Learn about the negative environmental effects of diverting waste to landfills, including increased greenhouse gas emissions from solid waste. Prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam with expert insights.
Table of Contents
Question
Which of the following negative impacts on the environment are a result of waste being transported/diverted to landfills?
A. Increased pre-consumer recycled content
B. Decreased post-consumer recycled content
C. Waste is incinerated and used to generate energy
D. Solid waste produces methane and potent greenhouse gas
Answer
D. Solid waste produces methane and potent greenhouse gas
Explanation
Waste that is transported or diverted to landfills can have negative impacts on the environment, such as occupying valuable land, contaminating soil and water, and emitting harmful gases. One of the most significant impacts is the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change.
Methane is generated when organic waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) in landfills. Methane has a global warming potential28 times higher than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.
When waste is transported and diverted to landfills, it can have several negative impacts on the environment. One of the most significant issues is that solid waste in landfills undergoes anaerobic decomposition, which results in the production of methane, a greenhouse gas that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its global warming potential.
As organic materials like food waste, paper, and yard trimmings break down in the oxygen-deprived environment of a landfill, methane is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Landfills are one of the largest anthropogenic sources of methane emissions in the United States.
The other answer choices do not accurately represent the negative environmental impacts of transporting waste to landfills:
A. Increased pre-consumer recycled content is generally a positive environmental outcome, as it reduces the need for virgin materials and diverts waste from landfills.
B. Decreased post-consumer recycled content is a potential negative outcome of diverting waste to landfills, as it means less material is being recycled and reused. However, it is not a direct impact of landfilling itself.
C. While some landfills do capture methane and use it to generate energy through incineration, this process still results in greenhouse gas emissions and does not negate the negative impacts of landfilling waste.
Therefore, the most accurate answer is that solid waste in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which has significant negative impacts on the environment.
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