Recycling, landfill or incineration: which is best?

Between recycling, incineration, or sending waste to a landfill, recycling is the most environmentally friendly, but it’s not always feasible. In cases where recycling isn’t a possibility, the choice of using a landfill or incineration depends on the kind of waste involved.

Advantages of recycling

Typically, recycling results in less industrial waste, which in turn means fewer resources spent producing new items. The impact recycling makes cannot be understated—for instance, in 2017, recycling in the U.S. reduced carbon emissions by over 184 million metric tons.

With that said, recycling isn’t always possible, especially with how the demand for recyclable materials has decreased in recent years. Also, about 25% of all items sent to recycling organizations aren’t recyclable, due to contaminants.

Advantages of landfills

A large proportion of our garbage goes into landfills, though not as much as in previous years. From 1980 to 2009, the amount of solid waste that found its way into landfills went from 89% down to 54%.

That decrease has a positive impact on the environment since there is a good chance that fluids and gasses—including methane—leaking out of landfills can impact the soil, water, and air quality in the area. That said, numerous regulations and methods are used to prevent that from happening, and using a landfill is often the only option available.

Advantages of incineration

Incineration can be used to dispose of trash, but only in certain circumstances and when it’s handled properly. After all, incinerating trash produces carbon, and burning plastic, in particular, can result in highly toxic fumes.

When it’s done safely, however, incineration can be used to produce energy, making it a potentially effective use of solid waste.

Which is truly the best?

To recap:

• Recycling is best for the environment, but it’s not always possible.
• Landfills are often the only option for certain types of waste.
• Incineration can be used for power, but only when done safely.

Ultimately, the best option comes down to the type of waste you produce and the options available in your area.