Waste in landfill:
- contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
- has other impacts on the environment.
When waste is buried underground in a landfill, microorganisms break it down and produce gas.
These gases are mostly methane and carbon dioxide. However, there can be other trace gases and vapours. It depends on the waste deposited.
There are different types of landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills accept household waste that is not reused or recycled. Waste that cannot be accepted at municipal waste landfills must be disposed of at a place authorised to receive it.
Other landfills accept:
- solid waste from construction and demolition
- industrial waste
- asbestos.
The principle of waste management hierarchy states that disposing of waste to landfill is the least preferred option.
There are things you can do to reduce the amount of waste you send to landfill.
Waste that cannot go into municipal landfills
Do not send waste and materials to landfill if they:
- are toxic
- will corrode metal
- will burn or explode.
Examples include:
- electronic waste and batteries
- fluorescent bulbs
- mercury switches
- motor oil
- oven cleaner
- paints
- thinners
- varnishes.
Take these materials to a hazardous waste drop-off site.
For more information, visit Detox Your Home(opens in a new window) on the Sustainability Victoria website.
Reduce your waste to landfill
Disposing of waste to landfill is our least preferred option for managing waste. Instead, follow the principle of waste management hierarchy set out in the Environment Protection Act 2017(opens in a new window).
To reduce the amount of waste you produce, you can:
- follow your community's recycling program
- compost organic waste
- use leaves and grass clippings as mulch
- buy recycled paper products and products with less packaging
- buy durable products rather than disposable ones
- reuse jars and containers.
For more information about reducing waste, visit Sustainability Victoria(opens in a new window).
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