As part of World Cleanup Day this year, the Green Series
is taking a look at how we can reduce the size of landfills. This
day is all about joining a team of people to pick up litter and
mismanaged waste (such as plastic bottles, cans and food scraps) at
beaches, rivers, streets and other public areas. A lot of that
waste could be recycled or composted, but if it isn't it gets
sent to a landfill. The UK sent 7.4 million tonnes of biodegradable municipal
waste to landfills in 2017 alone!
Landfills can be huge contributors of greenhouse gases, as the
breaking down of waste in landfills by bacteria can produce large
amounts of methane and carbon dioxide. Not only do these
gases contribute to the greenhouse effect, but they can also seep
into the local soil and migrate to other areas, entering buildings
and causing significant health problems after long
exposures.
