acid batteries, can leak or leach toxic materials into water sources. In addition, organic waste can interfere with the establishment of aquatic plants, affect the reproductive behaviour of fish and other animals, and deplete the water of dissolved oxygen as it decomposes.

Landfills can cause air pollution

The destruction of natural habitats for wildlife is another factor contributing to air pollution. The average landfill size is 600 acres, and with over 3,000 active landfills in the United States, a significant amount of wildlife habitat has been lost. This destruction of habitats disrupts ecosystems and can lead to a decline in biodiversity.

Furthermore, landfills often have plastic or clay liners to prevent leachate, a liquid produced by landfill sites, from contaminating nearby water sources. However, these liners tend to develop leaks, allowing leachate to escape and pollute groundwater and surface water sources. Leachate can contain high levels of ammonia, which, when nitrified, can cause eutrophication and create "dead zones" in water sources where animals cannot survive due to a lack of oxygen.

To mitigate the air pollution caused by landfills, it is essential to reduce the reliance on landfills. This can be achieved by recycling, avoiding single-use plastics, and composting biodegradable items instead of sending them to landfills.

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