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This might be a naive question but why can't the rubbish which ends up in landfill sites be burned in a large incinerator? Surely that would be a better alternative than just layer-burying the rubbish in the ground like on landfill?

2007-11-12 01:28:40 · 13 answers · asked by Poza 3 in Environment Other - Environment

13 answers

Well,
Over here in the U.S.A. they do burn it. They also use filters over here to filter out the smoke in the chimney after it burns. The amount of pollution produced from burning it is nearly unreadable. It is a clean source of energy and it produces a lot of energy while reducing the mass associated with all of the trash. It is a great idea and it works well over here.

2007-11-12 01:34:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3 0

Some of it can.

It's not a better alternative though, incinerating by itself is as bad as landfill. What is better is if the waste product is put to good use. Some incinerators use the heat generated to prodjuce Electricity, which is a good thing. It doesn't matter how good incinerator technology gets NIMBYs always work on what they've heard rather than the facts. "Oh we don't know..." they say. No, you don't know, the people who design and build these things do know.

With the exception of plastic, it's always better to recycle than incinerate or bury. Aluminium cans take far less energy to be smelted down that it takes to produce new aluminium from ore, even taking into account the effort taken in gathering them

Trouble is that the stuff that won't recycle produces the most evil fumes.

2007-11-12 09:57:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Trash is burned in some cities, but it produces its own problems.

Firstly, there is the air pollution issue. People throw out all kinds of things in their trash which put out dangerous fumes when burnt. Just think, if you're tossing out your old TV, would you like to stand nearby while its being burnt? Incinerators usually have filters, but they are unable to completely treat to smoke.

Secondly, there is the issue of what to do with the remains of the trash once it has been burnt. Obviously, when you burn something, it doesn't disappear forever - it turns to ash. So the ash then needs to be collected, treated, and buried.

Finally, there is the issue of transporting the trash. Quite understandably, not many people would like to like next door to an incinerator. Consequently, incinerators are located in far-flung areas. Transporting such large volumes of trash is expensive, so most cities just choose to bury their trash and avoid the hassle.

Of course, burying trash isn't a great solution either, particularly when landfills have inadequate lining. The problem is that we have few other options.

Nice incentive to cut down on your trash, huh?

2007-11-12 09:40:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

How about sorting it and recycling more if it? We have a landfill near us that burns the methane gas that the landfill produces and generates power with it.

2007-11-12 10:50:35 · answer #4 · answered by Ktcyan 5 · 0 0

there are incinerators about , I know there is one near where I am , there was a local petition against it , but it went ahead , they get rubbish from other places to be burned there , council earns money from it as far as I'm aware.

but incinerators are with there down sides as much as landfills .

2007-11-12 09:36:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

I agree rather than having it sit in a landfill. with our ever growing population and rising of seas. i think that all land should be kept clean and saved for our kids and their kids not filled with junk.

2007-11-12 10:32:39 · answer #6 · answered by ☆Ele☆ 3 · 1 0

Because no one wants an incinerator near their house!.

2007-11-12 09:34:27 · answer #7 · answered by Old Man of Coniston!. 5 · 1 1

It should be done. It would be a much better alternative. The greenies would rather have no garbage at all. They will never be happy.

2007-11-12 09:34:06 · answer #8 · answered by enicolls25 3 · 1 1

That is what was done with it before the environmentalists complained about the air pollution.

.

2007-11-12 09:31:50 · answer #9 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 2 0

I completely agree with you. Burning trash wont even hurt the ozone layer.

2007-11-12 09:31:47 · answer #10 · answered by flyeaglesfly 2 · 2 2

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