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Methods of Toxic Waste Disposal

Toxic waste disposal has become a serious problem worldwide. The more waste we produce, the more we need to get rid of. Some toxic waste disposal methods even lead to global warming and air pollution by liberating greenhouse gases and air pollutants right into the atmosphere. Arbitrary and indiscriminate toxic waste disposal has aggravated the situation.

  1. Household Waste Management

    • Nearly every household uses items that contain toxic substances such as paint, solvents, cleaners, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and home appliances including the radio, television and refrigerator. A television on average contains 3,000 different chemicals and half a kilogram of lead. If thrown away in landfills, the highly toxic lead compound can leak out and contaminate nearby drinking water. Lead is particularly hazardous to human health and it can inflict damage on the brain and central nervous system. So, we first need to make our house clean, tidy, and hygienic. We also need to reduce the amount of toxic waste we generate every day and use proper toxic waste disposal practices.

    Sanitary landfills

    • A sanitary landfill is an area normally located outside a city or away from human population where toxic waste, trash and garbage are disposed of by burying them between layers of earth. Toxic waste is broken down into innocuous products biologically, chemically or physically. The system of sanitary landfills involves biodegradation by living things (i.e. microorganisms).

    Incineration

    • Incineration is deliberate combustion of toxic waste at a high temperature, reducing it into ashes. It is also known as "thermal treatment." Incineration may emit harmful gases and air pollutants, but it is helpful in destroying toxins and pathogens in some sorts of hazardous wastes.

    Open Dumping

    • In open dumping, trash and garbage are indiscriminately sent to a place that has no enclosing barrier around it. Open dumping involves fermentation of waste brought about by microorganisms such as bacteria. It is not an environmentally safe method because toxic elements can spread to the surrounding area and pollute drinking water supplies.

    Ocean Disposal

    • The ocean once was a preferred dump site for waste. But with the explosion of global human population over the last few decades along with huge industrial expansion, massive amounts of toxic and radioactive wastes are being buried into ocean floor. Today the ocean can no longer assimilate the waste without adversely affecting the marine and human health.

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