materials, etc.).
■ Refillable glass bottles can be reused up to 15 times.
■ Cloth diapers do not impact landfills.Cons
■ The cost of collecting materials on a large scale is expensive.
■ The cost of washing and decontaminating containers is also expensive.
■ Only when items are expensive and labor is cheap is reuse economical.SANITARY LANDFILLS
Sanitary landfills are a method of waste disposal where the waste is buried either
underground or in large piles, and where waste is isolated from the environment
until it is safe. It is considered safe when it has completely degraded biologically,
chemically, and physically.
Pros
■ Waste is covered each day with dirt to help prevent insects and rodents.
■ Plastic liners, drainage systems, and other methods help control leaching
material into groundwater.
■ Geologic studies and environmental impact studies are performed prior to
building the landfills.
■ The collection of methane and the use of fuel cells can be used to
supplement the energy demand.
■ The use of anaerobic methane generators reduces the energy dependency
on other energy sources.Cons
■ Rising land prices may make it too expensive to build sanitary landfills
near populated areas.
■ Transportation costs to the landfill are high.
■ There are high costs for running and monitoring the landfill.
■ Suitable areas are limited.