Municipal waste is disposed of in three different ways. As of 2004 it is estimated that 71
percent is land filled, 16 percent incinerated, and 13 percent recycled. Other wastes that
have to be disposed of are nuclear and hazardous wastes. The environmental effects of
different waste management solutions will be discussed as well as ideal ways, in my
opinion, to dispose of different forms of solid wastes.
Landfills are the most commonly used form of disposing wastes today. It is also a form of
disposal that causes many environmental impacts that are in need of addressing. A major
effect of landfills is Leachate, a contaminated liquid that percolates through the waste in a
landfill and probably the most addressed issue. This contaminated liquid can soak into the
ground and cause water contamination according to the Department of Agriculture and
Life Sciences at NC State University. Another effect of landfills is air pollution. Not only
can air pollution from landfills contribute to acid rain and green house gases but it can also
have an impact on the citizens around it. Soil gas migration can cause a four-fold elevation
of risk for bladder cancer and leukemia among women reported a study at the New York
Health Departments website.
The second form of waste disposal is incineration. This type of disposal releases many air
pollutants to include admium, lead, mercury, dioxin, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride,
nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter according to the Environmental Protection
Agency. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide contribute to acid rain and
smog. The incinerators mainly contribute to air pollution but the ash left over from burning
waste has to be buried in landfills thus contributing to ground pollution too.
The last waste management system is recycling. Recycling consists of processing used or
abandoned materials for use in creating new products. This method was created to address
issues created from the other two forms of waste management and has a positive impact on
the environment. It helps to reduce the amount of waste needed for disposal by making a
portion of it available for reuse.
Hazardous and Nuclear waste disposal is a very seriousissue. It can cause soil
contamination, water contamination, air pollution, and can have a huge impact on plant
and wildlife. The problem with hazardous and nuclear waste is that no “clear cut” solution
has been identified to properly dispose of this waste. Many of it has been buried in
landfills or underground and then leaked into the earth, thus once again contributing to
