Ending Landfill sounds great! But, there are the Zero Waste Disadvantages. We decided to answer the question: “Is the goal of not sending any waste to landfill really such a good idea?”
The idea of “zero waste” has now become very popular with the public around much of the world, but is it really so good? But I am normally a Zero Waste blogger. I am usually in favour of diverting all waste away from landfill and shutting the gate on the last landfill, would win my applause.
Cutting back on the waste that ends up in landfills was always favoured by those that live close to them, and naturally when it was suggested that no waste should go into landfills, huge numbers of people were in favour, so it was not long until politicians began to incorporate “zero waste” into national waste management plans.
But, it isn't all good!
Unfortunately, the concept was not one which originated from the engineers and scientists which are now be pressed into making “zero waste” a reality. Those guys are never likely to want to discourage the rest of us, when a challenge like this comes up, because waste diversion away from landfills via recycling and the circular economy means business for the boffins, and raised profits for them as well, if they get it right! But, it won't be easy because the technological and cultural changes needed to pull Zero Waste off, still need a lot of development.
But, is “zero waste” really so green and environmentally beneficial when it comes down to it, and don't forget that it is the public who will be paying, mostly through their rates, for the privilege of closing down their local landfill.
With this in mind, we decided to look at what is being said around the world, right now, about the disadvantages of “zero waste”. The following is what we found:
“Even if we divert or eliminate all new waste, landfills will emit greenhouse gas for decades.
By Mark Mondik
According to the EPA, U.S. landfills emit about 100 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent (or about 21 million cars) of greenhouse gas annually. Thus it's no surprise that measuring corporate waste emissions is the hottest thing to hit carbon accounting since Kate Middleton's wedding, and that terms like “compost” have become commonplace for solid waste managers and ordinary citizens alike.
Knowledge that may be less common is that waste diversion efforts like composting don't by themselves solve our waste emissions problem. Even if we ultimately eliminate all new waste through diversion programs like composting and recycling, we are likely to have substantial Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from landfills for the next 100 years. There are two main reasons for this.
The Long Life of Waste
First, most of the methane gas being emitted from landfills comes from waste that was deposited in the landfill five or more years ago. The source of this methane is largely wood, textiles, office paper, and other organic materials that break down slowly over time (and not from food waste, which is the common assumption). As a result, landfills will typically produce methane for 40 years or more after they have been closed and stop accepting new waste. So even if we successfully divert 100% of organic waste going forward, the waste that' already there will be adding to our GHG inventory beyond 2050.
Second, it's going to take a while to get to zero waste. Waste reduction and diversion programs are still largely in a development and implementation phase in most parts of the U.S. They will require extensive education and behavioural changes at a mass scale to be successful. This will also entail the cooperation (perhaps by forcible legislation) of companies with respect to product packaging.”
Effectively, Mark is saying that basically “the horse has already bolted” in other words, he seems to be arguing that the limited investment available should not be going into expensive “zero waste” projects when there is a massive problem with existing landfill gas emissions from landfills in the US.
Plus, unlike taking recycling levels up higher than ever attempted before, which will take many years to achieve, it is better to properly compost landfills, to reduce landfill gas emissions. To do that there is no need to wait while the necessary technology is developed for collecting and then generating useful power from landfill gas because the technology is well proven.
Another disadvantage of “zero waste” has been highlighted in Spain:
Waste incineration in cement kilns is a widespread reality in Spain that is causing major distress to local communities, as it's been one more time confirmed in the 5th gathering of the Spanish Network Against Incineration in cement kilns.
Cement kilns are currently burning municipal waste, used tires, bone meal, etc, which has severe consequences for public health and destroys limited natural resources which should be saved, recycled or reused, according to current Spanish and European legislation said Carlos Arribas from Ecologistas en Acci Valencia in his intervention.
In this article, they cite research which is thought to show that cement kiln incineration is causing emissions of carcinogens. Therefore, it is presumed that they are causing cancer in the local population.
Finally, we have found profound doubts which are being raised about the Danish so called “zero waste” strategy which is on the way to taking their nation down the road to becoming a zero waste producer. But, surely “zero waste” SHOULD be all about recycling more – not burning more waste? See what you think below:
Denmark is perceived to be one of the world's greenest countries. But is it really? Besides the Danish windmills and bike lanes there is a not-so-well-hidden secret of this otherwise rather environmentally friendly country; their passion for burning garbage!
This burning passion has received widespread and often misleading coverage by international media such as the New York Times or the National Geographic who didn't bother to dig too much into the details and instead succumbed to the charms of well-designed green washing.
Objective facts about Denmark are that is one of EU countries that generate more waste per-capita, and is world leader in incineration of household waste, burning 80% of it. For comparison this means that after discounting recycling Denmark burns more waste than what is generated in countries such as Czech Republic, Estonia, Bulgaria or Poland. How green is that?
Contrary to best practices in the sector, in Denmark most household waste is not separately collected this means that recycling rates are as low as 22%. Most organic waste, which is 90% water, ends up in the oven.
More waste is good, less waste is bad??
It might look like a contradiction but in Denmark the system is set up in a way that the worst thing you can do is reduce the size of your waste bin. Why? Well, every city in Denmark has its own incinerator and they are mostly publicly owned. This means that the citizens are actually the owners of the burners and hence if less waste is sent for burning. That's because it is being avoided, reused or recycled, the incinerator will function under full capacity, lowering the efficiency to generate heat and power. Yet the incinerator has to meet the capital and operating costs with less income which will result in an increase in the waste management fees. I.e. the more waste you generate, the better for your pocket.
With the current system of incentives in Denmark getting to Zero Waste would be a financial catastrophe. It is therefore unsurprising that the country that burns the most also generates more waste than any other. Denmark is the perfect example of the linkage between waste burning and waste generation.
Want to know more about the original idea behind “zero waste”, and its true definition, then go to the green quiz website:
Credits: Green Quiz: EarthShare
Zero waste means all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use. San Francisco, a national leader in waste management, has set an ambitious zero waste goal for the city. By what year is San Francisco planning …
Now join the Zero Waste Bloggers by commenting and giving us your ideas below!
The zero-waste concept imposes a duty on customers to alter their practices to conserve the globe. Although customer changes toward more sustainable products can help in reducing greenhouse gases and pollution, government activities, such as more stringent policies on sectors or boosted investment in public transit or renewable energies, are a lot more reliable.
Focusing solely on the ghastly people of the “absolutely no waste movement” can distract from the actually very important systemic and political concerns at risk, by lumping all the blame on consumers and also none on nonrenewable fuel source sectors and also our already overworked COVID hit government.
appartamenti sud sardegna
14 January 2021
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed your ideas and this is a new perspective here for me.
Erma Wilks
27 January 2021
Your mode of describing everything in this piece of writing is genuinely pleasant. And I’ll be able
to make use of it. Thanks a lot.
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The zero-waste concept imposes a duty on customers to alter their practices to conserve the globe. Although customer changes toward more sustainable products can help in reducing greenhouse gases and pollution, government activities, such as more stringent policies on sectors or boosted investment in public transit or renewable energies, are a lot more reliable.
Focusing solely on the ghastly people of the “absolutely no waste movement” can distract from the actually very important systemic and political concerns at risk, by lumping all the blame on consumers and also none on nonrenewable fuel source sectors and also our already overworked COVID hit government.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed your ideas and this is a new perspective here for me.
Your mode of describing everything in this piece of writing is genuinely pleasant. And I’ll be able
to make use of it. Thanks a lot.