Five Advantages of Landfills
Designed specifically for dumping waste, household rubbish and even toxic or hazardous chemicals, landfills are easily the most common waste management service used today. Contrary to popular belief, landfill waste is not a dump or just a hole in the ground, they only involve covering solid waste with soil. This is to reduce the harmful emissions, primarily methane and carbon dioxide mixing with the Earth’s oxygen supply, which is potentially dangerous to the planet and its people. Specially designed sites, landfills are still an essential feature of our waste disposal.
Here, we look at five key advantages of landfills:
Energy Source
When waste accumulates and breaks down, carbon monoxide and methane are produced. These gases can be removed, filtered and used in energy production. In fact, one of the major sources of methane in the UK is agricultural and landfill waste. Along with natural gas and coal mining, they account for around 95% of all anthropogenic emissions in the UK’s atmosphere. Methane is the primary component of natural gas and is used to produce electricity and heat sources all over the world.
Inexpensive
In today’s modern world, the technology used in landfills is substantial, efficient and reliable. Due to this, they are still the most cost-effective form of waste disposal compared with other waste management methods. Transport costs will be reduced, due to the large quantities of waste able to reach landfill sites and the short distance required to reach one, as most landfill sites exist in close proximity to most major towns and cities. This, in turn, reduces your greenhouse gas emissions, as the transport distances are noticeably lowered.
Reduced Emissions
For many, landfills are seen as the least eco-friendly solution to waste disposal, and though there remains an element of truth, it doesn’t necessarily mean the alternative has all the answers. If you were to burn your waste instead, for instance, large amounts of greenhouse gases would be emitted into the atmosphere, which greatly impacts our environment, increasing the effects of global warming.
Job Opportunities
There is a seemingly endless amount of manual work and labour required on landfill sites, including the separation of waste, management of machinery and overall logistics. This means there are many people required to fill the numerous roles necessary to a flowing operation, which creates job opportunities for the local population. In less economically developed countries, landfills can be an extremely important source of work, and many people are known to rely on these jobs to survive.
At WM Thompson & Sons Ltd our landfill site, situated in a former quarry, is fully S.E.P.A. licensed and dedicated to maintaining a positive impact on the local landscape and environment. Conveniently located close to our quarry, our landfill site works alongside each part of the business to offer sustainable waste disposal for customers across West Scotland. Whatever your waste removal or landfill needs, contact us today.
