Why is Landfill Bad?

These UK landfill statistics provide a quick insight into the problems of landfill and why it’s such a big issue for waste management. Here are some shocking landfill stats:

• There are around 500 landfill sites in the UK
• About 35 million tonnes of waste are in UK landfill sites
• 8 million tonnes of UK biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) were sent to landfill in 2021
• England generated 3 million tonnes and was responsible for 79% of UK biodegradable municipal waste to landfill
• Landfill is the second most used waste treatment in the UK – after ‘recycling and other recovery’ – as 6% of waste was disposed of at landfill in 2018. Recycling and recovery accounts for 50.4% of waste disposal.
• It takes waste many years to decompose and biodegrade in landfill based on the material:
  • Paper – two to six weeks
  • Food waste – six to two years
  • Plastic bags – 10 to 100 years
  • Aluminium cans – 80 to 200 years
  • Disposable nappies – around 450 years
  • Plastic bottles – about 450 years
  • Glass – up to one million years

Modern landfill sites work by completely sealing in the waste to minimise the risk of contaminating nearby ground, water, and air. The general process is:

• The ground of the landfill site is lined with clay with a thin layer of flexible plastic placed on top.
• Waste is dropped into the landfill hole and compacted into a solid mound.
• A layer of soil is added on top of the waste every day to reduce the bad smell and ward off pests.
• Leachate – the liquid that passes through landfill – seeps down and onto the plastic layer. It’s collected in a drainage system that passes it through pipes and into a pool where it’s treated to remove toxins.
• Once the landfill is full it’s sealed at the top with another layer of clay and thin plastic. Then it’s covered with soil to allow plant growth on top.
• Modern landfill sites have pipes in place to collect any methane produced so it can be vented, burned, or used to generate energy.

Burying waste creates many landfill problems that affect the environment and human health, and create broader social issues. The negative impact of landfill has been known for many years with alternative solutions developed to reduce our reliance on these sites. Landfill issues still exist though. The main problems with burying waste in landfill sites are:

• Methane from landfill – the anaerobic process that breaks down waste in landfill produces methane, which is between 25 and 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Landfill sites are responsible for about 25% of all methane emissions in the UK. Methane is a greenhouse gas that absorbs heat and significantly contributes to global warming and climate change if it’s not controlled.
• Release of toxins – lots of waste that ends up in landfill can contain toxic substances, which leach into the ground and can even reach nearby water sources. Most waste containing toxic substances should be recycled or disposed of via different streams to control the toxins and avoid hazardous substances ending up in landfill. This includes electronic items (WEEE waste), certain types of plastic waste, mercury, and other hazardous waste.
• Leachate – water filters through the waste in landfill and collects toxins and decomposed waste components on its way. This produces the toxic leachate liquid that may contain methane, carbon dioxide, organic acids, alcohols, and more. If it’s not controlled or treated this can contaminate the local ground and water, harming the environment, wildlife, and any humans in contact with it.
• Negative health effects – landfills create and release other gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. Exposure to these can contribute to health issues such as coughing and nausea to serious complications including asthma, respiratory problems, and even lung cancer. Research has shown those living close to landfill sites are at higher risk of developing such health problems. Accidents can also occur at landfill sites if there are landslides or collapses.

The issues with landfill for the environment and human health mean alternative solutions for waste disposal are vital. At Business Waste we provide alternatives to landfill where possible when collecting and disposing of all types of commercial waste – from cardboard recycling to general waste.

Various alternatives to landfill are available with the best method depending on the specific waste type. These include options such as recycling, reuse, anaerobic digestion, industrial composting, incineration to create refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and more. Our expert team can advise and tell you more about the disposal method for your waste.