Landfills: Water Pollution's Unseen Danger

Landfills are a necessity in modern society, but they can also be a source of water pollution. Landfills are used for the disposal of solid waste, including municipal waste from households, businesses, restaurants, medical facilities, and schools, as well as industrial waste. While landfills are regulated and designed to minimise environmental contamination, they can still pose a threat to groundwater and surface water sources.

One of the main concerns regarding landfill pollution is leachate, a watery solution that forms when water passes through waste in a landfill. Leachate can contain various hazardous constituents, including heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens. If leachate is not properly contained and migrates from the landfill, it can contaminate nearby water sources. Factors such as the age of the landfill, the presence of liners, and the local geology influence the extent of water pollution.

In addition to leachate, landfills also release methane and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. The creation of landfills can also result in the destruction of natural habitats, and emissions from landfills can pose risks to the health of nearby residents.

To protect groundwater resources, it is essential to have proper landfill design, including liners and leachate collection systems, and to conduct regular monitoring and remediation efforts.

Landfills release methane, a greenhouse gas that is 84 times more effective at absorbing heat than carbon dioxide

Landfills are a necessity in modern society, as they help to minimise risks to public health and safety by providing a location for the collection and disposal of waste materials. However, landfills also have a significant environmental and social impact. One of the most pressing environmental concerns regarding landfills is their release of methane gas. As organic mass in landfills decomposes, methane gas is released. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 84 times more effective at absorbing heat than carbon dioxide, making it a huge contributor to climate change.

Methane is a significant contributor to global warming and climate change due to its ability to absorb heat more effectively than carbon dioxide. With over 3,000 active landfills in the United States alone, the release of methane gas from landfills has a considerable impact on the planet's climate. The decomposition of organic waste in landfills leads to the production of methane, which has a much higher heat-absorbing capacity than carbon dioxide.

The impact of methane released from landfills extends beyond climate change. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming. It has a global warming potential 84 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. This means that methane traps heat in the atmosphere more effectively, leading to an increase in global temperatures.

In addition to contributing to climate change, methane released from landfills can have other environmental and social impacts. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its release can lead to an increase in global temperatures. This can result in melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and changes in weather patterns. Additionally, methane is flammable and can pose safety risks if it accumulates in enclosed spaces.

The release of methane from landfills also has social implications. Landfills are often located in minority and low-income areas, and the emissions from these landfills can pose health risks to the surrounding communities. Studies have found an increased risk of congenital malformations in children born to families living near hazardous waste landfill sites.

To mitigate the impact of methane released from landfills, it is essential to reduce reliance on landfills and transition to more sustainable waste management practices. Recycling, composting, and avoiding single-use plastics can help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, thereby decreasing methane emissions. Additionally, implementing better landfill management practices, such as using liners and leachate collection systems, can help minimise methane release and protect the environment and public health.

Landfills contaminate nearby water sources with leachate, a liquid produced by landfill sites

Landfills are a necessity in modern society. They help to minimise risks to public health and safety by collecting and disposing of waste materials in centralised locations. However, landfills also have a significant environmental and social impact. They are a major source of methane emissions, for example, and their creation often involves the destruction of natural habitats.

One of the most pressing environmental concerns regarding landfills is their contamination of nearby water sources with leachate, a liquid produced by landfill sites.

Leachate is formed when water percolates through waste, picking up a variety of toxic substances such as metals, minerals, organic chemicals, bacteria, viruses, explosives, flammables, and other toxic materials. It is produced when the waste becomes saturated with water, which can be from rainfall, artificial irrigation, or groundwater infiltration.

Leachate can contaminate nearby water sources, damaging ecosystems and creating "dead zones" where animals cannot survive due to a lack of oxygen. It typically contains high levels of ammonia, which, when it makes its way into ecosystems, is nitrified to produce nitrate. This nitrate then causes eutrophication, or a lack of oxygen, in nearby water sources due to increased growth of plant life.

In addition to ammonia, leachate contains toxins such as mercury due to the presence of hazardous materials in landfills. It also generally contains non-hazardous parameters that are also found in most groundwater systems, including dissolved metals (e.g. iron and manganese), salts (e.g. sodium and chloride), and an abundance of common anions and cations (e.g. bicarbonate and sulfate). However, these constituents in leachate are typically found at concentrations that are an order of magnitude (or more) greater than concentrations present in natural groundwater systems.

The release of leachate into the groundwater may render an aquifer unusable for drinking water purposes and other uses. It may also present a danger to the environment and to aquatic species if the leachate-contaminated groundwater plume discharges into wetlands or streams.

While well-designed landfills should not cause water quality problems because leachate problems are anticipated and controlled, many landfills are poorly engineered or located in environmentally unsound areas.

Landfills destroy natural habitats for wildlife

Landfills also have a significant impact on the surrounding environment, which can further affect wildlife habitats. For example, landfills release methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas and contributor to climate change. Landfills also produce carbon dioxide, water vapour, and trace amounts of other gases, which can contribute to climate change and create smog if left uncontrolled.

In addition, landfills can contaminate nearby water sources, further damaging ecosystems. Leachate, a liquid produced by landfill sites, can contain high levels of ammonia and other toxins. When leachate reaches nearby water sources, it can cause eutrophication, or a lack of oxygen, creating "dead zones" where animals cannot survive.

The impact of landfills on wildlife is further exacerbated by the attraction of large numbers of rodents, which can affect local businesses and livelihoods by damaging produce, livestock, and products.

Overall, the creation and maintenance of landfills have significant negative consequences for wildlife and their natural habitats.

Landfill liners tend to have leaks, which can result in leachate contaminating nearby water sources

Landfill liners are designed to keep waste dry and contained. Modern landfills are required to have two plastic liners, each backed with synthetic clay, putting a few inches between decomposing trash and the soil beneath it. However, these liners tend to have leaks.

Rain and snow can get into landfills while they are open and accepting waste (which can be for years). And even after the cell is sealed, the plastic caps develop holes over time, letting in more rain and snow. The water that gets into the landfill cells picks up contaminants from the waste and becomes "leachate".

Leachate is a liquid produced by landfill sites that can contaminate nearby water sources, further damaging ecosystems. It has high levels of several toxic chemicals, including mercury, ammonia, volatile organic compounds, chloride, nitrogen, solvents, heavy metals, phenols, and cytotoxins.

Leachate can cause "dead zones" in affected water sources through a process called eutrophication. When high amounts of nitrates enter water sources, plant growth increases, which depletes the water of oxygen. Without sufficient oxygen, animals in the water die.

The failure of double liner systems is inevitable, as acknowledged by the EPA:

> No liner… can keep all liquids out of the ground for all time. Eventually liners will either degrade, tear, or crack and will allow liquid to migrate out of the unit.

The production of leachate cannot be avoided, and despite attempts to collect it in newer landfills, some of it still escapes into the environment.

Emissions from landfills pose a threat to the health of those who live and work around them

The impact of landfill emissions on human health

Landfills emit gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapour, as well as trace amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and non-methane organic compounds. These gases can contribute to climate change and create smog if left uncontrolled. The creation of landfills also often involves the destruction of natural habitats for wildlife.

The impact of landfill emissions on human health includes:

• Respiratory issues: Emissions from landfills can irritate the throat and nose, potentially leading to asthma.
• Congenital malformations: Studies have found an increased risk of congenital malformations in children born to families living near hazardous waste landfill sites.
• Cancer: Emissions from landfills have been linked to specific types of cancer, such as lung cancer.
• Allergic reactions: Emissions from landfills can trigger allergic reactions, such as asthma attacks.
• Mental health issues: The uncertainty and worry associated with living near landfill sites can impact mental health and well-being.
• Water contamination: Leachate from landfills can contaminate nearby water sources, leading to waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera.

Factors influencing the impact of landfill emissions

The impact of landfill emissions on human health can be influenced by various factors, including:

• Waste composition: The types of waste disposed of in landfills can affect the types and concentrations of emissions.
• Landfill age: Older landfills may have less effective lining, increasing the risk of leachate and groundwater contamination.
• Distance from the landfill: The proximity of individuals to the landfill can affect their exposure to emissions.
• Social and economic factors: Low-income and minority areas are more likely to be home to landfills, and these communities may have fewer resources to address the health impacts.

Mitigating the impact of landfill emissions

To mitigate the impact of landfill emissions on human health, it is important to:

• Implement proper waste management practices: Recycling, composting, and proper waste disposal can reduce the reliance on landfills and decrease their environmental and health impacts.
• Improve landfill design and regulation: Ensuring landfills have adequate lining and gas extraction systems can help prevent groundwater contamination and reduce emissions.
• Monitor and respond to community concerns: Addressing complaints about odour, smoke, and water supply contamination can help reduce the impact on the health and well-being of nearby communities.

Frequently asked questions