Eco-Friendly Landfills: A Solution for the Future?

Every day it is becoming increasingly important to care for our environment and do what we can to reduce our climate footprint whether that means recycling more, walking to work or switching to a vegetarian lifestyle. We can all do a little more to reduce our environmental impact, which is why it’s crucial to choose businesses that also seek to be more eco-friendly.



Landfills Explained

Landfill is a word synonymous with waste and people don’t tend to relate it to being eco-friendly. However, many landfill sites are learning ways to improve their carbon footprint and reduce their impact on the environment. In the coming years, it's likely we’ll see more and more landfill sites switch their processes to those that align with a healthier planet. Here are some upcoming trends that we are likely to see in the future and are already being implemented.

Recycle More

A lot of waste gets sent to landfill sites, more than we even have space for. That’s why the first step in making our landfill sites more eco-friendly is to reduce the amount of waste we send there. Many landfill sites will choose to sort through the waste before it is discarded to check for things that can be recycled. Any glass, plastics, aggregates or other recyclable materials can be taken to a recycling plant or reused - reducing the amount of waste being discarded.

Prevent Contamination

Any waste that does need to go to landfill will be discarded appropriately. This means lining the landfill site with impermeable materials to prevent contamination. Some sites may also have gas collection systems to capture methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The methane can be used to generate electricity or heat. Eco-friendly landfills also have leachate collection systems to prevent rainwater from carrying pollutants into groundwater. The leachate is treated before it is released into the environment.

Looking for an eco-friendly landfill site in Scotland? WM Thompson & Sons Ltd are here to help. We try to make our landfill site as environmentally friendly as possible to give you peace of mind. Get in touch today to learn more about our landfill site, quarry services and quarry products.