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Waste in North Somerset causes considerable
environmental damage and we are rapidly running out of places to
bury it.
Landfill remains the main destination for waste in North
Somerset. In 2006/07, 64% of household waste was sent to
landfill.
Emissions from landfill sites are a significant contributor to
global warming.
Biodegradable waste in landfill produces methane and carbon dioxide
both of which contribute to global warming.
Landfill sites are responsible for releasing 25% of the UK methane
emissions. Methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas. Its global
warming potential and ability to trap heat within the earth's
atmosphere is 23 times more that of carbon dioxide.
Reducing the biodegradable waste sent to landfill is a very
effective way of reducing the UK's methane production and may help
to slow the increase in global warming.
The majority of waste in North Somerset goes to Broadpath Landfill
site in Devon, near Tiverton. Each day on average 20 forty tonne
trucks take our rubbish 40 miles away to Broadpath Landfill site,
an 80 mile round trip. This is a considerable environmental
impact.
Dealing with our rubbish by landfill is not an ideal solution. Many
landfill sites are nearly full and we are rapidly running out of
suitable land, close to where the rubbish is produced, for new
sites
Most importantly, when we bury or burn our rubbish we are losing
valuable natural resources, the energy and the time which have been
used to make the product. The vast majority of these resources
cannot be replaced. If we carry on indefinitely we would run out of
these resources. This also creates additional environmental impacts
associated with the extracting of the new resources, its
manufacture and distribution of those goods.
To find out more about why waste is problem visit the
waste online
website.
For more information about legalisation affecting waste
management visit the
DEFRA website |