Unveiling the Environmental Crisis: The Burden of Landfills

Extensive research into official records has exposed a massive environmental challenge awaiting England and Wales.

More than 21,000 historical landfills, some filled with hazardous waste, have been discovered beneath some of the country’s beauty spots. Swift action is now imperative to address the pressing waste management issues faced by our nation and the planet.

The Peril of Unknown Waste

Within this staggering number of identified landfills, 1,287 are known to harbour hazardous materials. These pose a potential threat to public health and the environment if uncontrolled seepage occurs. Additionally, a further 7,265 sites hold industrial waste, often referred to as ‘industrial liquid sludge.’

These ageing landfills are remnants of the mid-20th century, regarded by environmental experts as chaotic repositories that could house any type of substance. Although some of these sites may have undergone remediation or containment during redevelopment, this depends on when such operations were carried out. Given the evolution of remediation strategies and revised permissible levels of certain chemicals, it is plausible older sites still retain hazardous materials.

The Concealed Distribution

Geographic data reveals that 35 percent of hazardous sites are lurking beneath green areas. 21 percent lie beneath farmland, 15 percent are hidden beneath industrial facilities, ten percent are concealed beneath parks, and nine percent exist beneath houses. Approximately 750 toxic sites are dangerously close to bodies of water, while thirteen are situated under golf courses. Four schools and racing tracks each have four landfills beneath their premises.

These obsolete landfills may potentially contain substances now heavily regulated or entirely banned. These include asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), PFOA, and PFOS to name but four – compounds highly toxic to both humans and the environment.

Addressing Landfill Remediation and Exploring Alternatives

The primary responsibility of identifying and remediating these toxic sites falls on local authorities. However, insufficient funding often leads to neglect, unless developers choose to remediate and repurpose the land. Unfortunately, developers typically prefer sites with predictable and easier-to-handle contamination, inadvertently making the problem worse.

To mitigate these challenges, it is crucial to explore alternative waste management strategies. Consider waste reduction, recycling, composting, combustion, and advanced recovery techniques. These alternatives have the potential to reduce reliance on landfills, minimise greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and contribute to the establishment of a circular economy.

Taking Action

The scale and urgency of the challenge demands immediate action. As responsible guardians of our environment, we must not only rethink existing landfills but also radically rethink our waste management strategies. By transitioning from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model to a circular economy, we can ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Beyond landfills, modern waste management strategies effect technological innovations to transform waste into valuable resources. While these alternatives show promise, the ultimate solution lies in reducing waste production at its source. Promoting conscious consumer habits, implementing efficient recycling programs, encouraging sustainable product design, and providing public education on waste reduction strategies. All vital steps towards minimising overall waste generation.

Dealing with Existing Landfills

The fight against historical landfill remnants and the pursuit of sustainable waste management require collaborative efforts from environmental agencies, local councils, the government, and private companies. Here at SafeSite Security Solutions, we pride ourselves on environmental sustainability.

Our SafeSite policy ensures no product is ever simply discarded after use, or at end of life. We hire out and ‘buy back’ products which means nothing ever goes to waste and everything can be used repeatedly. This ensures zero landfill and 100% recyclability on all our products.

For example, concrete has a life span of more than a century whilst steel is the most sustainable material in the industry. This is due not only to its excellent durability and strength but also because of its recyclability and longevity.

Our concrete barriers are manufactured from recycled materials here in the UK. Made from 100% recycled material, our reusable UPVC Hoarding marks a step change to more sustainable site hoarding options. Recyclable and reusable, the design echoes the benefits of traditional timber hoarding whilst also providing an eco-friendly and durable solution.

For future waste disposal, we have formed strategic partnerships with local councils to implement effective waste collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal practices.