At first glance this may seem like an absurd request. After all, we would hardly throw petroleum on a neighbor’s barbecue. Yet despite this, Americans insist on tossing flammable items in the garbage. The refuse and recycling industry requests you keep your fuel and flammables away from landfills. Because this is the number one cause of dangerous fires there.
Keep Your Fuel Away: There’s More to It Than Meets the Eye
We’ll assume you are not trashing automotive fuel, because it is getting kinda expensive. But did you know that pool chemicals, electronic gadgets, and batteries are all highly flammable too. These three items are causing almost all the landfill fires breaking out.
People are getting hurt by flames at landfill sites. Moreover, the fires are pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This is adding to the Earth becoming warmer, and having more hurricanes and tornadoes too. When you keep your fuel in the form of pool chemicals, electronic gadgets, and batteries away from these places you are therefore also doing your health and safety a favor.
Scary Facts and Statistics about Landfill Fires
Almost half landfill fires begin with faulty batteries, especially lithium-ion ones. Remember, those sites use heavy earth-moving equipment that can smash gadgets and cause sparks. Hazardous waste, especially pool chemicals cause the other half of the damage. The Environmental Protection Agency explains it this way:
“Pool chemicals involved in fire or toxic vapor release are likely to include those that add chlorine or a chlorine ion to the pool water for bacterial control. A number of the pool chemicals, especially those exhibiting oxidation properties, can potentially be highly reactive and capable of generating high temperatures, as well as releasing toxic vapors if improperly handled or stored.”
So please, keep your flammables away!
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Preview Image: Landfill Project in Hawaii
