Environmental concerns landfill

Because of increasing environmental concerns, the disposal of all batteries is being reviewed (70—76). Traditionally silver batteries were reclaimed for the silver metal and all other alkaline batteries were disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Some aircraft and industrial nickel —cadmium batteries are rebuilt to utilize the valuable components. 

Every year millions of cubic meters of ready-mixed concrete are returned for disposal in dump sites. There are now increasing environmental concerns and restrictions regulating the disposal of returned plastic concrete. In the last decade, environmental protection agencies in Europe and North America have classified both returned plastic concrete and truck wash water as hazardous waste. Consequently, the conventional methods of disposal in slurry tanks and landfill sites have become redundant, and disposal of plastic concrete is now a major problem for the ready-mixed concrete industry [102]. 

Landfills have been the most popular depositories of spent nickel catalyst. Environmental concerns regarding the impact of nickel and conservation elforts to preserve nickel supplies have stimulated recycling and reclamation of the nickel component. Solvent extraction of organic material from the nickel is most effective with polar solvents such as isopropanol and methyl ethyl ketone (108). 

There is widespread environmental concern over adverse longterm effects of landfills used for industrial waste because of potential hazard from the transformation of the components and discharge of leachate into water courses. 

The greatest environmental concern with landfilling of municipal solid waste that unavoidably contains hazardous compounds, is the generation of leachate from infiltrating surface water and groundwater with resultant contamination of groundwater suppliers. Modem waste landfills provide elaborate systems to contain, collect, and control such leachate (Figure 11). 

One environmental concern is that around the world there are landfill areas where over the years chromite ore processing residues (COPR) have been dumped, and chromium from these landfills is being leached into the ground water. The environmental impact of chromium in soils and sediments is dependent on specia-tion and on the response of the matrix to biological and physico-chemical conditions. These factors control the mobilization of chromium from the solid into the aquatic phase and uptake and transfer into living systems (Hursthouse 2001). 

A growing area of concern is how to conscientiously dispose of products or their components. Black Decker avoided significant landfill costs and made money by seUing recyclable commodities. When there are no alternatives except disposal, the product or material needs to be appropriately scrapped. In an era of environmental concern (which will continue to grow and drive marketplace decisions), companies should take proactive action to develop environmentally sound landfiU or incineration programs. Not only will this allow favorable consumer reactions, but it may forestall government regulation and control. 

There are several disadvantages associated with the current landfilling of fibrous waste. First, a tipping fee is required. Second, due to environmental concerns, there is increasing demand to ban polymers from landfills. Third, landfilling... 

In order to try to solve these environmental concerns, biopolymers are starting to emerge as an alternative to traditional synthetic polymers in the food packaging market. Oil-based polymers take at least 400 years to be completely degraded. However, biopolymers are fully biodegradable under certain atmospheric conditions in a few months, which avoids excessive accumulation in landfills. 

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