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Waste diversion or landfill diversion is the process of diverting waste from landfills. The success of landfill diversion can be measured by comparison of the size of the landfill from one year to the next. If the landfill grows minimally or remains the same, then policies covering landfill diversion are successful. For example, currently in the United States there are 3000 landfills.[1] A measure of the success of landfill diversion would be if that number remains the same or is reduced. In 2009, it was recorded that the national average of landfill diversion in the United States was 33.8%, while San Francisco had implemented the most effective policies and had recorded a landfill diversion rate of 77%.[2] By diverting landfills we can preserve our natural resources.[3]
Types of Landfill Diversion[edit]
Recycling[edit]
Landfill diversion can occur through recycling. Recycling refers to taking used materials and creating new products in order to prevent the disposal of these products in landfills. Recycling material can include glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics.
Thermal Treatment[edit]
Another method of landfill diversion is thermal treatment (such as Incineration). Approximately sixteen percent (16%) of waste is incinerated yearly in the United States.[4]. Incineration, however, can lead to other environmental issues that may have positive or negative results.
Biological Treatments[edit]
In addition to reusing materials waste products can go through biological treatment. There are two types of biological treatments anaerobic digestion or composting. Simply stated, biological treatment is the breaking down of material through the action of micro-organisms. Materials are broken down to carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Biomass consists of wood, crops, yard and animal waste. Biomass is considered a renewable energy because more can be grown in a short amount of time. Biomass contributes to roughly four percent of our energy. Biomass energy although its burned, does not pollute the air as much as fossil fuels. Some materials easily break down, others do not. The environment in which the material is placed determines the speed of breakdown.
Waste to Energy[edit]
Other options for diversion are composting and waste-to-energy: converting primary waste into various types of energy such as heat or electricity.
Waste Reduction[edit]
Reduction of waste is another way to divert waste from landfills; not creating waste in the first place will reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. There are numerous ways to reduce waste, for example, consumers can avoid single use products and instead invest in re-usable items such as canvas bags instead of plastic bags; consuming less in general is also an effective way to reduce waste. In addition, maintaining vehicles' tires will also help reduce waste tires in landfills since they are undesirable and take up too much space along with many other negative effects.
Types of Landfills[edit]
Open Dump[edit]
An open dump is an area where unwanted waste is disposed of with no regulations or restrictions; they often produce adverse effects on the environment. The Resources Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 prohibited open dumping[5], therefore making it illegal in many states.
Sanitary Landfill[edit]
A sanitary landfill is where waste is disposed of in thin layers little by little; each layer is covered and compacted with soil to prevent foul odors and wind blown litter.[6] This method prevents the creation of safety and public health hazards; this landfill has four requirements before it is built. The first requirement is that it must have absolute leachate security; the bottom of the landfill can be lined, synthetically or with soil, to prevent water contamination. Secondly, there must be formal engineering preparations and plannings in order to ensure the success of the landfill. Thirdly, permanent supervision must be present in all stages of the landfill also to ensure success and sustainability. Lastly, the placement and compacting of waste must be planned to prevent pest and vermin infestations.[7]
Secure Landfill[edit]
A secure landfill is where hazardous waste is deposited since it requires a much more stringent regulation than municipal waste. The landfill must have at least two impermeable liners as well as a system for leachate collection to prevent any water contamination. In addition to this, the landfill must also have a groundwater monitoring system in case there is a leak; the wells can be pumped to remove the contaminated water for treatment[8].
Deep-well injection[edit]
Deep-well injection is a form of disposing of liquid hazardous waste. The liquid waste is pumped into porous limestone or sandstone through a steel casing, and high pressure is applied making the waste permanently stored in the pores and fissures of the rocks. The limestone or sandstone used for injection must be located beneath an impermeable layer of clay or rock at least 0.5 mile below the surface[9]. This option generally does not require pre-treatment of the waste and is one of the more inexpensive options, however it poses a risk of hazardous waste leakage.
Legislation[edit]
United States of America[edit]
Maryland[edit]
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) promotes the idea of waste diversion by partnering with Maryland's jurisdictions as well as the public and private sectors. All counties and Baltimore City are required to recycle 15% of waste generated (populations under 150,000) or 20% (populations over 150,000) due to The Maryland Recycling Act (MRA); the state government is also required to recycle at least 20% of their solid waste.[10]
California[edit]
The California Integrated Waste Management Act mandated all Californian cities and counties to divert 25% of their solid waste by 1990 and 50% by 2000 through planning and programs [11]; this is managed by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), and they also provide assistance in creating plans and programs.
Europe[edit]
European waste legislation focuses upon the diversion of biodegradable waste from landfill, due to its potential to add to the effects of climate change[citation needed].[12]
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Bibliography
http://taurus.hood.edu:2088/stable/pdf/3428892.pdf
http://taurus.hood.edu:2088/stable/pdf/25621837.pdf
http://www.hia21.eu/dwnld/20120418_A6_O.pdf
- ^ "Wastes | Browse EPA Topics | US EPA". Epa.gov. June 28, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
- ^ "Additional Waste & Recycling Indicators". Green Dashboard. Government of the District of Columbia. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
- ^ http://greendashboard.dc.gov/Waste/WasteDivertedFromLandfills
- ^ "Statistics". Zerowasteamerica.org. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
- ^ Slimak, Karen (December 1978). "Landfill Disposal Systems" (PDF). Environmental Health Perspectives. 27: 309-316.
- ^ "Sanitary Landfill". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica.
- ^ "Solid Waste". web.mit.edu. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- ^ Nathanson, Jerry. "Hazardouse-waste management". Britannica. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ^ Nathanson, Jerry. "Hazardouse-waste management". Britannica. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ^ "Waste Diversion in Maryland". The Department of the Environment. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ^ "Enforcement". Cal Recycle. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- ^ http://www.recyclecddebris.com/rCDd/Resources/Documents/CSIEurope01.pdf