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Environmental Impacts of Waste Disposal

Waste disposal refers to the management of the huge amount of waste from modern societies. Various methods to collect and decompose waste in an organized manner have been used, but emissions from the collected waste remain a threat. However, the environmental impact of waste disposal is not limited to the effects on the atmosphere; waste disposal also affects the world's flora and fauna.

  1. Methane Emission

    • Methane is a strong greenhouse gas and one of the primary factors contributing to global warming. It is emitted in considerable quantities by waste that fills landfill sites around the world. Landfills are one of the most widely used waste disposal methods. In simple words, household and industrial waste is accumulated in one large area, along with mining and quarrying waste, and is left to decompose.

    Carbon Dioxide

    • Carbon dioxide and a number of potentially hazardous air pollutants in smaller concentrations are released during the process of incineration. Waste incineration is the burning of waste, which releases a large amount of energy, along with the aforementioned pollutants. Modern incinerators use mechanical, biological, heat and thermal treatment technology to contain the energy produced. This energy can be used for the production of electricity as well as heat.

    Soil Contamination

    • In landfill sites, leachate fluids from the decomposing waste penetrate the underlying and surrounding soil and contaminate the groundwater. This water is either used by plants, which perish as a result of the soil pollution, or it can even be used as a drinking water source. For this purpose, elaborate -- but also more expensive -- containment landfills are used to prevent the leak.

    Contribution to Acid Rain

    • Sulfur and nitrous oxides are two of the main substances that contribute to acid rain. They are released into the air during waste incineration, and when airborne they are brought back to earth through rain, creating a pollution cycle. Along with carbon dioxide, these pollutants are the main focus of modern technology incinerators, since their emission can have multiple effects on the environment, from air pollution, to water and soil contamination.

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