According to EPA.gov, a modern landfill is a well-engineered and managed facility for the disposal of solid waste. According to Business www.businesswaste.co.uk, landfill is bad as it contributes to many environmental and health problems. Much of the rubbish thrown away in landfill sites takes many years to break down. As waste decomposes in landfill it can release toxins and create leachate that pollutes land, ground, and water. Landfill also releases greenhouse gas, methane. It is noted that landfills are designed to store waste, not to break it down. As they are sealed shut with a lack of Oxygen this slows any decomposition of waste. This is done on purpose to prevent the landfill system from sinking and becoming unstable. However, as waste sits in landfill for many years, it does decompose just very slowly. The temperature, moisture, and lack of Oxygen create anaerobic conditions. This leads to bacterial reaction and methane-producing bacteria that slowly decompose waste while producing methane gas. Methane is 25-34 times more potent than CO2. Methane is a Greenhouse gas that absorbs heat and significantly contributes to global warming and climate change if it is not controlled. Landfills can also create and release other gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which can cause coughing and nausea, leading to complications ranging from asthma to lung cancer.
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