cac0fae8c8f092b7d7e32f10d5d4e9c220d2969b My Health Is My Life: Why correct waste disposal is so important

Why correct waste disposal is so important

By Harold Seer


Every year in England households and businesses create around 177 million tonnes of waste. Despite the fact that some of it is recycled, a large amount still goes to landfill, which is very damaging to the environment.

Everyone should try to reduce how much waste they produce, thereby decreasing how much rubbish ends up in landfill sites, and limiting the extent of the impact upon the environment.

Landfill sites are designated areas of land used by local councils and industries to compact and bury waste underground. Landfill sites usually have both household and commercial rubbish in them.

Landfill sites are necessary for disposal of rubbish which cannot be recycled or reused, but should be considered a last resort.

There are a variety of reasons we should try to reduce how much waste is sent to landfill sites. One of these is the fact that landfill sites will eventually reach capacity. Those sites which are full are capped with either a clay or plastic liner, then soil and finally grass, and cannot be used again.

Recent studies indicate that the landfill sites in Britain landfill sites will run out by 2018 if we do not reduce the rate at which they are being used and filled. In 2007, it was reported that an area the size of Warwick was being used by landfill sites.

Landfill sites are a threat to the environment. Carbon dioxide and methane are the harmful landfill gases created as biodegradable waste decomposes at the sites. These are also classified as 'greenhouse gases' making them more of a threat. In particular, methane causes many problems; because it is flammable, explosions and fires sometimes occur at landfill sites. At some landfill sites, these gases are used to generate electricity, whilst others burn the gas off.

Leachate, a polluting liquid run-off, is also created by landfill sites. This has to be collected and disposed of at wastewater plants. If the leachate gets into rivers and streams, it can cause considerable harm to wildlife.

Because materials are put into these holes in the ground, they cannot be used again. If reusable waste is buried, the raw materials to manufacture replacements have to be obtained again and again.

As required by government policy, local councils provide recycling and food waste collections, with the aim of encouraging everyone to sort all of their waste at home, helping to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.

In addition, waste management companies are helping with this reduction by collecting waste from homes and businesses, and then sorting it accordingly; into landfill waste, recyclable waste, and combustible waste which is used to generate electricity.

Everyone can do their bit to sort and recycle waste at home and at work. This helps to save local authorities money, creating waste streams that are purer. Recycling at source in this way is easier and more cost effective, and as a result offers a better deal for the taxpayer.




About the Author:



1 comment:

skiphirenear.uk said...

My friend searching for such type of informative content related to Skip Hire. I am going to tell him to visit your this blog and get his required content. Thank you from Skip Hire Near Me for sharing this blog.