Toxic waste contaminates soil and drinking water with a shocking 70 percent of the
waste stemming from electronics.
Landfill gas is consisted of approxiamtely 40-60% methane leaving the remainder being mostly carbon dioxide (CO2). Landfill gas also contains varying amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, sulfur and a hundreds of other contaminants. Both mercury and tritium, a radioactive gas, are present in landfills.
- Fact: Gases can cause explosions.
- Fact: The release of the methane creates some global warming problems.
- Fact: Release of toxic contaminants can cause cancer and other health problems.
Options for eliminating gas after collection:
- Flare it
- Boiler – makes heat
- Internal combustion engine – makes electricity
- Gas turbine – makes electricity
- Fuel cell – makes electricity
- Convert the methane to methyl alcohol
- Clean it up enough to pipe it to other industries or into the natural gas lines
For a comprehensive list of options visit:
EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES IN THE U. S.
