Scientists investigated the microbial communities that thrive in landfill leachate, a liquid that percolates through solid trash.
They discovered that the composition and activity of microorganisms found in dry landfills, such as those in Arizona, differ from those found in more subtropical or temperate settings.
The microbial makeup of waste heaps varies depending on their age.
Landfill ecosystems
JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images
Humans create billions of tons of solid trash each year all around the world. Approximately 70% of this waste is disposed of in landfills, where it decomposes slowly.
What seems to be an inert pile of worthless trash is a sophisticated ecosystem alive with microbiological activity.
The waste is consumed by vast populations of microbes, which convert it into byproducts such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane.
While the majority of landfill methane is trapped and vented, researchers seek to harness this resource, which may be transformed into fuels, power, or used to heat houses.
Lead author Mark Reynolds and his Arizona State University and Industrial colleagues investigated these microbial communities flourishing in leachate, a liquid seeping through solid waste in a landfill, in recent research published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
They discovered that the composition and activity of microorganisms found in dry landfills, such as those in Arizona, differ from those found in more subtropical or temperate settings.
The microbial makeup of waste heaps varies depending on their age.
The study looked at the microbiological makeup of leachate at the ecosystem level.
The microbiological niches that are segregated over the landfill's 143 acres appear to be affected by a variety of environmental factors.
Reynolds, a researcher at the Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, describes a landfill as "a gigantic carbon smorgasbord for these bacteria."
According to ScienceDaily, our waste is largely paper-based, and it's high in cellulose and hemicellulose, both of which degrade quickly in anaerobic environments.
Gases produced in landfills can be captured and used to help decrease the risks associated with waste emissions and prevent methane from leaking into the atmosphere.
Furthermore, energy initiatives involving the capture and processing of landfill gas have the potential to produce cash and employment in the community.
Tips to reduce wastes
Avoiding things that are wrapped in plastic or that are overly packed in boxes and bags is an excellent method to reduce waste.
When at all possible, avoid using packaging, use your own reusable bag or container, for example.
For domestic chores, utilize materials you already have, single-use cleaning products should be avoided.
Instead of buying individually packaged things, buy huge economy-sized items.
Examples include laundry soap, shampoo, dishwashing detergent, dry pet food, cat litter, and other non-perishable products. When purchasing food, purchase the maximum size you can utilize before it spoils.
At home and at work, if feasible, utilize nonhazardous or less hazardous items.
To manage insects and other pests, for example, utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies rather than insecticides.
Whether you have hazardous items on hand, such as motor oil, make sure you properly dispose of them.
