Check out this answer from Consensus:
The disposal of plastic waste in landfills poses significant environmental and health risks. The formation and spread of microplastics, leakage into waterways, and the release of toxic emissions are major concerns. While microbial degradation presents a promising alternative, there is an urgent need for improved waste management practices and policies to mitigate the harmful effects of plastic waste in landfills.
The disposal of plastic waste in landfills is a common practice worldwide. However, this method of waste management has raised significant environmental and health concerns. This article explores the potential harms associated with placing plastic waste in landfills, drawing on recent research findings.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste in Landfills
Microplastics Formation and Spread
One of the primary environmental concerns is the formation and spread of microplastics (MPs) from landfills. As plastic waste degrades, it breaks down into smaller particles, including MPs, which can be transported by air and leachate to surrounding environments. These MPs act as vectors and carriers of pollutants, absorbing harmful substances and releasing toxic compounds as they age1.
Leakage to Waterways
In many developing countries, such as Indonesia, landfills are often mismanaged, leading to significant plastic leakage into the environment. Studies have shown that a considerable percentage of landfills are located near waterways, increasing the risk of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems. This leakage can have multisectoral impacts on health, the environment, and the economy2.
Health Risks Associated with Landfill Plastic Waste
Toxic Emissions
The degradation of plastic waste in landfills can lead to the release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through oxidative photodegradation. These toxic substances pose a risk to both the environment and human health. Additionally, the presence of MPs in the environment can lead to the accumulation of non-biodegradable pollutants, further exacerbating health risks1.
Open Burning of Plastic Waste
In regions where waste management infrastructure is lacking, open burning of plastic waste is a common practice. This method releases a variety of harmful substances, including brominated flame retardants, phthalates, dioxins, and particulate matter. These emissions pose serious risks to public health, particularly for waste pickers who work closely with waste without adequate protective measures4.
Alternatives to Landfilling Plastic Waste
Microbial Degradation
Recent research has highlighted the potential of microbial degradation as an innovative approach to managing plastic waste. Certain microorganisms and enzymes have been identified that can degrade various synthetic plastics, offering a biological treatment technology for plastic waste. This method not only helps in reducing plastic waste but also allows for the valorization of plastic depolymerization products into valuable chemicals3.
Is it harmful to put plastic waste in landfill?
Paolo S Calabrò has answered Unlikely
An expert from Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria in Environmental Engineering
The best option for plastic is limiting its use through substitution with other materials o by reuse.
The second best is separate collection and recycling.
But if the first two are difficult or unfeasible disposal in controlled landfills is a good option. In a landfill the fossil carbon contained in the plastic is sequestered and basically cannot harm the environment.
The only possible significant impact is the release of harmful substances (e.g. Bisphenol A) through leachate.
If the landfill is built and managed according to acceptable standards leachate emission is unlikely
Is it harmful to put plastic waste in landfill?
J F Rodríguez has answered Likely
An expert from Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha in Chemical Engineering
Plastic that are not chemically recycled has to be incinerated on other case remain undegraded for centuries
Is it harmful to put plastic waste in landfill?
Gian Claudio Faussone has answered Likely
An expert from SINTOL in Chemical Engineering
Plastic is hard to degrade, so it persist in the environment for decades. If stranded in landfill, plastic waste will likely stay there forever, but only if landfill is properly built and managed. Plastic waste is segregated and not dispersed into the environment and oceans. However, because it does not degrade, landfills soon fill up and new space is required to store new waste. Occupy new territory just to stock waste is definitely not a solution. Besides, in many Countries where waste landfilling is not properly conducted, waste plastic can be dispersed into the environment over time, resulting in increasing pollution of land and sea. Besides, we should not neglet the costs associated to landfilling: even when landfills are closed, they have to be monitored. It is not fortuity if EU commission is trying to promote the circular economy concept, where virtually no waste exists, everything is reused and recycled.
Is it harmful to put plastic waste in landfill?
Manfred Fehr has answered Extremely Unlikely
An expert from Federal University at Uberlândia in Environmental Engineering
Harmful is not the correct adjective. Landfills are here to receive trash of all kinds. And plastic is just one of them. As it has no metabolism, it will happily stay there forever. It does not do any harm. The correct adjective is inappropriate. Sustainable society promotes a circular enonomy. There are hundreds of ways to recirculate plastic material from one use to another. As long as it circulates in the economy, it generates revenue. So why throw it into a landfill?
Is it harmful to put plastic waste in landfill?
Sahar Seif has answered Near Certain
An expert from Carleton University in Environmental Science
There are several harmful effects of plastics within landfills. Landfills are typically visited by a variety of scavenger animals including gulls. Within seabirds, plastics can cause starvation, suffocation via blocking the air passage, strangulation and entanglement. In the case of bird species who are unable to regurgitate such as Albatross, plastics fill stomachs and cause the animals starvation which often leads to death.
Plastics contain various types of chemicals which have been found to be harmful to humans and animals. There are pseudo estrogens which can reduce sperm count in species, along with other compounds which can be carcinogenic. According to gull studies, some elements of plastics can affect reproductive success measured by egg success.
Therefore, it is harmful to put plastic wastes in landfills. The best thing would be to continue working towards eliminating single use plastics such as cutlery, coffee cups, straws, food and produce packaging, and more.