Design and Operation of Effective Landfills with Minimal Effects on the Environment and Human Health

Abstract

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency [4], the following steps can be taken to reduce our waste production and protect the environment: (1) respect the planet and all of its living and non living components,(2) rethink our consumption needs and avoid spending money on unnecessary things, (3) reduce wastage and waste accumulation, and (4) reuse and recycle products when possible. According to Annenberg Foundation [41], we can eventuallyreuseorrecyclemorethan70percentoflandfilled wastes, as the majority comprises valuable materials such as glass, metal, and paper. By reusing and recycling those Journal of Environmental and Public Health 11 materials, the demand for original natural sources of these materials can be reduced, and this can potentially eliminate severe environmental, economic, and public health issues. All in all, with our increasing population, waste generation will also increase, so it is crucial to recognize and mitigate the issues of leachate production and LFG generation to protect the environment and human health. Waste management companies need to enforce strict landfill regulations and people need to take it upon themselves to reduce their waste generation, which will reduce both the toxicity and volume of waste that ends up in land fills. However, in the time being, further studies need to be conducted to achieve greater insight into G. mell onella caterpillars and bio cover technology, as both methods have proven effective and could be crucial in reducing the detrimental effects of landfills and landfill waste worldwide.