Question

Landfills are waste disposal sites. They are often man-made depressions in the ground covered with a lining designed to prevent any leakage of waste materials. However, landfills can leak through the base resulting in negative impacts on the surrounding environments. What negative impact to the environment is caused by the production of methane gas in landfills?

Answer 1

groundwater pollution and soil fertility

Answer 2

The landfill gases have a negative effect on climate change. The prime constituents are methane and carbon dioxide, both of these are greenhouse gases. In terms of global warming, methane is over twenty-five times more harmful to the atmosphere in comparison to carbon dioxide.  

The emission of methane gas from the landfills can result in hygiene, environmental, and security issues in the area surrounding the landfills. In supplementation to the threat of explosion and fire, the migration of gas in the subsurface can lead to exposure of methane gas with the groundwater, thus, contaminating the source of water.