Landfill

Question 1

Landfill Advantages

Answer 1

Accepts all types of waste with no energy used in sorting processes

Is cheap (after initial setup)

Can be used to rehabilitate old mine sites (e.g. Woodlawn)

Has the ability to produce energy through the burning of methane

Has a relatively long life-span

Question 2

Landfill Disadvantages

Answer 2

Produces large amounts of greenhouse gases after the site is closed

Produces large volumes of concentrated leachates which can contaminate ground and surface water bodies

Unnatural odours

The site must continually be monitored for gas production (e.g. FoxgloveOval

Question 3

What is a “Bioreactor”?

Answer 3

This is a special type of landfill that encourages waste to break down and decay. It works by collecting the leachates and then sprinkling/spreading them over the waste (since it is bacteria-rich) and helps break down the solid waste quicker (from decades to years).

Question 4

Advantages Of A Bioreactor:

Answer 4

Quicker breakdown of waste, therefore longer life-span

Additional energy production (from landfill gas engines)

Waste heat and CO2 repurposed for aquaculture and horticulture and agriculture

Multiple sources of income (less-risky)

Solar farms and Wind farms around site utilise increased sun exposure to offset emission

Question 5

Disadvantages Of A Bioreactor:

Answer 5

High setup cost

Risk of escaping leachates

Ongoing management needed

Still emits greenhouse-gases

Question 6

What is High-Temp Combustion/Bioenergy?

Answer 6

This Waste-to-energy idea, also called bioenergy, has been used in Europe, Asia and the US todestroy garbage by burning feedstock at high temperatures (900 degrees Celsius) to create fuelor steam that drives a turbine, churning out electricity

Question 7

Advantages of High-Temp Combustion/Bioenergy?

Answer 7

Can be used for all types of waste (no sorting)

Produces tonnes of energy

Classified as recycling due to energy transfer

Can deal with large volumes of waste, freeing land space.

$10million p.a. in the US of electricity

Question 8

Disadvantages of High-Temp Combustion/Bioenergy?

Answer 8

The initial start-up cost is expensive ($500 million to build + $1 million to operate annually)

Produces toxic gases (plastics produce CO2)

Destroys reusable resources

Question 9

Advantages of Recycling?

Answer 9

Product used without the need to access virgin material from the Earth

Diverts a large amount of waste from landfill

 Increase life of landfill

Question 10

Disadvantages of Recycling?

Answer 10

Infrastructure within NSW/Aus. Is limited and costly to construct

We often send materials to China to recycle for us, however, they are starting to refuse it

Waste must be manually sortedUses large amounts of energy and is expensive compared to raw materials

Question 11

What are the 4 Types of Waste?

Answer 11

Plastics

Aluminmum

Steel

Glass