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Landfills - Sustainable or Not ?

A secure landfill is a carefully engineered depression in the ground (or built on top of the ground, resembling a football stadium) into which wastes are put (Foundation, 2003). This is one of the most unsustainable forms of waste management, especially plastic waste management, as plastic is used in huge amounts just about every day.
In sanitary landfills, waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe. Safety is assumed when the waste has completely degraded biologically, chemically, and physically. Modern landfills are structured in a way that restricts the loss of leachate and gases to the surrounding environment. There are many disadvantages accrued to this method of plastic waste management:
·  In poorly designed or operated landfills, it is very difficult to keep dangerous chemicals from leaching into the surrounding environment.
·  Landfills can pollute water, the air, and soil.
·  They could cause diseases and illnesses in surrounding communities.
·  Dangerous chemicals from landfills can seep into ground water systems.
·  Rodents and leaches are attracted to landfills; this could result in dangerous diseases.

Works Cited

Foundation, E. R. (2003, March 26). The Basics of Landfills. Retrieved May 25, 2015, from ejnet.org: http://www.ejnet.org/landfills/


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