In this article we will be discussing, how dumpsites organic wastes contribute to global warming, what dangers they pose and what to do to mitigate it progress.
It is no longer news – the impact of wastes on our environment, by this, we refer to earth as a whole.
To complicate matters, most of us, still do not sort our trash before having them disposed.
It is not enough to have our wastes dumped in dumpsites. There is a lot more to be done, and by us.
Statistics and studies have shown that tons of waste are dumped at landfills monthly and currently organic wastes emissions from landfills represent a vast majority of methane emissions.
Apparently, waste composition vary widely between countries, most usually dependent on income level. In most developing countries where income is low, food and green waste represents a larger share of the waste generated there.
While in developed or higher income countries, the percentage of paper, plastics, and glass are higher while food and green waste decreases.
Also, waste generation is strongly intertwined with population growth and economic development, the largest increases are projected to occur in India, China, United States etc.
How Organic Wastes Contribute to Global Warming
To practically determine organic wastes contribute to global warming, it is good to have a fair knowledge of general waste practises around the world.
As of today, there is very poor or non-existent waste management practices and systems in most countries of the world. This results in increasing emission of short-lived climate pollutants.
In simple terms, organic wastes decays slower in these countries, and over decades, they release what is commonly known as landfill gas (LFG).
LFG is a combination of methane and carbon dioxide that is usually created when organic waste decomposes.
Methane in itself is created when there is no air present while carbon dioxide is the natural product when anything rots in air. Both are greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and climate change.
Both of these greenhouse gases have a rather high global warming potential: methane is said to have 21 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide has about 310 times global warming potential.
How does Dumpsites Generate Methane Emissions?
Methane emissions is a function of the breakdown of organic waste — food waste, paper, cardboard, and wood etc— in anaerobic (i.e., oxygen free) environments.
When they break down, the waste sector is split into emissions from solid waste and wastewater. Solid waste emissions from landfills and dumpsites significantly represent the majority of methane emissions from the organic waste sector.
The amount of methane produced by a landfill is particularly based on the amount of organic wastes in the waste-stream (i.e the total flow of waste from its domestic or industrial source to recovery, recycling or final disposal).
Globally, organic waste makes up an approximate 65% of overall waste generated, with food and green waste being the largest share.
Strategies that Mitigate Organic Wastes Contribution to Climate Change
Quickly and significantly, taking conscious steps to reduce methane pollution is one of the most important opportunities there is – to slow the pace of global warming and climate change in future(two decades) may be a crucial period for avoiding potentially irreversible climate tipping points.
To achieve this two steps can be employed, they include:
1. First, Organic Waste Diversion is the core approach in keeping this(organic) waste out of landfills.
The waste can be separated at the source, through waste generators (i.e., ensuring that people keep separate bin for food waste) or a facility should be designed for separating mixed municipal waste.
Source separation by waste generators is mostly the better option because it reduces contamination such as — bits of plastic, glasses etc winding up in the waste — which is crucial for most treatment options.
The two most commonly adopted organic waste treatment options are composting and anaerobic digestion.
2. Dumpsites should undergo Rehabilitation and Landfill Design & Operations.
This is important to trapping methane generated from organics that are not diverted, as well as organic waste which had already found their ways to landfills — waste disposal facilities should be designed to have environmental and human health control systems — and dumps, should have more control measures in place.
Open dumpsites in many the developing world, pose human and environmental health and safety risks.
These dumps should be adequately redesigned to include environmental control systems, such as suitable covers that oxidize methane as it is released and LFG capture.
Sanitary landfills with LFG capture systems can work on maximizing collection and use of the generated gases.
Conclusion
For organic waste to be properly managed and its contribution to global warming and climate change in general to reach the barest minimum, all hands would have to be involved and more conscious actions followed from source points.