LANDFILL, WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THEM?
Firstly we all know what a landfill site is. Many of you might even live near one turned into a rugby pitch or park. But why did people create landfills in the first place? And what problems could these sites cause for future generations?
History of landfilling
People first disposed of waste in soil-covered pits on Crete around 3000 BC. However, in the US and Europe, cities mainly dumped waste in the streets until the 1800s. Back then, people linked poor environmental conditions to disease outbreaks. In 1875, the UK passed the Public Health Act, requiring households to use dustbins. Eventually local authorities then took on waste removal and disposal responsibilities. Hence this law helped create the modern landfill system we know today.
Historic landfills, climate change and environmental risk
Climate change will bring more frequent and stronger storms. It will also cause more river and coastal flooding, along with rising sea levels. If we don’t act, many coastal areas could lose land to erosion over the next 100 years. Right now, 28% of the English and Welsh coastline erodes by at least 10 cm each year. These changes pose serious risks to communities and the environment.
Latest headlines from studies by academics have now uncovered the real problems that are alarming!
Landfill dumps across UK ‘at risk of leaking hazardous chemicals’
Exclusive: Academics warn of ‘toxic time-bomb’ facing Britain with sites under threat from flooding or coastal erosion
Therefore thousands of landfill dumps around the UK are at risk of being compromised by flooding and coastal erosion, ultimately sparking fears that dangerous substances could spill into rivers, streets and beaches, academics warn.
The UK faces a “toxic time bomb” after an analysis of its ageing dumps revealed that 2,946 are located in flood plains, experts say. Read on…
Let The Rubbish Removers help you to remove and dispose of your waste ethically. Get in touch.
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