How Well do You Know Your Landfill?

Recently I was stuck on a flight on which I was forced to watch the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still with Keanu Reeves. If you haven’t seen the movie, don’t bother. It has a good message, but it just made the flight seem even longer.


The movie is all about how we are ruining the earth, something we already know. But how much do you really know about how we trash the earth? Do you really think about your trash beyond recycling and home composting?


It used to be the garbage was just dumped in a big whole. Today the business of garbage is much more complicated. Fifty-five percent of our garbage is packed into sanitary landfills. The other 45 percent is either recycled or burned.


Landfills must be situated where clay deposits and other land features act as natural buffers between the landfills and the surrounding environment. Burying trash in the ground isn’t acceptable because as it breaks down the garbage leaches toxins into the soil which would eventually end up in drinking water. So instead, landfills are lined with layers of clay or plastic to keep the liquid waste, called leachate, from escaping into the soil. But that’s not all, the leachate must be collected and pumped to the surface where it can be treated. Ground wells are also drilled into and around the landfill to monitor groundwater quality and to detect any contamination. But that’s not the only issue. Each day the landfill must be covered with a layer of earth––called the daily cover–– to reduce odor and control vermin.

I was surprised to learn that the biggest component of landfill is paper—over 40%. I’m not sure what takes up the second most in volume, but disposable diapers take 3rd even though only 5% of the US population uses them.

Environmentalists warn that building new landfills can be challenging since there is potential to expose people who are living or working in close proximity to landfills, to dangerous chemicals. Meanwhile, those on the other side of the debate say it’s all fine because there are plenty of open spaces for landfills left on earth.

This comes from WiseGeek.com
Some specific landfills will reach maximum capacity in a few years. England has problems with a number of landfills reaching near capacity. A few landfills in the US state of Georgia have approximately ten years left. Some attribute a number of years to specific landfills, like 10 years, 17 years or 20. However, there are no hard figures on when all landfills will reach maximum capacity, but instead, debate about the capacity of landfills and what we should do about it.

This article from the Iowa Source gives instructions on conducting a home trash audit. It’s a good idea. Just becoming more aware of the trash you generate can motivate you to reduce.

If you do nothing else on this Earth Day, try giving some thought to your garbage.
Happy 40th Earth Day!

Illustrations and information thanks to Energy Kid's Page.

Small Steps for Planet Earth

Tomorrow is Earth Day. Earth Day was first started in 1970 by Wisconsin Democrat, Gaylord Nelson as an opportunity to teach environmental consciousness. Most of us make some attempt to reduce our impact on the earth, but sometimes when we look at all the things we do it can be overwhelming. Maybe even to the point of inertia.

Every choice we make can have a rippling effect. Make one small choice for environmentally conscious living and you can help us all live better.
You can start with something that you do every day--eat. You might start by picking just one of these actions:

At the grocery store

• Buying just one or two pieces of locally grown produce each week can shift demand for local products
• Skip the bag when you can carry your purchase
• Choose not to use grocery produce bags to hold that single cucumber or bunch of bananas—nature has given many produce their own convenient packages
• Buy whole lettuce heads rather than packaged salad greens
• Purchase bulk items with reusable containers

At the coffee shop

• Bring your own cup—disposable coffee cups are often not recyclable since the inside contains a coating. Nationally we use over 350 million disposable cups each day. Plus many shops will discount your cup when you bring your own
• Buy only fair trade coffee. It sounds simple but fair trade is more complex and helpful than it seems. Fair trade helps independent farmers in Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela sustain their living. Unlike plantation grown coffee, fair trade farming protects the forests offering shade and safety to songbirds. As a bonus fair trade coffee is often higher quality and better flavored—well worth the extra $1/lb.

At your table

• Eat whole foods—reduce packaged and processed foods, their impact on the environment is great and whole foods are much better for you. Cook your own beans and don’t use instant rice or oatmeal.
• No more high-fructose corn syrup—Eliminating high fructose corn syrup would significantly affect the processed food industry. You’d be surprised how many foods contain this sugar alternative.
• Meat—Meat production is a huge burden on the planet. Less than 50 years ago meat was not served at every meal and was not typically the centerpiece of the meal. Anna Lappe, author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen says, “Factory farms contribute 18% of all green-house gas emissions—more than transportation.”

Okay, still daunted? Try making just one change in your food purchase decisions. The impact you make will count. Once the change has become habit and in another good choice.