Landfills in California
Of course landfills are present all over the nation and not only in California, over 3000 of them to be exact. But California is the state with the most landfills, and if there is any risk related to pollution from landfills, the people of Fresno among others should be concerned abou it.
The leachates or leachate liquids of the landfill are charged bacteriologically and especially chemically with both mineral and organic substances. They can mix with surface water as well as with groundwater and thus constitute a pollutant element as well by their quantitative aspect as qualitative (ecotoxicological elements).
The water passing through the layer of waste will be charged with pollutants such as soluble organic matter resulting from the biological activity of the uncontrolled discharge, inorganic constituents such as heavy metals (especially from batteries) and germs that can be dangerous for health and the environment.
It is difficult to predict the composition of leachates precisely because it depends on the nature of the waste, the volume of precipitation, and the stage of degradation reached. The greatest risk associated with leachate production is contamination of the water table. This would pollute drinking water wells and thus deprive the population of a vital element for its survival. It should also be noted that the pollution of drinking water reserves by pathogenic micro-organisms is likely to cause epidemics.
As regards biogas, its composition in major molecules (methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen) is very variable and depends in particular on the age of the discharge and the composition of the waste. In addition to these major components, biogas also carries a multitude of organic substances.
The nature of these products is very varied: aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, aromatic compounds, halogenated compounds and organosulfur compounds. The origin of these substances is also very varied: on the one hand the particular processes of biological or chemical degradation of certain wastes and on the other hand the release of gas coming from the landfill of waste the containers: fridges, solvents, aerosols, etc.
Their share in biogas production is low and their relative proportions are highly variable. However, it is important to note that many of these compounds are relatively harmful. Overall, the risks associated with biogas can be separated between risks for humans (toxicity of trace substances, asphyxiation for riparian populations, methane explosion, fires) and risks of pollution of the atmosphere (major gases are greenhouse gases).
Using dumpster rentals to decrease pollution
In addition to these technical aspects, there are other nuisances from uncontrolled landfills filled with junk that often have less environmental impact than biogas and leachates, but whose effects on socio-economic life are more easily discernible. The visual impact of garbage dumps, coupled with the problem of odors, is not negligeable. The waste storage activity also causes a whole series of parasites such as stray animals, which are a source of nuisance for the population.
Hence it is important that the local population in Fresno uses recycling and waste minimization methods in order to avoid sending unnecessary junk materials to the landfills of California. It is easy to find a junk disposal service in Fresno as there are a few dumpster rental and recycling companies, but people should first try to produce less garbage and detritus, before they send their junk materials to the local landfills of California.