Pollution From Dumpsite Fires

Pollution From Dumpsite Fires

Subject: Environment

Section: Pollution

Context- ‘Unscientific’ disposal, treatment of waste behind massive fire at Ghazipur landfill, say experts.

Concept-

• A massive fire broke out at the Ghazipur landfill on the afternoon of March 28, 2022 near East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).
• Toxins from the fire will spread into adjoining habitations and public spaces, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Khichdipur residential area and Ghazipur market, experts noted.
• Key pollutants emitted by dumpsite fires include:
  • Particulate matter
  • Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen
  • Dioxins furans
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • Volatile organic compounds
• Impacts of Dumpsites Fires:
  • First, dumpsite fires present a human health and safety risk for the workers, firefighters and informal waste pickers.
  • Second, fires contribute to slope instability (mass and volume reduction due to fire).
  • Third, the potentially harmful emissions from the fires leave behind a thick and dense blanket of smoke. It contains massive gaseous pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, particulate matter.
  • Various physical, chemical and microbiological processes generate heat in unregulated dumpsites, leading to surface and sub-surface fires.
  • Decomposition of biodegradable waste, for instance, increases the temperature at unregulated dumpyards.
  • The sub-surface fires at dumpsites result from air filtration into the waste mass. The waste and the methane generated in the landfill act as fuel. Since the fire is below the surface, it is difficult to detect, gauge its extent and extinguish.
• Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 mandates compaction of waste and daily soil cover of 10 centimetres (soil / inert debris / construction material).
  • Compaction of waste is important to remove the air pockets in the waste heap, which can otherwise accumulate methane.