Emissions to land

Most solid materials are emitted to land, either directly on the ground surface or into holes in the ground. The solid material occupies land and may cause emissions to both water and air due to evaporation  and leaching processes. The solid material may cause risk to human health in case of  direct contact and it may cause indirect impacts to ecosystems, human health as well as human property if substances from the disposed material are evaporating to air or leaching into nearby groundwater reservoirs, rivers and lakes. 

The solid materials emitted to land can be, for example;

- Mining waste 
- Production and manufacturing wastes 
- Slag and ashes from coal combustion 
- Slag and ashes from waste incineration 
- Used packaging and 
- Used products.

The fate and effect of materials disposed on land is determined by the substance's characteristics and the characteristics of the disposal site. Click here to read about the whiteboard marker's effects in a Landfill. 

Solid waste on the way to the final dump site

 Solid waste dump on land. Poor people collect  
               valuable material such as metals and plastics for recycling

The work in the landfill generates little money but serious risk to health.

Solid waste occupies increasing areas of land