Living near a landfill can have many negative effects on the environment and the people who live nearby. The landfill’s operations can produce harmful odors, release toxic gases, and contaminate groundwater.
But there are also some benefits of living near a landfill. They provide jobs for people in the area, which helps to boost the local economy.
The pros and cons of living near a landfill depend on how close you are to it and what kind of lifestyle you lead.
Pros of living near landfills
1. Easy disposal
One main advantage of living near a landfill is that you get a cheap way of disposing of waste. When the dumping area is just a few walks away, you can simply carry your waste bags and dump them in the landfill. That will remove the worries of waiting for dump trucks to come around or any early morning waste disposal schedules that you always keep missing. Living near a landfill will allow you to easily get rid of any waste and keep your house clean and tidy at any time of the day.
2. Temporary storage
If you didn’t know about this, then you are missing out on one of the main benefits of living near a landfill.
A landfill that is just a few meters away from your house can be easily used as a temporary storage space. If you have something you need to get rid of for the moment, without compromising any space in your house, you can simply store it in the landfills until any further decisions are made.
This will help you clear unwanted things from your living space and decide what you want and what you don’t.
Cons of living near a landfill
1. Health risk
The disadvantages of living near a landfill will always be more. Landfills are basically dumping areas.
All types of substances and waste material are thrown on this ground, which mixes up to create very harmful toxins. These disgusting and unhealthy gases can reach out to the neighborhood and affect health severely. Mainly children below the age of 15 are at high risk of getting infected by such poisonous mixtures.
The main threat is the creation of methane gas. Methane gas, which is more hazardous than carbon dioxide, is produced when the waste materials go through the compacting process. This gas is highly inflammable and puts the lives of the people nearby at the risk of explosion.
2. Disgusting water quality
Since the compacting of waste materials produces harmful gases, these gases further reach the underground water and produce a poisonous sludge that mixes up with the water underneath.
While landfill sites generally have pipes that are secured to clear such poisonous sludge, carelessness and deterioration of pipelines can cause untreated and contaminated water to reach the supply lines, which are directly connected to the neighborhood households.
That means you get to use contaminated water, which is very dangerous for your health and can cause severe water-borne diseases that you are not aware of.
3. Reduced house value
It is obvious that not many people are ready to live near a dumping area without any second thoughts. Such an attitude towards the neighborhood reduces the house rate and compels the owners to reach out to buyers with a very minimum rate. That can bring in a huge loss for the one selling and a great profit for the one buying.
Also, the properties near landfills enjoy only limited demand and limited capital appreciation. So, if you are looking out to profit from your property, you will be disappointed.
What are the disadvantages of living near landfills?
Living near a landfill can be hazardous to your health. Landfills are often located near residential areas, which can lead to an increase in the risk of pollution.
The first issue with living near a landfill is that it increases the risk of pollution. Landfills are often located near residential areas, which leads to an increase in the risk of pollution. Pollution leads to respiratory problems and various types of cancer, as well as other diseases that are caused by breathing in toxic fumes or dust particles.
Living near a landfill can cause many health problems, such as asthma and respiratory infections. The landfill can also produce methane gas, which is a very potent greenhouse gas.
The high levels of methane gas in the air can also cause people to experience nausea and headaches.
The second issue with living near a landfill is that it increases the risk of accidents. Accidents at landfills happen more often than one might think, and they can have devastating consequences on those who live nearby.
Thirdly, there are also concerns about the safety of those living near landfills, as they may be exposed to hazardous chemicals such as lead and arsenic.
Fourthly, the smell is often unbearable and it can be a nuisance to live in such an environment.
What are the advantages of landfills?
Landfills are the most common form of disposal for solid waste. Landfills are an important part of our waste management system. They are the last resort because they are not environmentally friendly.
The advantages of landfills are that they provide a place to dispose of trash, and they can be used to create energy. Landfills also help to reduce the amount of garbage in our environment by collecting it in one location.
The other advantage is that landfills are a cost-effective way to store waste. They can be used for decades and they don’t need any maintenance. The other advantage is that landfills are an effective way to reduce the amount of waste in the environment.
