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Solid Waste Disposal Techniques

The buildup and disposal of solid waste can have a substantial impact on the environment. Solid waste can contaminate an area, including water sources. Properly disposing of solid waste is an important process to reduce environmental impact and contamination. There are three main solid waste disposal techniques: landfills, incineration, and compost.

  1. Landfills

    • According to a report published by the University of Michigan, landfills are the most common solid waste disposal method. Typical landfill technique includes spreading solid waste in a thin layer. The solid waste is topped with a layer of clean soil before more waste is added. Landfills are equipped with a liner to help reduce soil and water contamination.

    Incineration

    • Incineration is a more expensive technique but can be extremely effective. According to a University of Michigan report, modern incinerators destroy approximately 99.9 percent of the organic waste material they handle. In addition, it is also possible to recover energy from burning solid waste using thermal processes.

    Compost

    • Compost is a disposal technique used for yard and food waste. According to the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA), "Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 26 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream." Compost can range from a small pile in a backyard to large-scale mounds on farms or other facilities.

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