All articles tagged with #landfills
Twenty years into fracking in Pennsylvania, the state has yet to effectively address the radioactive waste generated, with frequent alarms at landfills indicating ongoing risks to public health and the environment, despite regulatory efforts and new research showing higher levels of radioactivity than previously understood.
A study published in the journal Science reveals that open landfills in the United States emit methane at almost three times the rate reported to federal regulators, with some sites showing significant methane plumes. Scientists used imaging spectrometers during airplane flyovers to gather data, detecting emissions hot spots at over half of the landfills surveyed. The study highlights the need to address leaks from specialized wells and pipes at landfills, as well as to reduce waste going into landfills, as they are the third largest source of human-caused methane emissions in the United States.
A study published in the journal Science reveals that landfills are emitting methane, a potent greenhouse gas, at almost three times the rate previously reported to federal regulators. This makes landfills the third-largest source of human-caused methane emissions, contributing significantly to climate change. The study's findings highlight the need for increased awareness and action to address methane emissions from landfills.
A new study reveals that US landfills are emitting significantly more methane than previously reported, with average emissions 1.4 times higher than official estimates. Landfills, which account for around 20% of global human-caused methane emissions, are a major but often overlooked source of methane pollution. Advanced monitoring systems using remote sensing from aircraft, drones, and satellites provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of methane emissions, highlighting the need for improved reporting and regulation. Scientists emphasize the importance of addressing methane emissions from landfills as a crucial step in slowing climate change, alongside efforts targeting the oil and gas industry.
A national plastic bag recycling project is shutting down due to industry indifference, lack of funding, and credibility problems exposed by an ABC News report. The project, which directed the public to over 18,000 store drop-off locations for plastic bag and film recycling, is no longer available. ABC News found that most of the tracked recycled plastics ended up in landfills, revealing an imbalance in supply and demand. Plastic recycling has been effective at giving consumers the illusion of making a difference while not addressing the underlying industrial problems.
Millions of pumpkins and other organic fall decorations are often discarded in landfills after the holidays, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. To sustainably dispose of these items, options like composting can be utilized. Composting allows for the natural decomposition of plant matter and food waste, creating nutrient-rich compost that can be used as fertilizer or mulch. Removing seeds and chopping pumpkins into smaller pieces can expedite the decomposition process. Other materials like straw bales, corn stalks, and leaves can also be composted. Food waste is a significant contributor to landfills, accounting for over 24% of municipal solid waste in the US. Taking steps to reduce food waste is an effective way for individuals to combat climate change.
Over one-third of food produced in the U.S. is wasted, with much of it ending up in landfills and contributing to methane emissions that accelerate climate change. More than 50 local officials have called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help reduce food waste by expanding grant funding and technical assistance for landfill alternatives. The EPA reports highlight the urgent need to address the issue, as 58% of methane emissions from landfills come from food waste. However, reducing waste requires a significant mindset shift from individuals, as households are responsible for at least 40% of food waste in the U.S. Some local governments have taken steps to address the problem, but more support and guidance from the federal level are needed to make substantial changes.
Cities Skylines 2 introduces new features and improvements to services, including landfills with drawable boundaries to avoid overfilling and impact on land prices, the ability to expand and upgrade service buildings instead of building new ones, the addition of welfare offices for financial support, and the inclusion of high-speed internet as a crucial element for citizen happiness and commercial efficiency. The game aims to be the most realistic city-builder ever.
Bitcoin mining may soon reduce more emissions than its energy sources produce, thanks to a fund raising $400 million to mitigate vented methane from landfills by using the gas to mine bitcoin. The fund aims to make the entire Bitcoin Network carbon negative by targeting landfills that vent methane, mitigating emissions ten times faster than other techniques. Companies like Nodal Power and Vespene Energy have already used bitcoin mining to monetize waste and mitigate landfill emissions, proving the viability of this approach. Bitcoin's scalability and transportability allow operators to target smaller landfills that may not be suitable for grid connections or larger gas collecting operations, driving a cleaner future without regulatory coercion.
ABC News conducted the largest investigation of its kind into the effectiveness of America's recycling streams for plastic bags by placing trackers in dozens of plastic bags intended for recycling. Of the 46 trackers placed in bundles of plastic bags that ABC News dropped off at stores across the country, the vast majority had not ended up at locations associated with plastic bag recycling. Half the trackers launched last pinged at landfills or trash incinerators, and three last pinged thousands of miles overseas – in Asia. The American Chemistry Council, a trade association that represents plastic manufacturers and other companies, has promoted the Wrap Recycling Action Program, or WRAP, to urge the public to recycle plastic bags.
An underground landfill fire in Alabama has burned for more than four months, polluting the air for miles and sickening people and animals. For weeks, state and local authorities did little to stop it, instead bickering over their responsibilities. The site, intended to collect grass clippings and tree branches and other such waste, has been a problem for years, with state inspectors at least twice urging its private management company to close down the landfill.