Tonnes of toxic landfill liquid spread on English farms
12 hours ago
- #toxic-chemicals
- #landfill-leachate
- #environmental-pollution
- Over 750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate mix with sewage annually in England, spreading on farmland.
- Leachate contains hazardous chemicals like PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, and microplastics, many escaping treatment.
- Treated sludge from sewage works is sold as fertilizer, reintroducing toxins into the food chain.
- England’s rivers fail legal standards for chemical pollution due to inadequate treatment of leachate.
- Landfill leachate disposal strains sewage plants, contributing to raw sewage spills into waterways.
- Current regulations only test sludge for heavy metals, leaving most contaminants unmonitored.
- Farmers rely on sludge as cheap fertilizer, creating a cycle dependent on toxic waste disposal.
- Historical landfills continue leaching chemicals for decades, with limited funds for long-term management.
- Regional disparities exist in leachate generation, with the south-west producing the highest volume.
- Campaigners and experts call for stricter regulations and legal action to address environmental harm.