landfill vs incineration Flashcards
landfill advantages
facilities properly sited with necessary controls
different types of waste accepted and ordered
Landfill disadvantages
unsightly
takes up a lot of space
decaying matter produces methane - strong greenhouse gas (also explosive)
if not managed - air, soil, water pollution
damages ecosystem
health hazards
incineration advantages
can reduce volume of waste needing disposal by up to 90%
produces energy
cann reduce toxicity of waste
incineration disadvantages
expensive
air pollution and need for ash disposal
not all waste combustable
ash contains heavy metals and other toxins
acid rain
Singapore
island off coast of Malaysia
almost entirely urban
amount of waste increased 2015 - 8400 tonnes a day
waste management vital as land is scarce
1960s and 70s - waste mainly to landfill
late 1970s - changed to incineraion with energy recovery
incineration today
4 incinerators providing about 3% of energy need s
only 2% goes to landfill
38% incinerated
60% recycled
incineration facts
4 incineration plants
main waste disposal method (late 1970s) with energy recovery
incineration successes
provides 3% of energy needs
each incinerator fitted with pollution control systems to limit emissions
takes up less land than landfill
90% volume reduction of waste
incineration failures
pollution control systems cannot remove all harmful emissions
only last around 10 years
Lanfill facts
only 1 landfill site - built on reclaimed land between islands
costed $600 million
350 hectares
landfill successes
only waste that can be incinerated or recycled
lined with impermeable membrane (clay) to prevent leaching of chemicals
now home to rare species
opened for recreational use (e.g., fishing, bird watching, star gazing)
Landfill failures
expected to be filled up by 2040
expensive
