4/05/2016

Giant ball of waste



Are landfills a form of pollution prevention?

 Not necessarily, in fact treating wastewater and filtering air emissions are not forms of P2 either (ECCC, 2015). We are not preventing pollution from occurring when we dispose our waste, i.e. we are essentially controlling or treating the waste produced. Remember P2 stops the pollution from being produced in the first place.

  
So what makes up Calgary's landfills? 

 Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the predominant waste that goes into Calgary's 3 landfills. There are 3 classes of landfills in Alberta:
  • Class 1: hazardous waste
      • ex: acetone, bleach, insecticides, gasoline
  • Class 2:  non hazardous waste (degradable)
      • ex: food scraps,  product packaging
  • Class 3: inert waste landfill (anything that will not degrade) 
      • ex: concrete, styrofoam
*Liquids should not be sent to landfills


Landfills have nothing to do with P2! Will landfills last forever? What is forever? What is permanent? 25 years? What happens after 25 years? We live in a wasteful and materialistic society. Consumers and producers alike need to take action to reduce their waste production.

 Waste diversion IS NOT prevention. Waste diversion is simply moving the waste elsewhere, whereas prevention is reduction. Yes, diversion should happen but reduction is pivotal for a waste-free and healthy environment.



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